Size of a Novel?

Moejoe · 02-19-2009, 05:00 PM

I've been having this discussion with friends recently and we've come to no consensus; what is the best size for a novel?

From my own reading habits I prefer short novels, in the 50-80,000 words range and shy away from the 'doorstop' kind of fiction that seems the norm. I don't know if this is a product of the kinds of fiction I enjoy -- detective novels, pulp, science-fiction from the golden era etc -- but it seems that newer novels tell the same story in twice the space.

What are your views on the size of a novel? Does it matter to you at all, or do you have a preference? With the popularisation of e-books is the value placed upon a longer novel now diminished?

desertgrandma · 02-19-2009, 05:13 PM

I think this is a personal decision.

I love anthologies of short horror and sci-fi stories.

However, I also love the longer versions of some books...Kings uncut version of "The Stand' comes to mine, specifically because he goes into so much background...i like knowing what the characters are thinking, and how they grew into what they are.

Moejoe · 02-19-2009, 05:20 PM

I think my opinion is a little skewed by my favorite novels, all of them on the shorter end of the spectrum:

Double Indemnity
Farenheit 451
I Am Legend
Any of Leigh Brackett's crime output

I have read and enjoyed both the abridged and extended versions of the Stand many years ago, but I just don't have the wherewithall to read any more King after the last few books (he needs an editor, quicksmart).

JSWolf · 02-19-2009, 06:14 PM

It depends on the story to be told. For example, Stephen King's The Stand in it's uncut edition is huge. But it tells a good story and is not full of padding. And some books can have toe story told in a lot less words. So the size of a novel has to do witht he story to be told and how it's being told. Ther eis no right and wrong way unless you look at Battlefield Earth (for example) that is too long and overly wordy. It told the story it wanted to tell and then kept going on and on.

pshrynk · 02-19-2009, 06:17 PM

I like Harry Turtledove's Alt Hist Novels, mainly because he tells the story from so many points of view and each character is fully developed. That makes for really long tales. And I loved Tad Williams' Green Angel Tower books for the similar reasons.

OTOH, shorter works that tell the stroy and grab your attention are the main staple of my reading these days.

Moejoe · 02-19-2009, 06:24 PM

I don't know so much about the publishing industry and its history, but I think I heard somewhere that the page/word count was upped at some time to show the prospective buyer that they were getting 'more' for their money. Can anybody confirm this?

Elsi · 02-19-2009, 06:41 PM

Personally, I don't care much for short stories or novellas. I find that when I've invested some time in getting to know and care for the characters, I hate to say goodbye. That's one reason why I really like series. Even if each book is not so long, I can jump right back into the fictional world.

But I don't go looking for the longest books around, either. When the length is because the plot contains more threads and better character development, then the longer the better. When the length is because an author is padding out the book with meaningless twaddle, then I get frustrated.

Book reviews and recommendations carry a lot of weight for me.

BookishDreamer · 02-19-2009, 09:29 PM

If the story is good and I like the characters, a longer book is better because it allows me to see deeper into that world. I like long books but I like long series even better. I tend to be disappointed by short stories and books even if I really love the content for the simple reason that there isn't enough content, especially if the book isn't part of a continuing series. I'm a reader who likes to feel like I can step into the story and see the scenes from every angle, just like the characters.

Dreamer

RWood · 02-19-2009, 10:04 PM

As I remember a short story (readable in one sitting) is up to 10,000 words although some say only 7,500.) A Novellette is 10,000 to 20,000 words, a Novella is 20,000 to 50,000 words, and a novel is above 50,000 words.

Donnageddon · 02-19-2009, 11:24 PM

Brevity is the soul of wit. No book should be over 80,000 words. Very few exceptions.

But I gotta go, this place is crawling with mods.

GeoffC · 02-20-2009, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

But I gotta go, this place is crawling with mods.

What !

Where !

pshrynk · 02-20-2009, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

Brevity is the soul of wit. No book should be over 80,000 words. Very few exceptions.

But I gotta go, this place is crawling with mods.

I'm watching you!

GeoffC · 02-20-2009, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshrynk

I'm watching you!

Power-crazy already !!

astra · 02-20-2009, 10:16 AM

I don't know anything about xxx words, but I like thick books, such as Tigana or The Last Light of the Sun minimum and Royal Assassin right thickness.

