First in a Series Trivia Quiz

Answer: John D. Fitzgerald

John Fitzgerald wrote "The Great Brain" (1967), loosely based on his family life in turn of the century Utah. The Great Brain of the books is his brother Tom, who uses his intelligence to swindle the kids of their town. Eight books were published in the "Great Brain" series--the last, posthumously.

Answer: Jean M. Auel

"The Clan of the Cave Bear" (1980) is the first book in Jean Auel's "Earth's Children" series. The books tell the story of prehistoric people Ayla and Jondalar. "The Land of Painted Caves" (2011) was the sixth book in the series.

Answer: Rick Riordan

"The Lightning Thief" (2005), by Rick Riordan, is the first book in the series "Percy Jackson and the Olympians". The series is a modern adaptation of Greek mythology. Riordan has written other series connected to Roman, Egyptian, and Norse mythology.

Answer: Stephen King

"The Gunslinger" (1982), by Stephen King, is the first volume in the "Dark Tower" series, described by King as his "magnum opus". The volumes relate the quest of Roland the gunslinger and his friends. Many of King's other books have been connected to the "Dark Tower" series.

Answer: John Jakes

"The Bastard" (1974) was written by John Jakes as the first of the "Kent Family Chronicles". The books tell the story of Philip Kent and his descendants in the 18th and 19th century United States. Seven additional volumes were published in the series over the next six years.

Answer: S. M. Stirling

"Dies the Fire" (2004) is the first in the "Emberverse" series, itself a spin-off of the "Nantucket" series, both created by S. M. Stirling. "Dies the Fire" describes a world where technology devolves when some physical laws change (such as electricity and gasoline no longer being accessible as power sources). In addition, political, economic, and religious structures also change.

Answer: Ellis Peters

"A Morbid Taste for Bones" (1977) was the first of Ellis Peter's books featuring Brother Cadfael. Cadfael is a medieval Welsh monk who solves crimes in and around his abbey in Shrewsbury. Numerous other books were published in the series before the author's death in 1995.

Answer: C. S. Lewis

"The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" (1950) was the first book in "The Chronicles of Narnia" when it was written by C. S. Lewis. Modern copies of the series place "The Magician's Nephew" first. In the books, visitors from Earth travel to Narnia and meet many individuals, including Aslan the lion.

Answer: Arthur Conan Doyle

"A Study in Scarlet" (1887) was the first novel featuring Sherlock Holmes written by Arthur Conan Doyle. Three other novels and dozens of short stories followed. Sherlock Holmes's adventures usually take place in late 19th century England.

Answer: David Eddings

"Pawn of Prophecy" (1982) was David Eddings's first book in the "Belgariad" series. Four additional books and a second series, the "Malloreon", followed. Many of these books were written with his wife, Leigh Eddings, as a collaborator.