How do you keep track of them, and do you find yourself starting too many different series and forgetting what happened in the first books?  I have a LOT of series that I've discovered, and I read the first book to make sure I like it, then try to collect the rest.  I have so many going at one time though, that I'm afraid I won't be able to remember all the details when I finally continue reading the next books.  I know some series can be read as stand-alones but others really do build on the prior stories.  I guess I need to pick a couple of them and finish the whole series before starting any more!

I've taken to keeping a notebook by the computer with lists of series I want to read--and then also with all the books in the series in order. I have this need to have all the books in a series before I ever start reading it.

For some series, I will read the books one right after the other, however with my new fave--Suzanne Brockmann, I find i need to take a break between each book in the series because it's more intense.

You know, I have been reading whole series lately!  I never thought I would read that way, but I guess I'm trying something new!  I think it started when my dad got sick and I found that reading book 1 in a series and then trying to go to a different author all together.....I guess I just had too much on my mind to concentrate.  So, I would read the 2nd in a series and then it just went from there!  I mean with all I had going on it was just comforting I guess to stay with the same characters for a while!  So far the most I have read that way has been book 1 thru 7.  Now I am starting Harry Bosch and it has like 12 in the series so I don't know that I will stay with that all the way thru!

i wait until i have the whole series and then read it. or like with the inheritance trilogy, i will go back the read the beginning two when the third one comes out

I am using goodreads.com (lots of us on there and there are groups for PBS) to keep track of my books.  I sometimes will get the whole series or go to stopyourekillingme.com and print out the author's page and mark them off that way if I'm going to a sale or something.

you can also go into your profile and do notebook entries if you want to keep track of them there

Interesting comments--I'm thinking I should probably try to read a series in quick succession although I would prefer to read other things in between for variety.  Although sometimes I read Book 1 and then it takes me a while to collect the rest of the books.  For those of you who keep track of your books on some other online site, is there some reason you don't use the TBR list and Book I've Read lists on PBS?

BIL and TBR are good, but you cant really organize them by series. but you can use the PBS notebook. i think thats what im gonna have to start doing

I'm another one who prefers to have all the books in a series before reading them.  Got burned too many times.  The hints and tips here are VERY helpful because keeping track of the chronology of a series can be maddening.   So I'm going to check out those sites posted.  Another problem I had was trying to remember all the books I've read ... not so easy after a few years and they are reprinted with different covers.  I don't mind breaking up the reading of a series with another book as long as it's not too long a break .

I use the PBS notebook entries to keep track of the series as I find interesting ones, and use several sites for finding the rest of the titles in the series. Then I list them by author, with the series & titles underneath.

When I order a book in a series, I place a - before the book. When it arrives, I remove the title from the list. When I have the whole series, I move it to the "completed" entry, which is my 3rd entry (1st entry is all mine, 2nd entry includes series for my daughter).

For series listings, in addition to FantasticFiction & StopYourekillingme listed above, I also check these sites:

Books in Series

• Book Safari Series Index - Children's books
• Books in a Series - children's books series
• HPL Books in Series: Author Index - Adult fiction series listed by author
• HPL Books in Series - Adult fiction series listed by series title
• Internet Book List - online database of information on thousands of books in a variety of genres. ...
• KDL What's Next Database - great searchable database of adult fiction
• Kidsreads.com - children's series and author information
• Series and Sequels - Young Adult Books in Series and Sequels
• Stop, You're Killing Me! - series character index
• Yahoo! Children's Series
• Yahoo! Young Adult Series

Wow Sherry, you are super-organized!  I've printed out lists for some of the series but even have trouble keeping the lists together in one spot!  : ) 

Talking about series has made me determined to get back to some of the ones that I've enjoyed, so that's what my next read will be--now to choose which one...

Wow! Sherry, great list. I had a few, but now have added more to my series search.

I have a notebook where I write down all the books in a series. If I find out a book is part of a series, I go to the author's website and read about the rest of the series and then write down all the titles. I have to own the whole series before I even start reading it.

As for reading them, I usually reread a series when the new book comes out. For example, the new Harry Dresden novel comes out April 1st. So on April 1st, I'll start rereading the entire Dresden series. Same with the Kushiel series. I love rereading my books :D

I use an excel spreadsheet, and I put the books in series order. I also use this spreadsheet to keep track of the books on my wish list and whether or not I have read or posted them. It also comes in handy when a new book is coming out and it's not listed here yet...that way I know to keep checking to put on my wishlist.

I don't check my BIR shelf because there is no way it could include all of the books I've read (and I'm too lazy to go and add them when I've already done it on goodreads)!  and my TBR shelf, well it is just large and it will tell me what books I have in my house to read.

for me personally, Goodreads just works better.  can't explain it, just does!

For non-manga I insist on having the entire series, if it is a series-wide plot. 

For "same universe" books I don't worry too much about reading them in order, unless it's pretty easy to tell the order (such as Grafton's alphabet).

For manga, I can easily keep track--I've read to where I own. :)

I try to collect a few before starting.  I put them on my WL - and it's pretty easy to keep track of a series if you organize your WL alpha by author.  My incomplete series' that are on my TBR are put in a plastic storage box - seperate from the rest of my TBR.  When I go to the bookstore or HPB, I just print that WL and take it with me.