I have wanted to read these for so long. But, I tell you… I hate, loath trying to figure out the order to these convoluted series. So once I found the Dr. Fell website, In Loco Domini, I saved that list and slowly started to build my library so I could read them. Then, yesterday I was in the mood for a short, raunchy BDSM, and I thought I’d try to read Pet Sitting. Now… I’m addicted.
So, as far as I can tell I’m reading them in the right order, though it’s so hard to figure out where to get some of these stories (I suspect I’m going to have to buy the paperbacks, but that’s okay 
). And I’m really loving them. I don’t know what I expected exactly. Maybe I’m a bit thrown off BDSM after trying to read Submission, the first book in the Deviations series. I had a hard time with that book and I still haven’t finished it. It seems to clinical at times and I can’t really get into the relationship. So I was delightfully surprised at much of a character study these stories are — in bits and pieces — of John Fell. I like his character and the slowly building world of characters around him. I just finished reading Exotic Pets, the second book in the Lost and Found chaser series, and I really like how the author added the more lighthearted side of the community that’s being built. I’m so excited to read more!
I know a lot of you have read these. What do you think? Are you fans of Dr. Fell? And remember! I’m spoiler-phobic and pretty early on in the series (Fell just met Tommy and they’ve made a 6 month contract), so don’t spoiler me!
Tam
I’m not really into the Dr. Fell books. I’ve read a few here and there as they often show up in Toy Box or other short story anthologies, but it was never enough to pique my interest, in fact a few didn’t work for me at all. I remember once where there were problems with the sewer lines and the sub was punished for that. Umm. Call the city, I don’t think you sub is responsible for the entire sewer system in whatever town. So I don’t get that kind of master/slave 24/7 thing. Lots of people LURVE EM though, so you won’t be alone. I know Jen has most of them and wanted to read them all as well.
Cole
Wow that sewer line thing is crazy! I’ll have to watch out for that one
I”m iffy about the 24/7 BDSM books. It all depends on the characters, specifically the Dom IMO. I’ve read books where the Dom is really mean, you know? I don’t usually like those.
I don’t know how you can read books out of order!! I’m terrible about that. It bugs the hell out of me to do that, so I have to find them all and read them, no matter how difficult it is to find them all, and it sure was in this case!
Tam
Well, when I come across it I just read it. Of course I’m thinking “I have no clue what is going on” but for a 20 page short, it’s kind of “whatever”. I read the Dr. Fell that was in the Charity Sip last year. I didn’t rate it at all because it’s like a reunion book and except for a few names I’d run across it made NO SENSE. LOL I mean it was cute and sweet and involved a children’s birthday party, but I had no clue who anyone was.
Well, I don’t remember the details of the sewer, but IMHO, it was not the subs fault. But yeah, if they seem mean, I don’t like it. It’s not a romance then to me.
Cole
Wow, see I couldn’t do that. It would drive me crazy! Well, I’m already crazy — I spent about an hour to an hour and a half putting together a document for my own reference with all the short stories and books listed in Syd McGinley’s preferred reading order and with where I can find the books
Tam
You’re insane. LOL You should post it, it would probably be helpful to people looking for that. I wish I had read all the Paolo and Preston stories in order. I may still be missing some. Feel free to check those out for me.
Cole
LOL I will because those are another series I want to read. But what’s the name of the series? Who was the author again? I read one of them but I have NO idea what it was, lol.
Chris
I’ve read a random one or two, but they really didn’t draw me in. However, orannia read the entire series last month and loved all of them!
Cole
I’m really enjoying them!
clarelondon
I’m pitching in for the defence LOL. I LOVE all the stories, and have them in both paperback and ebook. Some of the characters are less fascinating to me, admittedly, and my favourite stories tend to be at the beginning of the arc when Dr Fell is at his grumpiest
. Like a lot of series (book and TV), I think it depends if the reader invests in the characters from the start as to whether they become a fan or not. I liked the introduction of a “hero” who struggles with grief and mixing with his social circle, I was fascinated by the D/s dynamic as a daily lifestyle, and I was equally irritated and captivated by Twink 
. You can chat to me about them all any time 
Cole
Thanks Clare!!
I agree, I just read the story and the story after where Fell visits Pol and is sortof… refreshed? And I miss grumpy Fell 
Oh man I love Twink! I agree with you about getting in in the beginning. Plus, I like how smart Fell is, you know? I always laugh when I find an obscure literature reference in something he says, it cracks me up. Plus, all the books with 24/7 D/s have been really heavy, and I like how much of a growing process this whole community goes through and how it isn’t all constant kneeling and deference, there’s fun and light hearted moments too. I usually only see that in m/m BDSM where the couple only practices in scene. I’m about to start Attitude Adjustments and I’m really excited about that one!
orannia
*raises hand*
I am the orannia that Chris spoke of and I went on a glom of this series last month and…I adored them. And you hit the nail on the head in your post as to why they worked for me:
So I was delightfully surprised at much of a character study these stories are — in bits and pieces — of John Fell.
I love character-based books. And *raises hand again* I adore Twink too. It’s interesting watching his journey through the books as well (and that’s as much as I’m going to say as I don’t want to step into spoiler territory).
This is the first series where I’ve understood the 24/7 lifestyle (not that I’ve read many books in this genre) because I could see how it worked for the characters.
Happy reading of Attitude Adjustments! Oh, and I followed the list on In Loco Domini when I read it, but I bought the paperbacks as the series is so a keeper *grin*
Cole
Hey orannia! I just finished the last Lost and Found story and I’m halfway through Attitude Adjustments. I’m a bit sad that I’ll be done with the proper Fell books, but I suppose it will be nice to read some of the other stories too. I’m really looking forward to reading Pink: Dolorosa
I’m trying to decide if I want to wait to read the Boys of Fell stories until after I buy the paperbacks, or if I should go ahead now… most of them are published in ebooks right now so I suppose it would have been nicer to have had the paperbacks while reading the ones I’ve read now, but.. oh well!
chickie434
I’ve wanted to read this series for a while but the order threw me off too. I’ve read the stories that were in the Toy Box anthologies, but haven’t gotten around to the others yet. Probably won’t get to this series till I finish Sean Michaels’ Hammer novels. Let me know what you think about these books though, and let me know if I should read them. Thanks!
Cole
I really really love these. I have finished the Fell series and now I’m reading through The Boys of Fell stories, and they’re really good too. Yeah, there’s a link at the top of the page for the proper order if you’re interested, that really helped me. I tried to read the first Hammer novel an I just… I didn’t like it (it was a DNF for me), so I haven’t ever decided if I want to read more. I have a huge problem with reading books out of order so unless they’re all very loosely related I might have a hard time skipping that one to read on.
Lisa
I haven’t read this series, yet, but I think I would really like it. It’s nice to find someone else that is interested in reading these types of stories. I read a lot of books with BDSM and D/s themes. I find that lifestyle fascinating.
I agree with Tam. Maybe you should post your document with the correct reading order. That’s the main reason I never started this series.
Cole
I think you would like them. I really liked the characters in this one and the difference between this and most BDSM books I read. Most are insular, about one particular couple, but in this series there’s a whole community of Doms and boys. It’s really great.
The file I made was for my own reference and which books I had and wanted to buy but it’s taken from Syd McGinley’s reading order that she posted here:
http://www.inlocodomini.com/Excerpts_and_Extras.html
Pingback: Weekend Update & Coming Week (6/10 – 6/16) « The Armchair Reader