Book Divisions

[Draz74]

People have been talking a lot about how the current book is running way longer than any of the previous books, and about how they're annoyed with every subplot at this point that delays the conclusion of this book and the start of the next.

But here's the question: are we sure the book after Don't Split The Party hasn't actually concluded already?

I don't know where the division between books would be, exactly, but according to the Demon Roaches (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0901.html), there is one that hasn't been announced out-of-comic yet.

The Roaches state that O-chul does not appear in "this book" (the one including episode #901). O-chul's last appearance was in #709 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0709.html). So ... where between those could a book transition be made?

#833 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0833.html) seems like a decent cadence, I guess. The Order is kinda still in the middle of everything, but it's the conclusion of several other plotlines (the Resistance/Team Peregrine, the search for the phylactery, Redcloak & Gobbotopia).

[Porthos]

People have been talking a lot about how the current book is running way longer than any of the previous books, and about how they're annoyed with every subplot at this point that delays the conclusion of this book and the start of the next.

But here's the question: are we sure the book after Don't Split The Party hasn't actually concluded already?

I don't know where the division between books would be, exactly, but according to the Demon Roaches (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0901.html), there is one that hasn't been announced out-of-comic yet.

The Roaches state that O-chul does not appear in "this book" (the one including episode #901). O-chul's last appearance was in #709 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0709.html). So ... where between those could a book transition be made?

#833 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0833.html) seems like a decent cadence, I guess. The Order is kinda still in the middle of everything, but it's the conclusion of several other plotlines (the Resistance/Team Peregrine, the search for the phylactery, Redcloak & Gobbotopia).

Rich has always said when a book arc ends. Moreover he said there will be two more books after this one finishes for a total of seven, even if the last book has to be a doorstopper. That sorta implies this one hasn't finished yet. :smallwink:

As for Sir-Not-Appearing? Two things:

A) Rich doesn't memeber every single little detail he's done. For example, the Durkon and the Detect Magic business.

B) Paradoxically Sir Not Appearing In This Film DID appear in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. His picture was in it and everything. :smalltongue:

If one wants to be techincal, O-Chul appeared in this book just as much as Sir Not Appearing did in MPatHG: A quick side shot cameo and quickly forgotten by the main plot.

[Kish]

But here's the question: are we sure the book after Don't Split The Party hasn't actually concluded already?
Where one draws We lines is a personal decision.

With this post, I represent a We who are quite positive that the book after Don't Split the Party hasn't already concluded. I do not know who its members are, other than Kish.

[Peelee]

Where one draws We lines is a personal decision.

With this post, I represent a We who are quite positive that the book after Don't Split the Party hasn't already concluded. I do not know who its members are, other than Kish.

I'll join that We. In fact, unless otherwise stated, I'll be assumed to be in most of Kish's We groups, since he makes excellent points more often than not. The "not" being whenever I disagree with him, whether or not he's right in that instance.

[Codyage]

O-Chul did appear though! In the Dream Sequence!

[factotum]

I'm with the general line of opinion here--Rich has always previously made it very obvious indeed when a book ends (and in several cases has gone on a hiatus for a few weeks or even months before starting the next one), so I think we can be reasonably sure that we haven't reached the end of the book yet (and thus we can also be sure that it's going to be a sizeable volume indeed!).

[SavageWombat]

While I think you all have a point, we don't have a large sample size of "he's always ended the book" to go from.

I'd be happy to side with Kish except that I can't think of a good division point for the volumes. So I'm currently still on "ending in a few strips".

Clearly we're not getting out of the desert in this book.

[Porthos]

When this topic came up in the 'Speaking of the next book' thread a while back, I remembered Rich making some sort of comment during the KS drive that Book 5 was no where near finished yet.

Well, as I said in that thread earlier today, I finally found that comment.

During the beginning of the KS drive (when this was the current strip (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0831.html)), Rich had this to day about Book 5 being available to purchace as a KS extra:


Book 5 is not happening right now. If it was happening, it would have been the very first thing I put up as a reward. I'm not going to take money for a book for which I don't know the exact length, the price, the date of delivery, what the cover looks like, or even if it will be printed this year.I am not willing to take that much risk that things will happen between now and whatever distant date that Book 5 is ready, and I guarantee you, it is not as close to being done as you think it is.

That last comment should preclude any possiblity that Rich was making the Enter the Pyramid which happened a few strips later a book division mark.

Considering everything else that has been said here and there, I am going with the simpliest option and presuming that, yes, we are still in Book 5. :smallsmile: