Hello. I figure, considering the topic of this forum, the best way to introduce myself is to describe my personal history with Animorphs. I started reading the series as it was fairly new. I believe I saw previews of it in book orders when it first came out (I was in 3rd grade, I think), but I didn't buy the first book upon release. I first got into Animorphs a little while later when my mom bought bought me books #1 and #7. I don't remember if it was an impulse gift on her part (he'll like these, sort of thing) or if I had asked for them.
I remember reading The Invasion and being a little wary of skipping to #7. I'm usually, especially when I was a kid, pretty anal about sticking to the "correct order." However, the other chapter series I had read (thinking Goosebumps and The Boxcar Children) didn't really have a continuing story, so I didn't think it would be an issue. I remember reading #7, getting to Ax, and thinking, "Who is...? When did...? Clearly I need to read 2-6."
So, I bought (rather, my parents did I'm sure) 2-6 and I read those to completion and finally read #7 armed with the knowledge of Aximili. Megamorphs #1 was the first "new book" I read as it came out, I think. It might have been a little after release. It still felt like I was playing catch up. #8 was the first time I felt like I was really "a part" of the series, if that makes sense.
From then on I was there for every book in the series. My first thought it still Animorphs when I walk into my Barnes and Noble. I still feel that urge to walk straight towards the back of the store where they keep the children's books. I can still point out the corner where they kept the chapter series, even though the children's section has since been rearranged.
I had a terrible habit of tearing out the "inside covers" of the earlier books in the series. On the one hand, it kind of ruined their aesthetic value. It bothers me, as an adult, that the animal head is missing from the cover. On the other hand, my mom made an awesome collage with those pictures (and other posters and things Animorphs related) that hung in my room for a very long time.
A little bit of childish silliness. When we bought #9 I believe it was the last copy Wal*Mart (yes, we bought a few at Wal*Mart when mom was grocery shopping) and there were very few of the other books there. In my mind, at the time, I assumed that they were out because they stopped ordering them. I thought this meant the series would be ending even though I had just started to get into it. I cried. Silly me. They had probably sold out because it was getting popular.
Years passed and the new Animorphs books became a ritual. Occasionally, I would get an urge to re-read the series, even as it was still releasing. Since I always, always started at the beginning (I couldn't read, say, #26 [my favorite for a long time] with reading 1-25) I became very acquainted with the earlier books. I only re-read the series once after it was over, though, so I am far less familiar with the later books. I remember them. I just can't recite them.
Speaking of, I remember my aunt once mentioning I was getting to old for books like that. I thought, and still do, that the books did an admirable job of aging with me. It was always at my maturity level (although, being an avid reader, pretty much everything was under my reading level).
#45 was, of course, a huge deal. When it came out it was just prior to me starting 7th grade (which was the beginning of jr. high for me). There was a big family get together at a camp somewhere. I read the book on the way. I wanted to try out the demo, but I couldn't due to the lack of a computer. Fortunately, my mom had forgotten something at the house (or something). I went back with her to try it out.
I as very impatient for #54. We took a trip to Iowa while I was waiting for its release. I thought it would release while we were there, but I couldn't find it. I remember thinking it would never come out. I don't know if I was just impatient, had mistimed the release date, or if there was an unusual delay between 53 and 54. I do know I got tired of not finding it, so ordered it from Amazon. It was the first thing I bought online. We used a PO Box at the time. I remember ripping it open in the post office. Bittersweet. I couldn't stop reading it. Normally, I wouldn't been a little embarrassed to be seen reading a little kid book around school, but I kept #54 with me until I was done.
Lately, I had been feeling nostalgic for the series. Perhaps due to the 10 year anniversary to its conclusion. I looked it up and was surprised to find they were being re-released and very happy to find I could buy the first 2 for my Kindle. I did so thinking I would probably just read those. I got hooked again and wanted to continue, so I dug out the old copies and have been tearing through them. I just finished. As I noted above, the earlier books (up to #30 or so) were deeply rooted in my memory. The later books were less familiar (again, this is the difference between remembering them and being able to recite them).
Interestingly, although I probably only read it a couple of time, I remember #54 pretty clearly. I think I remembered so much because, even after reading it, I would replay all the emotional highs and lows within the book. Tobias screaming "Rachel." Cassie being with not Jake. Ax as The One. Ramming the Blade Ship.
Anyway, if anyone read this entire thing I hope I didn't bore you. The past couple of weeks, reading the series for the first time in a decade, has been a crazy nostalgia trip. The series, though, is better than just nostalgia. It deserves its relaunch. Hopefully it catches on again and in a format more sustainable than the previous release (i.e. not dated and obsolete culturally within 5 years).
To be honest, I doubt I'll become a integral part of this community. Unless they create new books there's not a lot to talk about regarding a series that's 10 year's done. But I would like to share some more memories and read some yours, if you don't mind. Maybe also discuss the possibilities of new books, but that's for another topic.
