How come books don't have numbered sequels? (with the exception of manga/comic books)

[eggy32]

I was thinking about this earlier on when I decided to play The Elder Scrolls IV, and I thought "Can't wait until ES 5 comes out," and I happened to notice a series of books, (artemis Fowl if you must know) and couple help but notice a lack of numbers. Then I looked at other books and none of the had a number on it.

Why is this? Why do games and movies have number or subtitles and books just have subtitles or a different title even if they're in the same series?

 

[PlainTwo]

Most book series I read are numbered actually.

For ones that aren't, the only explanation could be author or publisher preference I guess.

 

[eggy32]

Most book series I read are numbered actually.

For ones that aren't, the only explanation could be author or publisher preference I guess.

What series' are numbered? I can't remember the last time I saw a book with a numbered sequel.

 

[Blitzwarp]

OP's avatar is epic.

OT: I don't know if I'm just being a snob, but I hate numbered things. XD I think it's really lazy and tacky when writers or studios just tack a number onto the end of a film (Jaws 2, etc.) and I'd hate to see it on books. D: By all means have numbers on the books (as they did with Narnia) but still have individual titles for the stories.

 

[darth.pixie]

Princess Diaries, Psycho, Fantastic Voyage, Science of Discworld I think.

There are more.

 

[PlainTwo]

Most book series I read are numbered actually.

For ones that aren't, the only explanation could be author or publisher preference I guess.

What series' are numbered? I can't remember the last time I saw a book with a numbered sequel.

Well some obvious ones that are numbered are:

Pendragon
A Series Of Unfortunate Events
Harry Potter (at least I think this one is numbered, I'm not 100% sure.)
Lord of the Rings (I believe this one is numbered as well.)

Some of the ones I read that are numbered:

The Legend of Drizzt (lots of books, i think there are around 15 of them? They also come in many separate trilogies.)
The Sellswords (numbered trilogy.)
The Haunted Lands (I think this series has four novels, I'm on the first.)
Blades of the Moonsea (trilogy)


There are lots of numbered series out there, but some aren't.

 

[gigastar]

Most books dont have sequel numbers because most authors are smart enough to think of an adequate subtitle for thier book. In the case of non subtitled books they usually have a distinction that relates them to thier prequel novels.

Harry Potter (at least I think this one is numbered, I'm not 100% sure.)
Lord of the Rings (I believe this one is numbered as well.)

No to both of those.

 

[Drake_Dercon]

It's just a different medium. Painters don't number their portraits following the same scenes (usually).

I wouldn't number anything if it didn't make referencing excruciatingly difficult. It always seemed more sincere to me when artists (of any variety) come up with a completely new title when they do something new. Even if they are part of the same series.

 

[PlainTwo]

Most book series I read are numbered actually.

For ones that aren't, the only explanation could be author or publisher preference I guess.

What series' are numbered? I can't remember the last time I saw a book with a numbered sequel.

By the way, by numbered do you mean as in like if book one was titled "The Adventure of Bob" and book two was "The Adventure of Bob 2"?

Or do you mean numbered as in the way I've been explaining it?

 

[GiantRaven]

Plenty of comic book collections are numbered.

 

[Eponet]

Some of the ones I read that are numbered:

The Legend of Drizzt (lots of books, i think there are around 15 of them? They also come in many separate trilogies.)
The Sellswords (numbered trilogy.)

No to these as well

 

[gigastar]

Plenty of comic book collections are numbered.

Those dont apply to this thread alongside manga volumes. Read the thread title.

 

[eggy32]

Most book series I read are numbered actually.

For ones that aren't, the only explanation could be author or publisher preference I guess.

What series' are numbered? I can't remember the last time I saw a book with a numbered sequel.

By the way, by numbered do you mean as in like if book one was titled "The Adventure of Bob" and book two was "The Adventure of Bob 2"?

Or do you mean numbered as in the way I've been explaining it?

Yes I meant "The Adventure of Bob 2" kind of numbering.

 

[GiantRaven]

Plenty of comic book collections are numbered.

Those dont apply to this thread alongside manga volumes. Read the thread title.

You can't change the thread title once I point something out and then refer me to it as if I didn't read it. I was only trying to provide an example that you hadn't at that time. Apologies.

 

[PlainTwo]

Most book series I read are numbered actually.

For ones that aren't, the only explanation could be author or publisher preference I guess.

What series' are numbered? I can't remember the last time I saw a book with a numbered sequel.

By the way, by numbered do you mean as in like if book one was titled "The Adventure of Bob" and book two was "The Adventure of Bob 2"?

Or do you mean numbered as in the way I've been explaining it?

Yes I meant "The Adventure of Bob 2" kind of numbering.

Oh I see, well ignore my previous posts then.

For the type of numbering you're talking about, I've never seen it before personally.

 

[eggy32]

Plenty of comic book collections are numbered.

Those dont apply to this thread alongside manga volumes. Read the thread title.

You can't change the thread title once I point something out and then refer me to it as if I didn't read it. I was only trying to provide an example that you hadn't at that time. Apologies.

Well I changed the title after his post correcting you. I just don't have many comics and so I forgot about them.

 

[eljawa]

Most book series I read are numbered actually.

For ones that aren't, the only explanation could be author or publisher preference I guess.

What series' are numbered? I can't remember the last time I saw a book with a numbered sequel.

harry potter. the robert langdon books.

it seems like most books use numbering for sequels as a subtitle (second book of the something chronicles or sequal to blank)

 

[gigastar]

Plenty of comic book collections are numbered.

Those dont apply to this thread alongside manga volumes. Read the thread title.

You can't change the thread title once I point something out and then refer me to it as if I didn't read it. I was only trying to provide an example that you hadn't at that time. Apologies.

Fair enough, but comics are numbered purely because of the sheer number of them when compared to full novels. The differences between comics and mangas are literally skin deep.

 

[masher]

Because apparently book writers can think of titles more creative than the one prior + 1.
And at the very least, they're much more creative with it.

 

[dragontiers]

Most books aren't numbered in the way movies and games are, but are numbered in a slightly different manner. Whereas with movies you're more likely to get Movie 2: Subtitle, in books you are more likely to get Title with Book 2 in the Name Series listed under the title. For example, I have a book right in front of me titled Juxtaposition and right under the title it says Book Three: The Apprentice Adept. Keep in mind as well, this usually only occurs with direct sequels. Many authors write books that take place within the same universe, and may even follow each other chronologically, but plot wise have nothing to do with one another. These usually are not numbered and can generally be read in any order, although some details make more sense if you've read the earlier books.