How Long to Read the Biggest Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books

Explore word counts, chapter counts and personalized reading times for 106 popular fantasy and science-fiction books.

Compiled and checked across publisher information, author sources, established book databases and fan reference projects. Updated August 2026.

Median book here: 148,000 words ≈ 10 hours of reading · Longest single volume: Wind and Truth, 487,746 words · Longest series: The Wheel of Time, 4,287,886 words

How long is the average fantasy or sci-fi novel?

Publishing guidance usually puts an adult sci-fi or fantasy debut at roughly 90,000–120,000 words. The famous books people actually read run much bigger, and the two genres pull in opposite directions. At an average adult silent-reading speed of 238 words per minute, the split looks like this:

The average fantasy novel

Our analysis of the 75 fantasy titles here puts the median at 191,200 words, about 13 hours of reading. Epic fantasy skews enormous: the biggest single volume, Brandon Sanderson's Wind and Truth, runs close to half a million words.

The average science-fiction novel

Science fiction is markedly leaner. Across the 31 sci-fi titles our median is 104,588 words, about 7 hours, roughly 86,612 words shorter than the typical fantasy novel. The longest sci-fi book here is Dune (181,493 words), which still comes in under the fantasy median.

We went deeper on this one: how long the average fantasy novel really is, why the genre's medians sit so far above publishing's advice, and what that means if you're picking your next book — or writing one.

Want recommendations, not just numbers? Our guides: Books Like Sarah J Maas by Mood , YA Fantasy Romance Books With Magic and Kisses , How Many Wheel of Time Books Are There , Fantasy Trilogies That Feel Complete and ACOTAR Spice Level Explained Without Spoilers . Then come back to see how long they'll take.

Word counts for 106 popular sci-fi & fantasy books

⏱ Reading-time calculator

Set your speed and daily reading time, and the whole table below re-times itself for you.

Your reading speed words/min Reading per day minutes

“Time to read” assumes 238 words/min (the average adult silent-reading speed); “days” assumes 30 minutes of reading a day. Adjust either, or take the 1-minute test, and the table updates for you.

