Hello friends, being a long-time science fiction & fantasy reader and writer, there’s something I’ve always been curious about. I’ve found that many books in these two related genres are very long in length.

Are Novels With Hefty Word Counts Really Worth it?

At first, when I’d pick up one of these books that was thick as a brick I’d be ecstatic, thinking I was getting more story for my money. I’d con myself into thinking the story would not end quickly, and I wouldn’t have to search for something new to read.

All of that seemed to justify the hefty price tag that usually went along with these books, many of which are traditionally published by the large publishers. But eventually I started to question the quality of these long, drawn out novels.

Cutting Out the Filler

These days I tend to stick to shorter novels that fall into the 60k-100k word length range. (About 250-400 pages.) I find that this length of book tends to get to the heart of the novel quickly, but leaves out unwanted filler that slows the story down.

The Battle Between Writer and Publisher

Also, I read a lot of novels by independent writers like myself. The indies don’t have a publishing company exec looking over their shoulder, tinkering with their story and imposing artificial word counts on them. When it comes down to it, I’d much rather read a book by an author who produced it unfettered by the “vision” of the publisher.

Please don’t misunderstand. There are some marvelous big-length books out there that are crafted with care. The story moves with a good pace and leaves the reader satisfied and wanting more. Nevertheless, there are many books that are the complete opposite. After a few chapters you start wondering when something relevant will happen.

Reading Should Be a Pleasure, Not a Chore

In the past, I’ve trudged through to the end which is something no reader should have to endure. After all, reading one of these encyclopedia-length books requires a hefty investment of your leisure time. It’s rare, but sometimes I’ve even abandoned a particular book partway, and that is a depressing thought considering how much I’d paid for it.

Trend Seems to Be Moving Toward Shorter Books

As I said before, I prefer shorter-length books, but it’s not just me. The trend seems to be moving toward this type of novel, and I understand why. With so many books out there to choose from, services like Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited, the popularity of audio books, and the limited time we all have in our busy lives, it’s no wonder readers are moving to a shorter format.

How It Has Changed the Modern Reader

I am a member of Kindle Unlimited and I also pay for Audible. With no shortage of novels to choose from, I have to say I’ve become rather fickle. Since I’m paying a monthly fee and I don’t have to pay for the individual novel outright, I don’t give it much of a chance. If it hasn’t grabbed my attention after a chapter or two, I dump it and move onto the next novel.

If I’m halfway through the book and it slows down without adding anything to the story, I still continue reading, but if things don’t come together quickly again, I dump it and move on. Sorry, but there are too many books, and time is at a premium. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but this is how the ever changing world of publishing has changed the reader as well.

Blame It on New Technologies

One thing is for sure. None of this would have been possible without new technologies like kindles, the advent of self-publishing, and the way books are disseminated these days. It might make the publishing companies’ lives more difficult, but I think it’s something writers and readers alike can live with.

Let Me Know What You Think

What are your thoughts on this? Do you find yourself reading more 250 page novels rather than the long, 600 page books? Let me know. Send me a message from the Contact Page on this site.

Thanks, and until next time…

Art Benson