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What's your favorite short novel (around 200 *pages* or less)?

Note: The closer to 200, the better, but feel free to your favorite as long as it's under 300. That's my final offer!

Thanks to /u/thraenthraen for pointing out the problem with my previous question. :D

9 years ago by Zeus with 22 comments

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  • papervoid
    +5

    The End of Eternity. For under 200 pages, the amount of suspense and number of plot twists makes it well worth the read. Especially if you're a fan of science fiction.

  • imnotgoats
    +5

    The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. Just really love it.

  • kdawson
    +4

    Steinbeck: Of Mice and Men, Sweet Thursday, The Wayward Bus (this is probably pushing it), Tortilla Flats, To A God Unknown...

  • SevenTales
    +4

    Lately, The Ocean at the end of the lane, by Neil Gaiman. It was a great book on the first read, and I've read it 5 times now. It is a 192 pages book that weaves mystery and fantasy all throughout masterfully. I highly recommend it.

    • Zeus
      +2

      That's the book that made me think to ask! I saw it in the book store yesterday, did a double-take at how small it was. I've been hearing about how great it was, but I figured it was American Gods-length or something.

      • SevenTales
        +4

        Yeah, I'm a big fan of Neil Gaiman, so I did a double-take when I saw how short it seemed before reading it...but it was so good, and the perfect length as well!

  • Endymion
    +3

    The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Mist by Stephen King

  • Ezran
    +3

    The Last Question and The Last Answer by Issac Asimov. I like how you can read a lot of his short stories in under 30 minutes, but they address really existential concepts and make your brain hurt for a good while afterwards.

  • oystein
    +3

    Murakami's "After Dark". It's a seriously enjoyable read and not as weird as some of his other books. Clocks in at 201 pages though...

    • Zeus
      +2

      201 is fine! I'm just looking for books that aren't 701. :D

      • oystein
        +2

        You can even rip out the last page! :-P

        • Zeus
          +3

          And then donate it to a book shop, and lurk in the shadows, waiting for my next unsuspecting victim!

  • zerozechs
    +3

    The Old Man and the Sea. Classic.

  • ernunnos
    +3

    Pop. 1280 by Jim Thompson. One of the most delightful examples of an unreliable narrator.

  • Gozzin
    +2

    Bloodchld. Octavia E Butler..And yeah,it can be read on line.

  • double2 (edited 9 years ago)
    +2

    Phillip K Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep is 210 pages long. I've never had a book that I find myself refer to in conversation so frequently. A great bit of sci fi!

  • pinecone
    +2

    Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn. Might stretch the definition of novel though

  • Civil
    +2

    Fahrenheit 451. Pretty sure it's under 200 pages, haven't read it in some time. One of my favorite books, though. Really put me off television.

  • trails
    +2

    Jeff VanderMeer's "Dradin, in Love." It's an early work of his that focuses on an out-of-work missionary, and it beautifully set the scene for his full Ambergris cycle.

  • Zeus (edited 9 years ago)
    +2

    My favorite is Another Fine Myth, a lighthearted fantasy adventure. A lot of the appeal is how the heroes outwit opponents, rather than fight them, often with hilarious results. There were a whole series of Myth books, each around 200 pages, and I just love the format.

    • Gozzin
      +2

      Another Fine Myth,

      Oh so true! i read the entire Myth series!

    • idlethreat
      +2

      Wow. I haven't thought of the Myth series in over a decade! That was a fun set of books. Now I need to claw mine out of storage again.