The Reading Vent & Rant Thread

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

And don't forget this trending type of annoyingly promotional BS:

Novel
[Anything]: a Novel

Short Stories
[Anything]: Short Stories

Now, true, a few books actually do have 'novel' or 'short stories' as part of the title - but it's not that many.

I do find it belittling when an author feels the need to tell me that the book I have is a novel. I know it's a novel. Does the author really think that his/her readers are that stupid that they won't know the book is a novel?

[Cactus Chef]

Originally Posted by Cactus Chef

Unfortunately, they'll probably soon re-release V. as V.: A Satirical Postmodern Novel by World's Most Elusive Author Thomas Pynchon 60th Anniversary Edition Perfect For Fans of Philip K. Dick (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)

Dang, even trying my best to be as long-winded as possible, I am no match for genuine Amazon listings:

Blood of Hercules: A Dark Fantasy Romance of Myth and Power, Perfect for Fans of Greek Mythology and Spicy BookTok Reads, Discover Hercules Reimagined Like Never Before (Villains of Lore Book 1)

I stand in awe of their ability to say so much while saying nothing.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I do find it belittling when an author feels the need to tell me that the book I have is a novel. I know it's a novel. Does the author really think that his/her readers are that stupid that they won't know the book is a novel?

Even more annoying when the book is barely novella length and they slap a Novel into the title.

The guidelines I use for book lengths are:

Microfiction/Nanofiction: 5 to 300 words
Flash Fiction: 300 to 1,000 words
Short Story: 1,000 to 7,500 words
Novelette: 7,500 to 17,500 words
Novella: 17,500 to 50,000 words
Novel: 50,000 to 120,000 words
Epic Novel: 120,000+ words

[maddz]

Originally Posted by DNSB

The guidelines I use for book lengths are:

Microfiction/Nanofiction: 5 to 300 words
Flash Fiction: 300 to 1,000 words
Short Story: 1,000 to 7,500 words
Novelette: 7,500 to 17,500 words
Novella: 17,500 to 50,000 words
Novel: 50,000 to 120,000 words
Epic Novel: 120,000+ words

I add Anthology and Omnibus into my list, and ignore the first 2 (I might have the occasional Flash Fiction but I include them in Short Story). I usually split omnibuses into the individual books, but don't bother with anthologies (life's too short...)

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Even more annoying when the book is barely novella length and they slap a Novel into the title.

The guidelines I use for book lengths are:

Microfiction/Nanofiction: 5 to 300 words
Flash Fiction: 300 to 1,000 words
Short Story: 1,000 to 7,500 words
Novelette: 7,500 to 17,500 words
Novella: 17,500 to 50,000 words
Novel: 50,000 to 120,000 words
Epic Novel: 120,000+ words

What I find annoying is when the the story is shorter then the rest of the book because it's full of adverts and previews.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by maddz

I add Anthology and Omnibus into my list, and ignore the first 2 (I might have the occasional Flash Fiction but I include them in Short Story). I usually split omnibuses into the individual books, but don't bother with anthologies (life's too short...)

Speaking of anthologies, they too can be really annoying. You are reading a series and find a short story that's part of the series is in an anthology and it's the only story you want to read.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Speaking of anthologies, they too can be really annoying. You are reading a series and find a short story that's part of the series is in an anthology and it's the only story you want to read.

I just skip it. Don't read short stories anyway, part of a series or not. I rarely even read novellas.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I just skip it. Don't read short stories anyway, part of a series or not. I rarely even read novellas.

If I skipped novellas/short stories, I'd miss bits (and some of those bits are well worth reading) from some good series such as Dresden Files, Murderbot, The Chronicles of St Mary's.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If I skipped novellas/short stories, I'd miss bits (and some of those bits are well worth reading) from some good series such as Dresden Files, Murderbot, The Chronicles of St Mary's.

Well, Murderbot IS mostly novellas, so I do read them in that case. Otherwise I don't really care if I miss bits.

[maddz]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I just skip it. Don't read short stories anyway, part of a series or not. I rarely even read novellas.

Pre-pandemic, I read a lot of short fiction on my commute, as it fitted nicely into a 55 minute train journey. Coupled with waiting time, I could usually read one novella or a couple of short stories. Nowadays, I'm part retired and largely work from home.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I do find it belittling when an author feels the need to tell me that the book I have is a novel. I know it's a novel. Does the author really think that his/her readers are that stupid that they won't know the book is a novel?

Well, it could be the other way around:

Instead of the reader made to feel stupid, perhaps a few authors are.....[My Southern upbringing prevents me from completing my thought].

Yes, I agree with you.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by Cactus Chef

Dang, even trying my best to be as long-winded as possible, I am no match for genuine Amazon listings:

Blood of Hercules: A Dark Fantasy Romance of Myth and Power, Perfect for Fans of Greek Mythology and Spicy BookTok Reads, Discover Hercules Reimagined Like Never Before (Villains of Lore Book 1)

I stand in awe of their ability to say so much while saying nothing.

Beware of the second arc, due after the descriptive diarrhea of that first arc is completed.

[Dr. Drib]

And now there is this:

https://www.amazon.com/Novel-James-M...s%2C295&sr=8-1

[nana77]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Well, it could be the other way around:

Instead of the reader made to feel stupid, perhaps a few authors are.....[My Southern upbringing prevents me from completing my thought].

Yes, I agree with you.

May be possible that, as if even before the Covid pandemic anyone was yet mind-fulffiled on things (perhalps that doesn't needs), after that period it became more popular to put tags on anything (I recall having heard about it), like an unconscious conseguence from that period (?).
I guess that authors that has 25 years of writtings just doesn't do that.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

And now there is this:

Ye gods. There is no limit to ridiculous listings, it seems.