Because I Just Can't Wait

No this is not a post about the new Hobbit movie (even though I really really can't wait for that to come out!)  This post is about my frustration in finding a great new series and then having to wait months, or even years for the next book to come out (I'm looking at you George R. R. Martin).  I guess if it took me longer then a couple days to read a book this wouldn't be such a problem, but it still gets frustrating.  To try to alleviate the suffering of my fellow series sufferers I have put together a list of some of my favorite series that are complete, as in if you want (and yes I have done this before) you can go get every book in the series and read them beginning to end, kind of what I do on Netflix when a good TV series gets put on (I'm working on Dr. Who and Star Trek: The Next Generation right now).  Here we go!

Waiting for the next book to come out

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

These books will forever be the beginning of my escape to other worlds.  To this day if I need a happy place this is where I go.  It also has the advantage of all 7 books being a quick read so you don't need to spend weeks on any one book.

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

I would also include the Hobbit in addition to the trilogy because I think they tie together so well, but I will leave that up to the individual reader.

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
I admit this is one of the first series I started before all the books were out, I held of until the first three were out, read them all in a week (didn't shower, eat, or go to work but by golly I got those books read!) and then spent agonizing month waiting with everyone else for the next one to come out only to read it all in one sitting and go through the process all over again. Happily for all you new readers out there you will not have to experience that, you can just go pick up the boxed set.

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Excellent series, one of the first that I have been this excited about in a while, great writer, great stories, great characters AND anybody can read them from your fourth grade boy to your 99 year old great-grandmother.

The Harper Hall Trilogy by Anne McCaffrey
This is what got me started into Anne McCaffery and Pern.  If you want to be a tad less confused you can start with the Dragonriders of Pern Trilogy.  She has several books set in this world, but you don't really have to read them in any particular order, you can go escape into this amazing world at any point.

The Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce
These are some good books especially for when they were written, a lot of girl power with out drilling it into your head.  It is pretty much your typical knight/quest story, with some very cool twists.  The other ones set in this world: The Immortals Quartet, Protector of the Small Quartet, and the Trickster Duo are all amazing (and complete) as well.  I like these 'cause each heroine is very different from all the others, not always loud and in your face.

The Inkworld Trilogy by Cornelia Funke
This is a book...about a book :-)  This whole series is about people who love books, make books, write books, read books and eventually live in a book!  It gets pretty dark for supposed children's books, but they make for an excellent read...especially if you really love books.

The Myst Reader by David Wingrove
If you haven't figured out the extent of my geekyness by now, this should put the final nail in the coffin.  I used to play all of the Myst games with my Mamma late into the night, so when a book came out we got it on principle.  All three books turned out to be amazing, giving some great background to the game, but more importantly they truly created this peopled world, where the game left it empty and desolate.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
I was very pleasantly surprised by these young adult books.  They have it all, humor, gods, monsters, tears, adventure.  I really like how he modernized the Greek gods in this series, definitely a fresh take on the whole Greek hero on a vase thing. 

The Pendragon Cycle by Stephen Lawhead
These books are written from a perspective of how the legend of Arthur may have been true.  An almost historical account of survivors from Atlantis all the way through to a modern day rebirth of King Arthur, I found it extremely innovative.  He also has a set of books called the King Raven trilogy about the legend of Robin Hood which is also really good.

The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paloni
Here is another guy who took his own sweet time finishing his series, but now that it is finished I have to recommend that everybody read it.  This kid started these books when he was a mere lad of 19!  I also have a soft spot for good Dragon books, and cool sword...and people who live in Montana.

Little House on the Prarie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Huge nostalgia factor for me with these books.  They are pretty quick to read, and give me a familiar break from my epic stuff I'm usually into.  Plus now I know how to make my own cheese :-)

Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb
This is one of my more recent acquisitions. She utilizes a first person view in this set that I really love, and it cuts down on some of the gratuitous landscape description that seems to plague fantasy novels. I love her writing style and have started a second mostly unrelated trilogy of hers as well.

Ok ok I'll stop now.  Hopefully I have given you avid readers a few new options, and if you have any complete series you think I would like feel free to send them my way.

Do you hate it when you get really into a series and have to wait for the next one?  Do you ever go back and reread a series when a new book in it comes out to catch back up?  Have you ever bought a whole series at once?  Are showers really that important in the grand scheme of things? Have I given away the extent of my geeky dorkness?