GeoffC · 02-20-2009, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

I don't know anything about xxx words, but I like thick books, such as Tigana or The Last Light of the Sun minimum and Royal Assassin right thickness.

ahah, that means you need an ereader that expands accordingly ....

02-19-2009, 05:00 PM	#1
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	Size of a Novel? I've been having this discussion with friends recently and we've come to no consensus; what is the best size for a novel? From my own reading habits I prefer short novels, in the 50-80,000 words range and shy away from the 'doorstop' kind of fiction that seems the norm. I don't know if this is a product of the kinds of fiction I enjoy -- detective novels, pulp, science-fiction from the golden era etc -- but it seems that newer novels tell the same story in twice the space. What are your views on the size of a novel? Does it matter to you at all, or do you have a preference? With the popularisation of e-books is the value placed upon a longer novel now diminished?

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02-19-2009, 05:13 PM	#2
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	I think this is a personal decision. I love anthologies of short horror and sci-fi stories. However, I also love the longer versions of some books...Kings uncut version of "The Stand' comes to mine, specifically because he goes into so much background...i like knowing what the characters are thinking, and how they grew into what they are.

02-19-2009, 05:20 PM	#3
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	I think my opinion is a little skewed by my favorite novels, all of them on the shorter end of the spectrum: Double Indemnity Farenheit 451 I Am Legend Any of Leigh Brackett's crime output I have read and enjoyed both the abridged and extended versions of the Stand many years ago, but I just don't have the wherewithall to read any more King after the last few books (he needs an editor, quicksmart).

02-19-2009, 06:14 PM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,677 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	It depends on the story to be told. For example, Stephen King's The Stand in it's uncut edition is huge. But it tells a good story and is not full of padding. And some books can have toe story told in a lot less words. So the size of a novel has to do witht he story to be told and how it's being told. Ther eis no right and wrong way unless you look at Battlefield Earth (for example) that is too long and overly wordy. It told the story it wanted to tell and then kept going on and on.

02-19-2009, 06:17 PM	#5
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	I like Harry Turtledove's Alt Hist Novels, mainly because he tells the story from so many points of view and each character is fully developed. That makes for really long tales. And I loved Tad Williams' Green Angel Tower books for the similar reasons. OTOH, shorter works that tell the stroy and grab your attention are the main staple of my reading these days.

02-19-2009, 06:24 PM	#6
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	I don't know so much about the publishing industry and its history, but I think I heard somewhere that the page/word count was upped at some time to show the prospective buyer that they were getting 'more' for their money. Can anybody confirm this?

02-19-2009, 06:41 PM	#7
Elsi Wizard Posts: 2,366 Karma: 12000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas, USA Device: Kindle; Sony PRS 505; Blackberry 8700C	Personally, I don't care much for short stories or novellas. I find that when I've invested some time in getting to know and care for the characters, I hate to say goodbye. That's one reason why I really like series. Even if each book is not so long, I can jump right back into the fictional world. But I don't go looking for the longest books around, either. When the length is because the plot contains more threads and better character development, then the longer the better. When the length is because an author is padding out the book with meaningless twaddle, then I get frustrated. Book reviews and recommendations carry a lot of weight for me.

02-19-2009, 09:29 PM	#8
BookishDreamer Cultural Artist Posts: 1,128 Karma: 12829 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Georgia Device: Sony 505, Kindle 2	If the story is good and I like the characters, a longer book is better because it allows me to see deeper into that world. I like long books but I like long series even better. I tend to be disappointed by short stories and books even if I really love the content for the simple reason that there isn't enough content, especially if the book isn't part of a continuing series. I'm a reader who likes to feel like I can step into the story and see the scenes from every angle, just like the characters. Dreamer

02-19-2009, 10:04 PM	#9
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	As I remember a short story (readable in one sitting) is up to 10,000 words although some say only 7,500.) A Novellette is 10,000 to 20,000 words, a Novella is 20,000 to 50,000 words, and a novel is above 50,000 words.

02-19-2009, 11:24 PM	#10
Donnageddon Now you lishen here... Posts: 2,494 Karma: 479498 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle-ish Device: Sony PRS-650. Kobo Touch, Kindle Fire	Brevity is the soul of wit. No book should be over 80,000 words. Very few exceptions. But I gotta go, this place is crawling with mods.

02-20-2009, 10:16 AM	#14
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	I don't know anything about xxx words, but I like thick books, such as Tigana or The Last Light of the Sun minimum and Royal Assassin right thickness.

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