Today’s TTT is “satisfying book series”. But first, a tease…
When scolded for not emulating her father’s ostentatious frugality, she only laughed. ‘While he may forget that he is Caesar, I never forget that I am [Augustus] Caesar’s daughter.’ Caesar himself, unsurprisingly, was not amused. When the Princeps declared that he had ‘two wayward daughters to put up with, Julia and the Roman Republic’, his tetchiness was laid revealingly bare. (DYNASTY, Tom Holland)
(1) Star Trek: Millennium. This trilogy knocked my socks off when I read it first in the early 2000s, and I enjoyed it just as much when I re-read it here in 2011. The trilogy begins as a simple mystery aboard Deep Space Nine — the discovery of two bodies fused into the hull of the station, their uniforms some 20 years dated — and turns into a universe-threatening thriller. It has the singular acclaim of having inspired a video game, The Fallen.
(2) Star Trek: Destiny, David Mack. This trilogy took a lot of characters and storylines in the Star Trek Relaunch series and incorporated them into an epic story that both concluded the great Borg War storyline, and shed light into the Borg’s origins. When I started getting pack into Treklit in the 2010s, people would not shut up about Destiny, and I quickly understood why.
(3) The Arthur trilogy, Bernard Cornwell. This outstanding trilogy features all of Cornwell’s usual strengths with the added appeal of playing with Arthurian lore: the mythic aura that hangs around any Arthur story manifests itself here, especially in the second volume where there’s the slightest whiff of the otherworldly and fantastical. I think it’s the only book I’ve read in my 18 years of blogging that I referred to as “magnificent”.
(4) The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis. I only read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe as a child, but a few years back I decided to read the entire series and delighted in almost every one. (The Magician’s Nephew is still my least favorite, but I enjoy it well enough.) I was especially blown away by the last books, The Silver Chair and The Last Battle. Two favorite quotes from Silver Chair:
“We’ve got to start by finding a ruined city of giants,” said Jill. “Aslan said so.”
“Got to start by finding it, have we?” answered Puddleglum. “Not allowed to start by looking for it, I suppose?”“I’m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Aslan to lead it. I’m going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn’t any Narnia. So, thanking you kindly for our supper, if these two gentlemen and the young lady are ready, we’re leaving your court at once and setting out in the dark to spend our lives looking for Overland. Not that our lives will be very long, I should think; but that’s a small loss if the world’s as dull a place as you say.”
(5) The Joe Pickett series. This is straying a bit from my definition of “finished” series, especially seeing as a new book is scheduled for next year already, but I do find the books deeply enjoyable. Between the outdoor setting and the strength of the various characters, it’s the standout of the year for me.
(6) Sharpe, of course. I’ve been marching with the rifleman for….fifteen years and haven’t gotten tired of him since.
(7) Port William. There is nothing quite like visiting Wendell Berry’s farming town, whose story has been told by multiple characters across the decades. Speaking of, Marce Catlett is being released today!
(8) California Diaries, Ann M. Martin. This was a middle-school series following five friends’ lives across the course of a year via their journals that I loved so much I revisited it last year.
(9) The Black Widowers series. Every month, several professional men get together in a New York restaurant in a private room to enjoy dinner, conversation, and — a mystery, presented them by the guest of the month. While I enjoy these for their puzzle elements, frankly I delight in the conversation and argument between the memorable guests.
(10) Ben Kane’s Richard the Lionheart series.
Reading Freely 
Hurray for the Black Widower! I thought Asimov did an admirable job of writing that series 🙂
Yes! I enjoy reading a story or two while I’m eating — though I’m never enjoying anything as fine as the Doctors!
I have a great desire to read more of Wendell Berry.
First of all, I love the artwork header. I made the mistake of changing my art earlier this year and could not manipulate the new art into the old rectangle. I am still infuriated by this but haven’t had time to try again.
Second, the only series of yours I have read is Narnia, which I have read dozens of times since receiving the box set when I was 8. Too bad I didn’t *know* you when there was a great group read going on not that long ago as it is interesting to contrast childhood to adult favorites (for example, The Last Battle is my least favorite and I quite like The Magician’s Nephew).
I’ve never read Cornwell although I think I own one or two. I will have to take a look later this year when I don’t have quite so many library books out. I don’t know Joe Pickett so will have to take a look.
