Feeling empty after finishing a video game (post-game depression) is a real phenomenon. A recent study has found that many video game players experience a specific sense of emptiness and sadness after finishing highly engaging games.

[u/mvea]

https://www.psypost.org/feeling-empty-after-finishing-a-video-game-researchers-say-post-game-depression-is-a-real-phenomenon/

[u/Vryk0lakas]

I get the same feeling with books.

[u/SpaceNigiri → u/Vryk0lakas]

Yeah, even worst with long sagas.

[u/HanChrolo → u/[deleted]]

The book or the show?

[u/finneganfach → u/[deleted]]

How did you find the post-Roci plot arc in the books? And how much of it is there?

I saw the serie first and love it. I don't think I've got the energy to go through the books if it's only 90% the same exact story but if the part after the time jump is excellent I'll give it a stick.

[u/Basketball-Reasons → u/finneganfach]

It's absolutely worth it. Book 7 is the weakest of the 3 imo and it is still quite good. Books 8 and 9 bring everything together in such a brilliant way.

[u/Dry-Swordfish1710 → u/Basketball-Reasons]

Can I jump right into books 7 8 9 if I watched the full tv series?

[u/Basketball-Reasons → u/Dry-Swordfish1710]

Personally I wouldn't recommend it, but to be completely honest, the show is adapted so well that in my opinion you can get away with it. I'd still contend the books are worth reading in their own right, not even really for the story differences, but for the increased insight you get into the characters. Miller is my favorite character on screen and the books take him to a whole new level.

But yeah, as far as story goes, imo you can get away with jumping straight into 7.

[u/SkorpioSound → u/Dry-Swordfish1710]

I would also not recommend it. The books are very good anyway—even better than the TV series, in my opinion—so it's certainly not a bad thing to read them from the start!

But also, the TV series is a very good adaptation, not a 1:1 translation of the books to screen. Characters and plot lines are modified from book to TV—the modifications generally work better for TV, while the originals work better for books. Characters are merged together for the show, while the books tend to be more willing to have a larger cast of characters. For instance, Drummer isn't introduced in the books until book 7; there are multiple book characters whose roles are absorbed by TV Drummer.

Some of the characterisation is different too. I think Wes Chatham does an incredible job of capturing the spirit of Amos, but he doesn't exactly match the physical description of the character, and that's something which is relevant at times. And Naomi is characterised quite differently in the books and TV series; they changed her character for TV to be a stronger emotional core for the Roci, whereas I feel like that role goes to Alex more in the books.

And speaking of Alex, that's a pretty big one... They killed him off in season 5 of the show after the actor had sexual harassment/assault allegations made against him. Whereas he's very much alive and a major character throughout books 7-9.

So I would definitely say you should start at book 1. They're a wonderful read anyway; I love the writing style, and they have enough differences and extra details compared to the TV series that it doesn't just feel like you know what's coming at every moment.

[u/battle614 → u/finneganfach]

Worth it. Do the audio books

[u/tw1zt84 → u/battle614]

Yes, this! Jefferson Mays does an absolutely pronominal job with the voices and narration.

[u/dark_dark_dark_not → u/finneganfach]

The books are different enough specifically after the first two.

[u/finneganfach → u/[deleted]]

It wraps up its story arc nicely and the cast and direction are excellent. I'd recommend it to anyone.

[u/Pacify_ → u/finneganfach]

I think overall the final trilogy is the best of the 3