We had our first few days of fall, which means in addition to warm beverages, I’m also thinking about settling into a series of books to cozy up with (and also to complete one of the categories of the 2020 Read Great Things Challenge: A book that is part of a series).
There are lots of series out there, but sometimes it’s nice to start on something without having to wait for the next or final installment to be published (which may or may never come–I’m looking at you in particular, George R. R. Martin).
The Durham Tech Library has some of these complete series, but we also have a lot of series starters– let us know if you want the next book or books and we can borrow them from other libraries. Want to know how to get books from the library during the fall semester? Check out our Library To-Go info.
All of these series are available in whole or in part (at least Book 1) at one of the Durham Tech Library locations.
Terry McMillan’s Waiting to Exhale and Getting to Happy (2 books; Durham Tech has both). I love catching up with characters after time has passed– the first book takes place when the characters are in their thirties; the second, fifteen years later.
Libba Bray’s The Diviners series (4 books; Durham Tech has the first book in the series). A spooky, 1920s New York story of young people with extraordinary powers… and a changing world that is both hostile to them and that they must try to save.
I read the first two in the series a few weeks ago: I love a 1920s New York setting. These were nice and seasonally-appropriate.
Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians series (3 books; Durham Tech has them all). A lot dishy, wrapped up in romance, a dash of mystery, boatloads of wealth, and a whole lot of fun.
Naoki Urasawa’s Monster manga series (18 volumes; Durham Tech has all but volume 9). A doctor makes a choice, which has long-reaching impacts. For manga, mystery, and murder fans.
Also counts as A book that has been translated into English from another language.
Stieg Larsson’s Millenium series (3 books in the original trilogy; Durham Tech has them all). For lovers of dark, twisty, techy Scandinavian mysteries.
Also counts as A book that has been translated into English from another language.
There are three more books in the series written by David Lagercrantz.
Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall series (3 books; Durham Tech has the first two). An intimate historical novel about Thomas Cromwell in the court of Henry VIII.
Also A book about or that features civic engagement and
A book that has won an award.
N.K. Jemisin’s The Broken Earth series (3 books; Durham Tech has them all). Magic, power, and the last apocalypse.
Also A book about nature or the great outdoors and A book that has won an award.
Liu Cixin’s Remembrance of Earth’s Past series (3 books: Durham Tech has the first).
Aliens and particle physics and invasions.
Also A book that has been translated into English from another language.
Patrick Ness’ Chaos Walking series (3 books; Durham Tech has the first). A world where others can hear your thoughts… or is it what it seems? (It’s not.)
Need a longer mystery series that’s complete? We have some Sue Grafton and a few Lillian Jackson Braun (meow), but have you checked out Walter Mosley’s Easy Rawlins series? (14 books, supposedly done; Durham Tech has the first and one more). Mid-20th century American detective fiction that also highlights social and racial injustice.
Ken Follett’s Kingsbridge series by (3 books and a prequel; Durham Tech has the 3 of the books). A multi-generational historical novel that focuses both on architecture and family.
John Lewis’ March, Books One, Two, and Three, co-written and illustrated by Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell (3 books; Durham Tech has them all).
Beautifully illustrated memoirs encompassing John Lewis’ powerful story of his involvement in the Civil Rights movement.
If you haven’t already, read these books. Also counts as A book that has won an award, A bildungsroman, and A book with a one-word title.
Justina Ireland’s Dread Nation and Deathless Divide (2 books; Durham Tech has both). Premise? Zombie soldiers rising and ending the Civil War. What comes next is a great story about survival, bioethics, class, race, and lady body guards.
Hi! Have I told you about Murderbot? Spoiler: I have. (4 novellas; Durham Tech has them all). Martha Wells’ Murderbot is a self-aware (and self-conscious) battle AI who is working security… and watching space dramas.
Okay, so there is one already-published new novel (and another on the way), but the novella series–at least for this story arc– is complete.
Reminder: Let us know if you want the next book or books in some of the series that we just have starters for, and we can borrow them from other libraries. Our Library To-Go info can help you learn more about getting books from the library this semester.
What are some of your favorite completed (or mostly complete) series? Let us know at library@durhamtech.edu.
