Trilogies

[poliphilo]

What is it about trilogies?

Why does it feel awkward and unsatisfactory to have two books in a series, but supremely right to have three?

I've written two Purchas novels now, but I'm not going to be satisfied until I've finished the third.

Comments

[pickwick.livejournal.com]

In addition to the points above, threes are known in rhetoric to have more impact than twos or single points. If you watch any politician in an important speech, there'll be lots of lists of three, especially if they're trying to persuade you. From the budget:

And with Britain not only more stable but better off than seven years ago, it is time for us, facing new global economic challenges, to combine a new confidence about Britain’s economic potential with a new resolve to make the right long term choices and reforms to achieve excellence in education, science and enterprise.

Challenges which no industrial nation can ignore;
where other nations are moving forward;
and in which I want Britain to lead.

Our advantages, as an island nation, are a global reach wider than almost every other industrial country, a historical record of scientific achievement longer than any other country, and a foundation of political and now economic stability that goes deeper than any other country.

And when people are talking more normally, if they only have two items for a list they often add things like "..and stuff" or "and so on" to pad it up to three - looks like we just really like threes!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Now I think about it, I do this myself: Grouping adjectives in groups of three etc.

I was thinking it was just a personal quirk.

Fascinating.