Out Law, novella (?)

[RobReece]

What about Websters?

[g33k]

What about Websters?

Pretty sure I'm already on the mod's radar as Sufficiently Anal Retentive for this thread plus a few more.  But hey, if you wanna join me in Freudland, it's a big tent these days.

[Dina]

dresedenfiles.fandom.com says Backup and The Warrior and Aftermath and Bombshells are all "novelettes," and The Law is a novella.
I'm... not sure I'm helping.
 

You are, because I asked if Backup was not a novella, and, apparently, it is not. It is a novelette. So, we are probably expecting for a story longer than Backup. That is cool.

[Mira]

You are, because I asked if Backup was not a novella, and, apparently, it is not. It is a novelette. So, we are probably expecting for a story longer than Backup. That is cool.

    I wonder who decides which is which?

[RobReece]

  I wonder who decides which is which?

If we're just talking about whether to call it a novella or a novelette,, I'd hope that it's Jim. But my guess is the publisher.  If we're talking about the decision to write a short piece vs. a longer one, I might say the same thing,  but I don't think Jim went through his publisher for The Law, so Jim?.

[Mira]

If we're just talking about whether to call it a novella or a novelette,, I'd hope that it's Jim. But my guess is the publisher.  If we're talking about the decision to write a short piece vs. a longer one, I might say the same thing,  but I don't think Jim went through his publisher for The Law, so Jim?.

  I just Googled it and went to a couple of sites, basically length or number of words are important.

A novelette is longer than a short story but shorter than a novella. The word count is usually between 7,500 words to 17,500 words.

Complexity is important, usually according to the web page I visited a novella is typically from one character's point of view, that fits, one was from the point of view of Thomas, the other was from Murphy's point of view.  However in latter years that has changed somewhat as far as number of "main" characters in either, also there are generally no chapters. Apparently chapters are also found only in novels.  Anyway that's what I found.

[Dina]

Thank you very much, folks. i love this forum.

[g33k]

    I wonder who decides which is which?

TBH, I do not believe these terms have universally-agreed-upon delineations.

I'm inclined to feel the OED is likely to be the closest thing we have to "authoritative" definitions, but even there I wouldn't necessarily be 100% confident.

[Mira]

TBH, I do not believe these terms have universally-agreed-upon delineations.

I'm inclined to feel the OED is likely to be the closest thing we have to "authoritative" definitions, but even there I wouldn't necessarily be 100% confident.

I imagine there are guidelines, word count does appear to be one of the important ones, then it does get a bit more flexible like point of view, number of main characters that has changed over the years. 

[g33k]

I imagine there are guidelines ...

I'd ask 2 questions:  whose guidelines are these?
And then... who else has some "guidelines" that differ?

To be clear:  I do see that information is out there.

But I don't see that any clear consensus definition exists.
Everyones' definition is similar-ish, with varying degrees of "ish"

[Mira]

I'd ask 2 questions:  whose guidelines are these?
And then... who else has some "guidelines" that differ?

To be clear:  I do see that information is out there.

But I don't see that any clear consensus definition exists.
Everyones' definition is similar-ish, with varying degrees of "ish"

There is a website called MWEditing, the author goes extensively into the difference in number of words, point of view, characters for each and also the history of how it got to be what it is today.  It isn't a math problem, so yes, there might be some wiggle room between definitions, but there are general rules to go by.  This website is pretty comprehensive on the subject.

[Regenbogen]

There is a date now: May 12 ,2026

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/out-law-jim-butcher/1148099903?ean=9798347030026#

In a city that’s just beginning to recover from the devastation caused by the Battle of Chicago, Harry Dresden is finally pulling himself together as well. He’s ensconced in his own personal castle, healing his various wounds, and training an eager new apprentice. The last thing he wants is any trouble. But, as history has consistently—and quite annoyingly—shown, what Harry wants is rarely what Harry gets.

It starts with a visit from Harry’s most powerful frenemy, Gentleman John Marcone, Baron of Chicago. He needs Harry to assist in the redemption of an underling who’s looking to go straight. And since Harry does kinda sorta owe Marcone for saving his life once (stupid honorable debt!), it’s not a request he can refuse. He’ll just wish he had.

Because this little favor is going to drag Harry into a fight he doesn’t want on behalf of a lowlife he doesn’t trust against an enemy more powerful and pestilent than he ever could’ve expected: an insatiable, demonic foe whom Harry himself may have created when he wiped out the vampires of the Red Court so long ago.

Before, all it wanted was blood. Now it wants the entire world ...

So after 12 months or during 12 months.
It has Marcone, and deals with an upto date unknown "demonic foe" Harry might have created by destroying the Rampires.
And the new apprentice is mentioned.

[Dina]

wtf? New apprentice? I am worried we are having too many new characters so far in Dresden Files.
It is also weird that which sounds like a very important foe, something that can be related with Harry's nightmares and blackout after the destruction of the rampires, appears in a novella and not in a main book.

[Mira]

wtf? New apprentice? I am worried we are having too many new characters so far in Dresden Files.
It is also weird that which sounds like a very important foe, something that can be related with Harry's nightmares and blackout after the destruction of the rampires, appears in a novella and not in a main book.

Totally agree, too many characters, too many loose ends to plotlines!  You are so right, something this seemingly significant cannot be resolved in a novella. 

[Regenbogen]

I think, the apprentice will be somebody we already know. Like Fitz from Ghost Story or Aiden (?)the warlock from Zoo Day.

Edit: it was Austin, wasn't it? The warlock in Zoo Day.