Novel # 2

Even under the most testing conditions, writers find inspiration.
I have just started novel number 2. (yay!)
It's very different from the last one, in tone, plot and character base etc, although obviously still social science fiction, and as yet unnamed.
I seem to be a 'stand alone' novelist rather than one who enjoys the challenge of the "continuing" story or a series writer. It just seems to suit my nature I guess!
What do you prefer?
Writing a series of shorter novellas as part of a series (book 1, 2, 3 and so on)
or
Writing the epic story as a stand alone.

Novel 1 (O'Tura) came in at 108,000 words!