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Book	Series	Words	Chapters	Time to read	Days at your pace
Wind and Truth Brandon Sanderson	The Stormlight Archive	487,746	147*	34h 09m	69
Rhythm of War Brandon Sanderson	The Stormlight Archive	455,891	117*	31h 56m	64
Oathbringer Brandon Sanderson	The Stormlight Archive	454,440	122*	31h 49m	64
A Dance with Dragons George R.R. Martin	A Song of Ice and Fire	414,788	71*	29h 03m	59
A Storm of Swords George R.R. Martin	A Song of Ice and Fire	414,604	80*	29h 02m	59
Words of Radiance Brandon Sanderson	The Stormlight Archive	398,238	89*	27h 53m	56
The Wise Man's Fear Patrick Rothfuss	The Kingkiller Chronicle	395,000	—	27h 40m	56
The Way of Kings Brandon Sanderson	The Stormlight Archive	384,265	75*	26h 55m	54
A Clash of Kings George R.R. Martin	A Song of Ice and Fire	318,903	69*	22h 20m	45
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell Susanna Clarke	—	308,931	—	21h 38m	44
The Eye of the World Robert Jordan	The Wheel of Time	305,902	—	21h 25m	43
A Game of Thrones George R.R. Martin	A Song of Ice and Fire	298,000	72*	20h 52m	42
A Feast for Crows George R.R. Martin	A Song of Ice and Fire	295,032	45*	20h 40m	42
Inheritance Christopher Paolini	The Inheritance Cycle	280,000	—	19h 36m	40
Kingdom of Ash Sarah J. Maas	Throne of Glass	272,682	121*	19h 06m	39
The Great Hunt Robert Jordan	The Wheel of Time	267,078	—	18h 42m	38
The Well of Ascension Brandon Sanderson	Mistborn	259,358	59*	18h 10m	37
House of Earth and Blood Sarah J. Maas	Crescent City	258,850	—	18h 08m	37
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix J.K. Rowling	Harry Potter	257,045	38	18h 00m	36
The Name of the Wind Patrick Rothfuss	The Kingkiller Chronicle	255,986	—	17h 56m	36
Brisingr Christopher Paolini	The Inheritance Cycle	254,000	—	17h 47m	36
The Dragon Reborn Robert Jordan	The Wheel of Time	251,392	—	17h 36m	36
Iron Flame Rebecca Yarros	The Empyrean	249,886	66*	17h 30m	35
The Priory of the Orange Tree Samantha Shannon	—	225,000	—	15h 45m	32
The Hero of Ages Brandon Sanderson	Mistborn	220,513	82*	15h 27m	31
Eldest Christopher Paolini	The Inheritance Cycle	213,000	—	14h 55m	30
A Court of Silver Flames Sarah J. Maas	ACOTAR	210,289	80	14h 44m	30
Mistborn: The Final Empire Brandon Sanderson	Mistborn	208,546	38*	14h 36m	30
Fourth Wing Rebecca Yarros	The Empyrean	206,000	39*	14h 26m	29
Gardens of the Moon Steven Erikson	Malazan Book of the Fallen	204,000	—	14h 17m	29
Elantris Brandon Sanderson	—	201,372	—	14h 06m	29
Babel R.F. Kuang	—	200,600	—	14h 03m	29
A Court of Wings and Ruin Sarah J. Maas	ACOTAR	199,464	82*	13h 58m	28
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows J.K. Rowling	Harry Potter	198,227	36*	13h 53m	28
Warbreaker Brandon Sanderson	—	196,014	—	13h 44m	28
Empire of Storms Sarah J. Maas	Throne of Glass	195,332	75*	13h 41m	28
Tower of Dawn Sarah J. Maas	Throne of Glass	191,282	—	13h 24m	27
The Blade Itself Joe Abercrombie	The First Law	191,200	—	13h 23m	27
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire J.K. Rowling	Harry Potter	190,637	37	13h 21m	27
The Fellowship of the Ring J.R.R. Tolkien	The Lord of the Rings	187,790	22*	13h 09m	27
A Court of Mist and Fury Sarah J. Maas	ACOTAR	186,220	69	13h 02m	27
Queen of Shadows Sarah J. Maas	Throne of Glass	183,840	—	12h 52m	26
Dune Frank Herbert	Dune	181,493	48*	12h 43m	26
Hyperion Dan Simmons	Hyperion Cantos	177,960	—	12h 28m	25
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince J.K. Rowling	Harry Potter	168,923	30	11h 50m	24
Heretics of Dune Frank Herbert	Dune	164,000	—	11h 29m	23
Heir of Fire Sarah J. Maas	Throne of Glass	163,266	68	11h 26m	23
Snow Crash Neal Stephenson	—	162,578	—	11h 23m	23
Eragon Christopher Paolini	The Inheritance Cycle	157,000	—	11h 00m	22
The Two Towers J.R.R. Tolkien	The Lord of the Rings	156,198	21*	10h 56m	22
Red Rising Pierce Brown	Red Rising	150,660	44*	10h 33m	22
Project Hail Mary Andy Weir	—	150,326	30	10h 32m	22
Children of Dune Frank Herbert	Dune	148,000	—	10h 22m	21
Leviathan Wakes James S.A. Corey	The Expanse	145,500	—	10h 11m	21
Chapterhouse: Dune Frank Herbert	Dune	141,000	—	9h 52m	20
Jade City Fonda Lee	The Green Bone Saga	140,000	—	9h 48m	20
God Emperor of Dune Frank Herbert	Dune	138,000	—	9h 40m	20
The Return of the King J.R.R. Tolkien	The Lord of the Rings	137,115	19*	9h 36m	20
Crooked Kingdom Leigh Bardugo	Six of Crows	136,500	—	9h 34m	20
Ready Player One Ernest Cline	Ready Player One	136,048	39*	9h 32m	20
Onyx Storm Rebecca Yarros	The Empyrean	136,000	66	9h 31m	20
The Poppy War R.F. Kuang	The Poppy War	136,000	—	9h 31m	20
A Court of Thorns and Roses Sarah J. Maas	ACOTAR	130,423	46	9h 08m	19
The Silmarillion J.R.R. Tolkien	Middle-earth	130,000	—	9h 06m	19
Foundation and Earth Isaac Asimov	Foundation	124,750	—	8h 44m	18
Prelude to Foundation Isaac Asimov	Foundation	123,250	—	8h 38m	18
Quicksilver Callie Hart	Fae & Alchemy	122,250	45*	8h 34m	18
Forward the Foundation Isaac Asimov	Foundation	120,000	—	8h 24m	17
The Cruel Prince Holly Black	The Folk of the Air	117,180	—	8h 12m	17
Six of Crows Leigh Bardugo	Six of Crows	116,250	—	8h 08m	17
Crown of Midnight Sarah J. Maas	Throne of Glass	114,494	56*	8h 01m	17
Throne of Glass Sarah J. Maas	Throne of Glass	113,655	55	7h 58m	16
Foundation's Edge Isaac Asimov	Foundation	112,500	—	7h 53m	16
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban J.K. Rowling	Harry Potter	107,253	22	7h 31m	16
Tress of the Emerald Sea Brandon Sanderson	—	107,227	—	7h 31m	16
The Martian Andy Weir	—	104,588	26	7h 19m	15
The Three-Body Problem Liu Cixin	Remembrance of Earth's Past	104,000	—	7h 17m	15
Caraval Stephanie Garber	Caraval	101,750	—	7h 08m	15
Ender's Game Orson Scott Card	Ender's Saga	100,609	15	7h 03m	15
The Hobbit J.R.R. Tolkien	Middle-earth	95,022	19	6h 39m	14
The Last Olympian Rick Riordan	Percy Jackson	89,002	23	6h 14m	13
1984 George Orwell	—	88,942	24*	6h 14m	13
The Lightning Thief Rick Riordan	Percy Jackson	87,223	22	6h 06m	13
Dark Matter Blake Crouch	—	85,500	—	5h 59m	12
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets J.K. Rowling	Harry Potter	85,141	18	5h 58m	12
The Battle of the Labyrinth Rick Riordan	Percy Jackson	85,079	20	5h 57m	12
Dune Messiah Frank Herbert	Dune	82,250	—	5h 46m	12
Recursion Blake Crouch	—	82,250	—	5h 46m	12
Neuromancer William Gibson	Sprawl Trilogy	79,034	—	5h 32m	12
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone J.K. Rowling	Harry Potter	76,944	17	5h 23m	11
Legends & Lattes Travis Baldree	Legends & Lattes	74,000	—	5h 11m	11
The Titan's Curse Rick Riordan	Percy Jackson	72,995	20	5h 07m	11
Foundation and Empire Isaac Asimov	Foundation	70,500	—	4h 56m	10
I, Robot Isaac Asimov	Robot	69,881	—	4h 54m	10
Second Foundation Isaac Asimov	Foundation	69,750	—	4h 53m	10
Foundation Isaac Asimov	Foundation	66,658	—	4h 40m	10
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Philip K. Dick	—	64,331	—	4h 30m	9
The Sea of Monsters Rick Riordan	Percy Jackson	63,976	20	4h 29m	9
Brave New World Aldous Huxley	—	63,766	18	4h 28m	9
Piranesi Susanna Clarke	—	61,250	—	4h 17m	9
A Court of Frost and Starlight Sarah J. Maas	ACOTAR	57,763	28	4h 03m	9
Dawnshard Brandon Sanderson	The Stormlight Archive	55,096	—	3h 51m	8
Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury	—	47,061	3*	3h 18m	7
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Douglas Adams	The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy	46,333	—	3h 15m	7
Edgedancer Brandon Sanderson	The Stormlight Archive	40,660	20	2h 51m	6
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe C.S. Lewis	The Chronicles of Narnia	38,421	—	2h 41m	6

