Book Series with less than 250 pages

[Luffy]

Hi there, it's easy to find books with 320ish pages. Therefore I'm asking for book series with less than 250 pages. I've discovered the Kate Shugak series, and since my leisure time is going to shrink I'm asking for this recommendation.

[HarryT]

All of Agatha Christie's novels fit your requirements.

[Luffy]

Thanks for the rec, HarryT. I have read most of them,though. Most of the Poirot ones, and all of the Marple ones. Tommy and Tuppence too. I've yet to read And Then There Were None, however.

[gmw]

Hmm... murder mystery seems a common/close fit for this criteria:

The Arthur Upfield's (Inspector Bonaparte / "Bony") books are mostly under 250 pages. I really enjoy these, but then they're set in Australia and I'm Australian ... not sure how well they come across for others.

I see the first few of my Ian Rankin (Inspector Rebus) novels come in at under 250 (or not much over). I enjoyed the half-a-dozen or so of these I've read. Pretty dark and not so great that I've rushed out to grab them all, but still a good read.


A lot of older Science Fiction and Fantasy fits into this page range if you're interested:

Michael Moorcock has several series that fall well within this limit. I particularly enjoyed the Michael Kane series (an unabashed tribute to Edgar Rice Burroughs and done very well), and also his Dancers at the End of Time fantasy. The Elric series is probably more famous, and not a bad read.

Most of the afore-mentioned Edgar Rice Burroughs books are within this length.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis are all under 200 pages (160 odd in the paperback editions I have).


The closest I seem to come in newer series is the Artemis Fowl books by Eoin Colfer. Amazon lists the first one at 300 pages. My paperback editions all come out over 300 pages - but the font is quite large. But they're also light easy reading so that might make up for it for you Intended for younger readers, but I really enjoyed these.

And if you're not averse to books for younger readers, Terry Pratchett's Bromeliad trilogy (Truckers, Diggers and Wings) is brilliant - an epic in miniature. Less brilliant, but still good (younger reader) novels are his Johnny Maxwell books. And these all come in well under 250 pages each.

[HarryT]

That's a terribly wide remit. It would be an awful lot easier to help you if you told us what type of books you enjoy reading.

[rkomar]

Georges Simenon's Maigret mystery books are usually around 150 pages. They are quick to read, but high quality in my opinion.

[Luffy]

Originally Posted by gmw

Hmm... murder mystery seems a common/close fit for this criteria:

The Arthur Upfield's (Inspector Bonaparte / "Bony") books are mostly under 250 pages. I really enjoy these, but then they're set in Australia and I'm Australian ... not sure how well they come across for others.

I see the first few of my Ian Rankin (Inspector Rebus) novels come in at under 250 (or not much over). I enjoyed the half-a-dozen or so of these I've read. Pretty dark and not so great that I've rushed out to grab them all, but still a good read.


A lot of older Science Fiction and Fantasy fits into this page range if you're interested:

Michael Moorcock has several series that fall well within this limit. I particularly enjoyed the Michael Kane series (an unabashed tribute to Edgar Rice Burroughs and done very well), and also his Dancers at the End of Time fantasy. The Elric series is probably more famous, and not a bad read.

Most of the afore-mentioned Edgar Rice Burroughs books are within this length.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis are all under 200 pages (160 odd in the paperback editions I have).


The closest I seem to come in newer series is the Artemis Fowl books by Eoin Colfer. Amazon lists the first one at 300 pages. My paperback editions all come out over 300 pages - but the font is quite large. But they're also light easy reading so that might make up for it for you Intended for younger readers, but I really enjoyed these.

And if you're not averse to books for younger readers, Terry Pratchett's Bromeliad trilogy (Truckers, Diggers and Wings) is brilliant - an epic in miniature. Less brilliant, but still good (younger reader) novels are his Johnny Maxwell books. And these all come in well under 250 pages each.

Thanks for the recs. I'm particularly interested in the Artemis Fowl books. These recs are priceless.

[Luffy]

Originally Posted by HarryT

That's a terribly wide remit. It would be an awful lot easier to help you if you told us what type of books you enjoy reading.

If that was meant for me, I'll say that I like most books without any romance, therefore no Paranormal stuff. I also don't like obscure books from Isaac Asimov. I don't enjoy books about zombies.

I like mysteries, cozy mysteries, thrillers and good urban fantasy.

[Luffy]

Originally Posted by rkomar

Georges Simenon's Maigret mystery books are usually around 150 pages. They are quick to read, but high quality in my opinion.

Well spotted, I completely forgot about Maigret, thanks man.

[Apache]

The Nero Wolf series by Rex Stout would fit your criteria too.
Apache

[HarryT]

As would Dick Francis. Both prolific authors.

[curtw]

Pretty much all of Edgar Rice Burroughs' series consist of relatively short novels. Pick the one that has the number of books you want to read...

• Tarzan--24
• Mars--11
• Pellucidar--7
• Venus--5
• Caspak--3
• Moon--3
• Mucker--2
• Apache--2

[crossi]

Heron Carvic's Miss Seeton cozy mystery series. (only the first 5 actually written by him). James White's Hospital Station series. There are a bunch of books by James Schmitz that are listed as about 450 pages but they are actually collections of Novellas with common themes or characters so each could be read separately.

[Luffy]

Thanks guys, your help exceeded my expectations. Hope I get a couple of recs more.

[John F]

Maybe Discworld? But they are a little longer than 250.