I have a series that's set in a world that holds nearly every mythological creature I've ever heard of or created, with a few changes of course. I have no single main character and the stories bounce all over the world. Is this allowed? Is it possible to have a series where the only connecting tie between the books is the world they're on?

I don't think that's ever been done before. But if it was, I would definitely want to read it! I think it's a wonderful, intriguing, and new idea. I'd say to go for it and see how it turns out. There are no rules, after all, on what kind of book a person can write - there are grammar rules, yes, but as far as genre and plot... I've always been of the opinion you should do what you like, and if you write it with passion, and love the story, so will your readers.

After all, I've seen plenty of mixed genres. Sci-fi/fantasy mixes, steampunk Westerns... all of them have made it onto my list of favourites, because they're so unique. As your story would be.

Plus, I love mythological creatures of all kinds.

I've seen this done at least a few times---or, at least, a "series" continuing with stories set elsewhere in the world or not directly connected to the characters or events of the previous books. (It isn't until late in The Horse and His Boy that we meet any characters we know from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, for example.) It can work well ... so long as you make the connection that makes the stories a series clear ("these are the stories of the peoples of such-and-such-land!"), and make the differences (new setting, new and significantly different POV character, etc.) clear early.

Thanks, both of you!!



I did think of Narnia, but nearly all of the other books are connected-and even that book has appearences of main characters-so I didn't know if it counted.

If, in making the connection between the books clear, would stating the name of the world be good? I suppose one could write a prologue of sorts that would be at the beginning of every book...

Also. Say the first book was set in a very secluded village that is forced from their cove into the rest of the world. They had thought they were alone but then they suddenly meet tons of different races and cultures. If, after this starting, the next book focuses soley on a war between two clans of another races and never mentions anything of the first book except a passing remark as if it had been in the news soemhwere, would that still work?




That's encouraging...Well. We must not be afeared to boldly go where no man, woman, child, creature or myth has ever gone before...Right? What else is imagination for anyway?

And if you'd like to read it, I'd be happy to let you. Critiques are very welcome-as is new insights. Not yet, of course. I haven't started it at all beyond races and cultures.

Thank you for your encouragement! Really! It makes me hopeful that it won't crash terribly.

And yes. Mythological creatures are so much fun!!

Exactly! That's what imagination is for.

Oh, I'd like that. Take your time though, of course.

You're welcome! I'm totally certain it won't crash at all. I think you have a very good chance of finishing it and getting good feedback on it.

Indeed they are!

Good. i'd be glad to have another opinion on it! And I will likely take a long time...

Thank you for your encouragement! I certainly hope so.

*grins*

My point was that they're all connected somehow, but not all by having the same main characters or being direct sequels (except Prince Caspian) or anything like that.

Two more examples are the Dalemark Quartet (Cart and Cwidder, Drowned Ammet, The Spellcoats, and The Crown of Dalemark---not necessarily in that order) by Diana Wynne Jones, the books of which are all parts of the history of Dalemark and sometimes involve characters readers of the others will recognize, and "the Saga of Recluce" by L. E. Modesitt Jr., which tends to spend two or three books on a particular place in a particular period and then jump to another period and sometimes another place.


If that fits the book, go for it. But what I had in mind was less part of the book itself, and more a mention in the blurb (and the advertising copy) that this takes place in the same world as (name-of-previous-book).


It could. As usual, it depends on how you handle it. One suggestion is to foreshadow it in the first book, like Lewis did for (if I remember correctly) The Horse and His Boy in one of the other books (Dawn Treader?)

It was? I really haven't read it for a while...

Thanks though! This helped me a lot!

Thank you for taking the time to answer me!