Word and chapter counts are compiled and, where possible, cross-checked across multiple sources by Fantasy Read. The reading times and days are our own calculation from your pace. How we put them together.

The longest series by total word count

Series	Books	Chapters	Total words
The Wheel of Time (all fourteen books)	14	—	4,287,886
The Stormlight Archive (the five published main novels of 10 planned)	5	550*	2,180,580
A Song of Ice and Fire (the five published so far, of seven planned)	5	337*	1,741,327
Throne of Glass (the seven main-series novels)	7	—	1,234,551
Harry Potter	7	198*	1,084,170
The Inheritance Cycle (the four-book cycle)	4	—	904,000
Dune (Frank Herbert's original six)	6	—	854,743
ACOTAR (all five released books)	5	305*	784,159
Mistborn (the original Era 1 trilogy only)	3	179*	688,417
Foundation (Asimov's seven)	7	—	687,408
The Kingkiller Chronicle (the two published books)	2	—	650,986
The Empyrean (the three published books of five planned)	3	171*	591,886
The Lord of the Rings (with The Hobbit)	4	81*	576,459
Percy Jackson (Percy Jackson and the Olympians only)	5	105*	398,275
Six of Crows (the duology)	2	—	252,750

Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time remains the heavyweight at nearly 4.3 million words. Reading it at 238 words/min is roughly 300 hours of your life. For scale, the entire Harry Potter series fits inside it four times.

