[Thumpalumpacus]

Zep should've called it quits with Physical Graffiti -- swan song, indeed.

Joe Montana should've retired when his elbow went kaput.

Nixon should've done one term and walked away.

I haven't seen any of the Star Wars prequels, and I'm not going to.

Rob hit on a favorite example of mine -- Frank Herbert. The original Dune trilogy was good, but even there the downward progression was evident. The first book was concentrated dynamite, a peculiar combination of Wild-West tale, visionary ecological treatise, and philosophical musings on the meaning of time and self. By the time Children of Dune was out, the storylines had devolved into political thrillers dressed up with the sci-fi trappings of lasguns and plasteel.