Exponentially bigger...

[SquirrelPants]

Well, I've noticed something over the years, that I just feel a sudden urge to point out. I have read many series of books, and many single books, but the more I stare at them, the more I have to ask myself: Why do books get exponentially larger as the number of books in the series gets larger? I mean, Rowling did it with Harry Potter, but she had a HUGE fanbase. She could have made the seventh book a hundred pages long if she wanted, and people would have eaten it up.
Some of it is because the author truly enjoys it and finds the series meaningful to them, sure, but what about the ones who don't? Why do their books get bigger?

 

[shannon.archer]

Reason to charge more...

 

[Flying-Emu]

Because usually plots will become more complex (or convoluted, depending on who you ask). More page is necessitated to convey the story in a comprehensible manner.

Also, the bigger the book, the more money they can charge. OMNOMNOM dollars.

 

[Mookie_Magnus]

It's because as a series matures, it needs longer and longer books in order for the reader to fully understand the intricacies that the author worked so hard to create and write in. Not to mention that the farther you get into the series, the higher intensity the books become and need to be longer to contain the struggles and conflicts that are bound to arise. So it is kind of impossible to make the book smaller without the author, and possibly the reader, feeling like they left out important information that would make the book a better reading experience, and help advance the story.
Then there's the whole 'money' issue. People are more willing to pay higher dollar(pound/euro) for a bigger book that comes later in a series that they're already interested in than for a book that they haven't read yet.

 

[goodman528]

Good books don't do this. Because this shows poor planning and opportunism at trying to get more money from the sequels.

 

[Handofpwn]

Was I the only one here expecting a slightly different type of thread? *gets hat and begins to leave* If you need me I will be in the "box of shame."

 

[Compatriot Block]

Was I the only one here expecting a slightly different type of thread? *gets hat and begins to leave* If you need me I will be in the "box of shame."

I was about to post the same thing. *enters box of shame*

 

[Handofpwn]

Was I the only one here expecting a slightly different type of thread? *gets hat and begins to leave* If you need me I will be in the "box of shame."

I was about to post the same thing. *enters box of shame*

Good to have company in the box. By the way, we dont make direct eye contact here. Box rules. But we do have jackets and hats!

 

[versusterminus7]

Content demand, I supposeseseseses.

Or perhaps the author is encouraged to write, thus writes more. I kind of witnessed that when I was writing for a website. I wrote fantasy fiction because I am an uncreative leper.

 

[Compatriot Block]

Was I the only one here expecting a slightly different type of thread? *gets hat and begins to leave* If you need me I will be in the "box of shame."

I was about to post the same thing. *enters box of shame*

Good to have company in the box. By the way, we dont make direct eye contact here. Box rules. But we do have jackets and hats!

Excellent, it's a bit chilly. Oh, and I think that it is a reasonable expectation for the books to get longer. Back to the box!

 

[CapnGod]

I don't know, all of the Wheel of Time and Sword of Truth books were roughly the same length. Same with the Song of Ice and Fire (which was just ridiculously long to begin with).

 

[Handofpwn]

To be honest, I love long books, more of it to love, you know. Like they say... More cushin for the pushin... Yea, a tad bit of a reach, I know. Anyway, back to the box for me, I just stopped in to grab beer and chips.