Star Trek Paperback Novels Are Too Long
- Thread starter Dayton3
- Start date
It depends on the book, I guess.
Generally, for me, the length only matters if the book isn't good.
I have to say that this is something of an odd complaint, though. If you don't like the length, don't get it. *shrug*
Generally, for me, the length only matters if the book isn't good.
I have to say that this is something of an odd complaint, though. If you don't like the length, don't get it. *shrug*
There seems to be a Law of Conservation of Bitching in Star Trek fandom. No matter what changes are made, there's going to be people complaining. Not too long ago people were complaining about short novels not worth the cover price and begging for big epic stories told in one book. Now this. Ain't fandom wonderful?
The last Trek book I read was Before Dishonor. Something like 300 pages. It took me three days to read. I have a full time+ job, a family, and I'm involved in several community activities (Lions Club, church choir(s)).
I've been reading the 10th Repairman Jack book. 450 pages. I'm on day 3 and almost done. Granted, I'm on vacation this week.
Back in the so called "good ole days" of Trek novels, many of them were much closer to 300 pages anyway.
I'm really not seeing the issue.
The Scalzi Old Man's War Trilogy was upwards of 300 pages per book ... the Dresden Files books are anywhere from 300 to 500 per book ... Sandra McDonald's Outback Stars was over 300.
"Legitimate" Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror books all top 300 pages easily. From what I've read in this forum, I get the distinct feeling that the Trek writers do NOT want to be classified as "pulp" Sci-Fi, and feel that their works should be in the "legitimate" classification.
Kvetching that the books are too long, when legit Sci-Fi books are upwards of 300+ pages, kind of sends the message that you want Trek novels to be "pulp."
I've been reading the 10th Repairman Jack book. 450 pages. I'm on day 3 and almost done. Granted, I'm on vacation this week.
Back in the so called "good ole days" of Trek novels, many of them were much closer to 300 pages anyway.
I'm really not seeing the issue.
The Scalzi Old Man's War Trilogy was upwards of 300 pages per book ... the Dresden Files books are anywhere from 300 to 500 per book ... Sandra McDonald's Outback Stars was over 300.
"Legitimate" Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror books all top 300 pages easily. From what I've read in this forum, I get the distinct feeling that the Trek writers do NOT want to be classified as "pulp" Sci-Fi, and feel that their works should be in the "legitimate" classification.
Kvetching that the books are too long, when legit Sci-Fi books are upwards of 300+ pages, kind of sends the message that you want Trek novels to be "pulp."
I don't generally mind, again, unless the novel isn't enjoyable. Then I'm screwed.
I have one-year-old twins and read very slowly, anyway, so a 500 page book is daunting to me. The only real time I get to read is in the bathroom. I know that sounds funny, but it's true. From the time I get up to when I am able to go to bed, I'm moving the whole time. I would love to find a 1/2 hour to plop on the couch and read. At this point in my life, it's not happening.
I love that the newer novels are longer now. Granted it does suck when the story is slow or boring, but if it's a good read then you get so immersed that you don't want it to end.
Short novels are great and all, but if you can advance your story well and keep the reader engrossed then it shouldn't matter that a book is to long right???
Short novels are great and all, but if you can advance your story well and keep the reader engrossed then it shouldn't matter that a book is to long right???
There's no way that the increased length isn't a boon to the authors. They have a larger canvas! If they have more room for storytelling, they have more time to develop characters at a natural pace. I honestly don't mind reading longer books; in fact, my sentiments are closer to those expressed above - if I'm shelling out more than I used to, I'm glad I get to read more in return! 
I'm in the same situation (well, not one-year-old twins, you have my sympathies there - a three year old and an almost one year old is bad enough!), and since I know I'm not going to get the time to settle in and enjoy the book I haven't read any fiction since offspring number 2 was born. I'm getting my evenings back now though, so I'm looking forward to getting back into Trek Lit - Vanguard first I think
Just what the heck is wrong with "long" books? 500 pages is nothing! If they need 500 pages to tell a story, so be it. That's fine with me. I think anywhere between 300-500 pages is the perfect length for a novel. I enjoy the 800-1000 page "fat fantasy" novels too. The more the merrier, I say.
Complaining that novels are too long is a bit like complaining omelets are too eggy. 
And it's rather unfair to dismiss all longer novels as padded; that's a broad brush.
The novel, while it can obviously vary in length, is inherently a long form. That should go without saying. If you don't have time to read a novel, the problem isn't the novel, it's the amount of time you have. You can move to the short story if you're available time is in a crunch; I understand how that is. I have a job, a family, etc., and have precious little time to work on my writing. I do almost all of my book reading on the bus and during lunch.
So, the water isn't too wet and the ice isn't too cold. You just wish you had more reading time. Don't we all.
And it's rather unfair to dismiss all longer novels as padded; that's a broad brush.The novel, while it can obviously vary in length, is inherently a long form. That should go without saying. If you don't have time to read a novel, the problem isn't the novel, it's the amount of time you have. You can move to the short story if you're available time is in a crunch; I understand how that is. I have a job, a family, etc., and have precious little time to work on my writing. I do almost all of my book reading on the bus and during lunch.
So, the water isn't too wet and the ice isn't too cold. You just wish you had more reading time. Don't we all.
its much better being longer they all seemed to be about 280 pages in the mid-nineties, then they slimmed down to about 220, especially when multi volume stories started.
I love them being longer now, you can get much more in depth stories. also now there is only one book per month a longer single novel is great.
Keep em comin - and if PAD is reading this then heres hoping the next New Frontier adventure is 500+ pages.
I love them being longer now, you can get much more in depth stories. also now there is only one book per month a longer single novel is great.
Keep em comin - and if PAD is reading this then heres hoping the next New Frontier adventure is 500+ pages.
Wow, I'm surprised that someone would feel this way. I love the fact that the novels are longer. It gives them more room for character development and you leave the novel feeling like you care more about the characters, as opposed to just thinking what a cool plot it was.
Keep the longer books, I say.
Keep the longer books, I say.
I wonder which novel(s) Dayton3 is thinking of here, because I have yet to encounter a longer Trek novel where I felt a high word count was merely padding and not advancing a story (or stories). The longest I can recall is Crucible: McCoy (is this one not the word count king of Trek lit at present?) and it stands among my all time faves. A rich, complex character study that deftly keeps many balls in the air. I certainly would not have wanted it whittled down for the sake of brevity.
Dayton3, can you be more specific?
It's worth noting that there are still shorter novels coming out. The first two TNG Relaunch novels are only about 300 pages long, and the fourth will be about the same (it's my second-shortest Trek novel to date). The fourth Mission Gamma volume was only 266 pages. And there's a growing trend to include multiple short novels of 50-60,000 words each (about half the typical length of a paperback novel these days) in combined volumes -- Worlds of DS9, Mirror Universe, Myriad Universes. (My MyrU installment is my shortest Trek novel to date.)
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