If there is one thing I love it is a long epic series of books. I have been an avid reader for decades and through the years I have fallen in love with multiple epic series, this of course has lead me to frustration, years of wondering and speculation, and an increasing pile of re-reads to do as each new book in a series is released.
I basically divide the series I read into a few different categories, but my top virtual series shelf may actually take up the most physical book space though probably contains the least number of series.
The Epics of Epic Fantasy. These are the series that I have invested in both mentally and emotionally. This is the group of books that require re-reading over and over again between new releases. These books are my friends, I have known the characters by name longer than most people I know. Some of them I have grown up with, Some I were with me while I raised my children, and there are others I will grow old with.
Earth's Children series by Jean M. Auel, Another series that I started early on, I picked up the first book, The Clan of the Cave Bear in 1980 while I was in High School, I read the final book when it was published in 2011, So I spent 31 years with Ayla and Jondular, and an Epic journey through time and across the paleolithic European continent.
The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny. I discovered this series while in High School and it is one of the series I picked up partway through the so I was able to start with an immersion reading in the early 1980's of the first 5 books, Story arc, and then waited patiently for each book in the remaining 5 book story arc finally finishing with the final book in 1991. As far as commitments this means I only spent a decade in Amber, though it was an enjoyable one.
The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan, and completed by Brandon Sanderson. I picked this book up in 1990 when it first came out, This book was with me through my divorce and struggles as a single mother, they were with me while I raised my kids and while I buried my father. I spent 23 years with Rand, Perrin, Mat, Egwene and Nynaeve, along with the thousands of other characters. This is one series where I re-read the entire series before each new release, I spent hours combing the books and forums speculating and looking for the masterful foreshadowing and red-herrings Robert Jordan loaded his books with.
A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. I started this series long before the H.B.O. series, I picked this book up in early 1997 and have been hooked and anxiously awaiting each new book since. 17 years invested and still going. This is another series that requires re-reads between releases, and before new books are released. Martins world is just so involved and detailed that one reading will not catch it all!
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. My children introduced this book to me with the first book. This is a series we as a family grew with, the first time I could share my book release anticipation, discussions and excitement with my kids. We got up early to get wristbands, we stayed up late to attend midnight release parties. We bought several copies so that we did not have to read over shoulders or wait, and so we could all sit around and read together.
The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss. Though only scheduled to be three books this series fits my feel of Epic. I have already re-read the first 2 books, and will re-read the series again and again.
The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson. I am hooked already after only one book, that I have already re-read 4 times. With the end of Wheel of Time, The pending end of A song of Ice and Fire, Sandersons new 10 book series will fill that place in my life. This will be the series I grow old with, that I retire with. I look forward to the years ahead, and the unraveling of a new epic. New "friends" to turn to when I need to escape.
