SCION OF CYADOR

The 11th in Modesitt's Saga of Recluce fantasy series, this one conceptually and chronologically hard on the heels of Magi'i of Cyador (p. 344). What else do you need to know? Still, the question nags: why do authors indulge themselves in such inordinately huge, never-ending series? Aside from publishers, who have their own agenda, and fans, who like what they like, let's speculate: (1) because modern speech-recognition software has made it all too easy; (2) today's editors would commit hara-kiri rather than actually edit something; (3) like a golfer's yips, once you've had Doorstopper Syndrome, you've got it; (4) the million-word barrier proves an irresistible challenge; etc.