I met Ann Martin years ago when I was a sales rep for Scholastic. A very friendly and kind person, as I recall. I remember the Babysitters Club but not the series you mention.
Thanks for visiting my blog.
Constance
My pleasure! And thanks for the comment on the art. It’s The School of Athens.
For what it’s worth, Cornwell is more into combat/military historical fiction, so he’s not everyone’s thing….but that’s the majority of of HF I read!
The Arthur trilogy sounds good.
Here is our <a href=”https://www.longandshortreviews.com/miscellaneous-musings/top-ten-tuesday-satisfying-book-series/“>Top Ten Tuesday</a>.
Yes to Narnia and Port William!I love Cornwell’s Saxon Chronicles, and I want to try his Arthur series.
https://wordsandpeace.com/2025/10/07/top-ten-satisfying-book-series/
The Silver Chair has so many quotable moments! I can’t wait for the Narnia series coming out at the end of this year.
Thanks for stopping by earlier.
I’m dubious about it myself, but we’ll see!
I always enjoy a good ST book. I never read the Joe Pickett books but that’s a series I’ve wanted to check out. It looks good.
Thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog. I, too, think the Chronicles of Narnia has a very satisfying ending, though I don’t like the first half of the last book, The Last Battle. My husband and I just watched The Most Reluctant Convert on Amazon about how CS Lewis came to Christianity. I think it was a show made from a play. I really enjoyed it. It didn’t get to the specific books he wrote, more how he as a person came to his faith, reluctantly.
Shadowlands is another good one! It’s about his relationship with Joy Davidman.
I tried reading Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe a few years ago and struggled to connect with it. I made me feel bad, because it was a book my husband enjoyed as a kid and has fond memories of.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/the-rs-have-it-ten-titles-starting-with-r/
I’ve been rewatching the 90s Trek (now on Voyager) and I am somewhat intrigued by the novels, but also wary of them because I’ve never read those kinds of franchise tie-in books before!
Well, except for the Veronica Mars ones!
The numbered novels published in the 1990s are episodic and the quality is HIGHLY variable but tends toward mediocre at best. After 2004 the quality skyrockets, but those novels are part of a shared universe with its own history that develops for years AFTER the events of the shows.
I enjoyed reading the Narnia books as a child, but have never revisited them as an adult. It’s something I would like to do one day. I haven’t heard of California Diaries but I used to love The Babysitter’s Club!
I *still* haven’t finished the Sharpe series…. and its about HIGH time I started his others too! SO many books, SO little time (actually that’s not true – I have LOTS of time, just TOO many things to distract me from *reading*).
Absolutely! I’ve said it before, but you’ll love Uhtred. And you’re retired, no excuses now! :p
Nice list, Stephen. I haven’t read the Narnia books yet, but they were some of my mother-in-law’s favorite books. Thanks for sharing.
https://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2025/10/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-satisfying-book.html
I did a bit of Googling last night and the novels between the end of the 90s TV shows and the “revival” would interest me most when the authors were allowed to do what they wanted … Especially as I don’t like most of the ‘New Trek’ 😅
It’s on the long list of things I might read!
Hmm using Jetpack app first thing in the morning and I failed to reply to the correct comment 🤦🏻♀️
Yes! The Palmeri period was great, and every TV series had its own Relaunch (that’s what we called them) that tied in together in wonderful ways.
Ahh I love The Silver Chair! It is one of the least popular books in the series I believe, but a long-time favorite of mine. I feel the darker mood of the story, the different landscapes (owls! giants!), and the character of Jill Pole really open up new layers to the Narnia ‘verse. In fact I think you’ve inspired me to reread it if I can find a copy today…
I will look up the Arthurian trilogy as well, sounds intriguing.
That’s an excellent list of satisfying series! I see you are a big Star Trek fan, so am I but I stopped reading the books years ago. I was delighted to see the high praise you gave to both the Star Trek: Millennium and Star Trek: Destiny trilogies—they certainly sound like epic additions to the universe and might tempt me to start reading the books again!
Teresa @ My Bookish World
If you do, Milennium is “easier” in a way: it begins in DS9’s season five or six, so the starting point is familiar. In Destiny, though, it’s easy to feel lost if you haven’t read other books — like, why is Ezri Dax now a captain? Because of stuff that happened in DS9 Avatar and DS9 Mission Gamma, that’s why!
Cornwell’s Arthur trilogy is soooo good.