Genre guide · Fiction
Epic Fantasy: word count & book length
How long a epic fantasy book should be, which trim sizes suit it and what that means in printed pages. Typical length: 100,000–150,000 words.
About epic fantasy
Sweeping, multi-viewpoint fantasy with world-altering stakes, deep histories and large casts. Length is part of the appeal, but print economics still apply.
Printed length in recommended trim sizes
| Trim | Pages at 11 pt | Spine (white) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 x 9 in US Trade | 348–528 pages | 0.78–1.19 in |
| Royal (6.14 x 9.21 in) | 330–488 pages | 0.74–1.1 in |
Page counts for these lengths
Tips for this category
- Consider 10.5 pt type and slightly tighter leading to keep very long books printable.
- Most POD printers cap paperbacks around 800–828 pages.
About Epic Fantasy
High fantasy, or epic fantasy, is a subgenre of fantasy defined by the epic nature of its setting or by the epic stature of its characters, themes, or plot. High fantasy is usually set in an alternative, fictional ("secondary") world, rather than the "real" or "primary" world. This secondary world is usually internally consistent, and often quite developed, but its rules differ from those of the primary world. By contrast, low fantasy is characterized by being set on Earth, the rational primary or "real world", upon which the non-rational supernatural or fantasy elements intrude.
From the Wikipedia article “High fantasy”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Most-published epic fantasy works in Open Library
| Title | Author | First published | Editions |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Game of Thrones | George R. R. Martin | 1996 | 136 |
| A Feast for Crows | George R. R. Martin | 2005 | 69 |
| The Eyes of the Dragon | Stephen King | 1959 | 65 |
| Wizard's First Rule | Terry Goodkind | 1994 | 51 |
| A Dance With Dragons | George R. R. Martin | 2008 | 49 |
| The Passage | Justin Cronin | 2010 | 47 |
| The Wise Man’s Fear | Patrick Rothfuss | 2011 | 32 |
| The Way of Kings | Brandon Sanderson | 2010 | 30 |
| The Hero of Ages | Brandon Sanderson | 2008 | 27 |
| A Memory of Light | Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson | 2013 | 26 |
Open Library lists 129 works under this subject.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a epic fantasy book be?
What trim size is best for epic fantasy?
Sources & data
- Subject statistics from Open Library.
- Summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).