Three Japanese light novels (center), next to the US edition of The Grey Witch light novel (left). On the right are two "mini" books from the Kadokawa Mini Sneaker Books series.
A light novel (ライトノベル, raito noberu) is a style of Japanese young adult novel primarily targeting high school and middle school students.[1] The term "light novel" is a Japanese term formed from words in the English language (a wasei-eigo, 和製英語, meaning "Japanese-made English"). Light novels are often called ranobe (ラノベ, an abbreviation of ライトノベル, raito noberu) or, in English, LN. The average length of a light novel is about 50,000 words and is published in the bunkobon format (A6, 10.5 cm×14.8 cm or 4.1"x5.8"). Light novels are subject to dense publishing schedules, with new installations being published in 6-9 month intervals.
Light novels are commonly illustrated in a manga art style, and are often adapted into manga and anime. While most light novels are published only as books, some have their chapters first serialized monthly in anthology magazines before being collected and compiled into book format, similar to how manga is published.
See also[]
- Crystania light novel series
- Fantasy File light novel series
- Record of Lodoss War light novel series
- Sword World light novel series
References[]
- ↑ Kadokawa Corporation. Kadokawa: Annual Report 2012, page 11.