Story Idea:
Novel a - follows a volcanist through some kind of story, and in the end, he saves folk but finds himself staring down the eruption, a real Rogue One kind of ending.
Novel b - begins with a volcanist exploring a volcano that erupts and opens up into a lost world style novel. At the end he also clearly dies.
Novel c - same premise, novel starts with a character in that no escape situation but is just the opening of the next story
Key points:
It’s third person. How the reader feels about the end/start should be based on the events, not the character’s statements or actions.
The novels are not aware of each other. These aren’t sequels.
The character has a rich background of pursuing interests. He is an amateur climber, pro volcanist, worked at a —— for a few years, etc. Slumdog Millionaire style reveal in each novel.
Novel d - near the end something cracks and he hears a narrator’s voice and dramatic music. Then ends in a rogue one style but with a wtf thought going on.
Novel e - novel starts with him remembering the previous incident. Throughout the novel he continues to crack things open because he’s looking for them. At the end, when he should have had his Rogue One ending, he slips “behind the curtain” and sees that he’s on a tv show set with mental powered camera men, and psychic writers, and a Q style omniscient director. Or something like that.
It’s essentially Quantum Leap but without the leap. He’s perfectly suited for these roles because of his past experience. The action never stops, like a real life, so there’s no leap.