The next 3 books are not quite at the same level, but I'm hooked enough on the storyline and characters to keep me going. I think I stayed up almost all night reading it. I went to New Orleans for the first time in January 1999, where Anne Rice lives and where many of her books are set. It was cool to see the restaurants and streets that Lestat and Rowan Mayfair and the other characters frequented. And I loved the rest of that series also, although it does lose its sharpness and purpose by the 4th book.
Card tends to ramble a bit when series get too long.
But he's a great writer, and his fantasy worlds are believable just through the character development and language. All his works are 10 times better when they're read aloud, which I'll sometimes do if I'm home alone on a quiet evening. B OOKS Dune, by Frank Herbert Frank Herbert spent 6 years planning and writing this book, and when I had finished reading it, I was surprised that he did it so quickly. Although character development was minimal, the development of the planet itself was fascinating, and I really think this was a book where nothing was lacking. The series goes on for 4 more books, none of which rivaled this one, but they all kept me looking forward to that subway ride home.