Left Hanging: Difference between revisions

* The Charles Sheffield sci-fi novel ''Cold as Ice'' follows this trope to ridiculous extremes as the writer tells the story of several, unconnected main characters. One of these, a standard [[Person of Mass Destruction|End of the World]] plot, is resolved in the main story. The others are swiftly, and without explanation, dealt with in the Epilogue.

** The epilogue is more of a [[Sequel Hook]], except it is not intended to be followed by an actual sequel, but rather to take the sci-fi up a notch and end the book with a bang, letting the reader imagine what could follow, rather than tying up all loose end. Charles Sheffield does this in several of his books. It is a bit like a beefed up sci-fi/literary version of [[Truck Driver's Gear Change|the Truck Driver's Gear Change]].

* Raymond E. Feist's ''[[The Riftwar Cycle|Riftwar Legacy]]'' series, which was left unfinished due to copyright issues, since two of the three books were novelisations on Riftwar-based video games. The events that presumably happen during the finale of that series have been referenced in later books, but it is uncertain whether the books will actually ever be written.

* ''[[The Brothers Karamazov]]'', on any number of plot points. {{spoiler|Dmitri is still wrongfully in jail, convicted of a crime he didn't commit. Ivan is still suffering from insanity. The fate of Ilyusha's family is uncertain. Alyosha's fate is uncertain.}} We've all [[An Aesop|learned a lesson,]] though, so they don't need to be cleared up for us.