Compiled List of Novels by Word Count
The Stand (Unabridged) (Signet)
by Stephen King (464, 218 words; 1,168 pg.)*
The Count of Monte Cristo by
Alexandre Dumas (464, 234 words; 1,312 pg.)
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
(1,168 pg.)
Shogun by James Clavell (1,210
pg.)
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R.
Tolkien ( Approximately 470,000 words; 1,200 pg.)
War and Peace Leo Tolstoy 560,000
words (Wikipedia) 1,456 pages.
A Suitable Boy Vikram Seth
591,554 words (Wikipedia)
Out on the Cutting Edge Lawrence
Block 88,550 (Approx)*
A Ticket to the Boneyard Lawrence
Block 95,700 (Approx)*
War of the Worlds H.G. Wells
63,293*
The Stainless Steel Rat Sings The
Blues Harry Harrison 82,401 (Approx)
The Main Trevanian 130,746
(Approx)
The Loo Sanction Trevanian
(Hardcover) 114,774 (Approx)*
The Summons John Grisham
(Paperback) 125,856 (Approx)
Sole Survivor Dean Koontz
(Paperback) 144,210 )Approx)
NOTE. (Approx) means that I have counted average
words per line, lines per page and created a (very)
approximate word count. Actual word count on these books
could vary by as much as plus or minus five thousand words.
Due to imponderables like dialogue, paragraph breaks and
chapter headings. Please take into account that I cannot be
held responsible for the accuracy of the other of counts on
this page, either since anyone could have provided them.
Such is the internet. All of the above should not be
considered hard and fast rules as such, but more a series
of guidelines. Books marked with an * are really good, and
you should read them.
Another note I started compiling this list when I
found I wanted to know whether my book was long "enough" as
you can see, there is no "enough" merely stories that need
to be told, for one reason or another. I am past 100K on
one, and at 84K on the other, or 93% and 60% respectively,
If you must know, Peter. :)