Babel Clash

I don’t write sequels.  I don’t like sequels.  Sequels make sense commercially.  They make sense to authors, who get to explore tried and true characters.  They make sense to publishers, who are always eager to entice readers back.  And the make sense to readers, who, if they’re going to spend hard-earned money on a book, want at least some assurance that they’ll be getting something they like.

Sequels just make sense.

But I don’t write them.  I’m not suggesting that I never will, but at this stage, not yet.  I don’t fault writers for writing them, publishers for publishing them, or readers for reading them.  I see where they’re all coming from, and there are plenty of great series novels out there.  They just don’t appeal to me.

As a writer, I find writing new ideas, new worlds tremendously appealing.  It stimulates my creativity in a way that I don’t believe a continuing series could.  I’ll admit it’s not always easy.  Sometimes, coming up with a new story can be a real pain.  Especially since I strive to do something a bit different every time.  Of course, if it’s too different then any potential fans might not be very happy.  Although I’m lucky enough to have a strong base of fans who love my willingness to experiment.  So the question I must always face when starting a new project is how can I make this different, but not too different?  How can I explore a new universe with its own unique rules and themes without alienating my fan base?

It’s then that I can see the appeal of sequels and series.  Writing a book is tough.  It’s a lot of work.  You might read a book over the weekend that took me eight months to write.  And we won’t even get into the extensive editing process that comes into play once the publisher gets involved.  Many people have put hundreds of hours of work into my books.  And there’s no guarantee that just because someone liked my book about Mack Megaton, robot detective, that they’ll dig the adventures of Lucky, the raccoon god of prosperity.  With a sequel, most readers will give you the benefit of the doubt.

It can be scary, but as an artist, it’s also satisfying, a chance to flex my creative muscles and explore worlds, characters, and themes I couldn’t address in my previous stories.  Series have their advantages, and I love recurring characters and settings as much as the next guy.  I just love surprising myself and the reader more.  I love that when you open an A. Lee Martinez novel, you aren’t really sure what you’re going to get.  That’s what fantasy should be all about.

Sure, that means taking a risk, but it’s a risk well worth taking.  Both as a writer and as a reader.

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