Cool names such as Tally and Shay. A futuristic world complete with hoverboards. Forbidden love. Spag Bol. The ethics of beauty. It's the complete package.
I gotta admit, I am a huge fan of Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series. Or rather, maybe I was a huge fan? I devoured Uglies, couldn't wait for Pretties. And Specials? I didn't exactly love it. Now I have the newest installment, Extras, sitting in my pile of library books at home. Should I even bother reading it?
Are you a fan of Westerfeld's books? Do you think he's taken the series too far? When in general, has an author taken a series too far and, in other words, "jumped the shark?" Is the first book in a series always the best, hands down?
If you choose to leave a comment, no spoilers allowed in your post! :)
Haven't read the series yet? Want to see what the hype is all about? Find out what you've been missing! Start with the first book: Uglies.
14 comments:
I haven't read Uglies, though it is on my list of books to read. I know what you mean though about author's dragging series on too far. Margaret Peterson Haddix's Shadow Children series dragged on much too long - the first book was excellent, the next 2-3 were pretty good, but books 5 & 6 were just boring, and book 7 was nothing to write home about.
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events dragged on for quite a while too. The books were amusing, but after a while got repititive to the point of boredrom. And the last book left way too much unanswered.
Repitition is way too common in younger series too: the Animal Ark series seems to be made from the same mold with a different animal and place plugged in. Nancy Drew gets boring because nothing ever happens to her. I actually started to route for her to die or get seriously injured after reading her books for so long. I greatly dislike Laura Ingles Wilder's children and grandchildren who have tried to make a profit by dragging on the same storyline that strictly belonged to their mother or grandmother.
Many author's get money hungry and try to drag on a good thing far too long, therefore destroying the beauty of the original book.
Anonymous.....Your Nancy Drew comment is hilarious!
I loved Uglies and Pretties, hated Specials and wasn't sure if I even wanted to read Extras. I decided to give it a try and was surprised that I actually really liked it. Not as much as the first two, but I like it.
Once a series can be turned into a way to buy a car, an author will stop caring about their art.
i loved Uglies, Pretties, and Specials (though the latter wasn't as good as the other two), and i don't think Scott Westerfeld "jumped the shark" on any of them. i think it was just more development on the story. i am very intently looking forward to Extras, which i have on reserve.
Hello All,
I know what you mean. Sometimes authors have their touch at different times. "TWILIGHT" is really good, then "NEW MOON" was disappointing, but "ECLIPSE" is amazing! I encourage everyone to read this series! But, I haven't read the uglies. I'll look into it!
You guys are persuading me to read Extras!
is "Extras" a fourth book to the "Uglies" series
To b.johnson lover:
Yes, Extras is the fourth book in the Uglies series.
Totally, I read it and i loved it, it's a great book and goes great with the series, and to me, no tramtic endings that make me wish i hadn't read it! Read! :)
anonymous, about nancy drew, i've got to agree. nancy drew was never interesting in the first place, though. too girly, and never got into any life threatening incidents. the hardy boys on the other hand......
about the topic....i was seriously excited when i heard the series had gone on. a very avid reader, i'm always looking for new books, and while sequels might not be as good as the first, i like it when they go on. it gives me more things to read.
carly, i just finished reading eclipse, and it was amazing. new moon was too, it was just inherently sad.
so...read it. ya never know if you'll be surprised, and if the extras (hopefully) surpases the specials.
I read all three, uglies, pretties and specials and i loved them. i don't to read extras becaus i think it will spoil the trilogy. I also think it will be too confusing, i liked the way Specials left off, you can imagine what happens to Tally next.
Anonymouse:
I'm pretty sure that Extras starts off on a completely different storyline with different main characters....so maybe it won't spoil the trilogy for you.
Okay you've changed my mind i'll give extras a whirl!!
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