The series people ask about most is still growing: our breakdown of the Stormlight Archive word count takes all five novels book by book, with chapter counts, reading times and where the Edgedancer and Dawnshard novellas fit. Starting at the beginning? The Way of Kings word count gets its own breakdown — it is the shortest of the five, which surprises most people.

How many characters are in the biggest series?

Fan communities maintain exhaustive encyclopedias of their series, with a page for every named character. Counting those entries gives a documented-character tally, a floor rather than a census, and dividing by total words gives something nobody usually measures: character density. That last column is Fantasy Read's own analysis, not a figure quoted from anywhere, and by it George R.R. Martin turns out to be in a league of his own.

Series	Documented characters	Total words	Characters per 100k wordsFantasy Read analysis
A Song of Ice and Fire	2,302	1,741,327	132
Harry Potter	772	1,084,170	71
The Wheel of Time	2,782	4,287,886	65
The Inheritance Cycle	479	904,000	53
The Stormlight Archive	1,088	2,180,580	50
The Empyrean (Fourth Wing)	180	591,886	30
The Kingkiller Chronicle	190	650,986	29
ACOTAR	212	784,159	27
Throne of Glass	194	1,234,551	16

Other documented tallies: Middle-earth (Hobbit + LOTR + posthumous works): 982 · Crescent City: 138 · Grishaverse (all Bardugo): 257 · Riordanverse (all Riordan): 1,754 · Red Rising: 289 · Wings of Fire: 489 · Keeper of the Lost Cities: 188 · The First Law: 274 · Narnia: 154 · All Brandon Sanderson works (Cosmere + non-Cosmere): 2,679 · Dune (whole franchise wiki): 208 .

Frequently asked questions

How many words is Fourth Wing?

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is 206,000 words across 39 chapters, which is roughly 14h 26m of reading at the average adult pace of 238 words per minute.

How long does it take to read A Game of Thrones?

A Game of Thrones is 298,000 words, around 21 hours of reading at 238 words per minute. Set your own speed in the calculator to see your personal time.

What is the longest science-fiction or fantasy series by word count?

The Wheel of Time is the longest at 4,287,886 words across 14 books, about 300 hours of reading. The entire Harry Potter series fits inside it roughly four times.

What is the longest single science-fiction or fantasy book?

Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson is the longest single volume here at 487,746 words, close to 34h 09m of reading, or about 34 hours.

What is the longest science-fiction novel?

Dune by Frank Herbert is the longest single sci-fi book here at 181,493 words, close to 12h 43m of reading at 238 words per minute.

How long is the average fantasy novel?

Our analysis of the 75 fantasy titles here puts the median at 191,200 words, about 13 hours of reading at 238 words per minute. Epic fantasy runs well beyond a typical 90,000-120,000-word debut.

How long is the average science-fiction novel?

Our analysis of the 31 science-fiction titles here puts the median at 104,588 words, about 7 hours of reading, roughly 86,612 words shorter than the average fantasy novel.

What is the average adult reading speed?

The average adult silent-reading speed is about 238 words per minute (Brysbaert, 2019 meta-analysis). Take the 1-minute reading-speed test on this page to measure your own, then every reading time recalculates for you.

Methodology

The figures on this page are compiled by Fantasy Read and, where possible, cross-checked across multiple sources. Publishers rarely publish word counts and there is no official register of them, so for each title we gather what publisher information, author statements, established book databases and fan reference projects report, compare those figures, and publish the one best supported by the evidence. Where sources disagree, resolving the disagreement is the work. Counts also vary between editions, so treat these as working figures: accurate enough to plan your reading around, and revisited whenever better information appears.

Chapter counts are compiled the same way, from published study guides and series reference wikis. Character counts are the number of character entries documented by each series' fan encyclopedia as of August 2026. Communities differ in how exhaustively they document minor characters, so treat those as dated floors.

Our analysis. Four things on this page are calculated by us rather than compiled: the reading times (our word count ÷ your reading speed, with the default 238 words/min taken from Brysbaert's 2019 meta-analysis of adult silent reading), the days at your pace, the per-genre medians across the titles we track, and character density, our own measure of documented characters per 100,000 words. None of those are quoted from anywhere. They are Fantasy Read's analysis of the figures in these tables.

Reviewed and updated August 2026. Spotted something that looks wrong? Tell us at contact@fantasyread.ai. Corrections make the next revision better. We publish this in good faith and fix what we get wrong, but it is offered as is, without warranty.

Using this data. You are welcome to quote figures from this page with attribution and a link back to it. Individual factual data points are not owned by Fantasy Read, but the almanac as a whole represents our work: the selection and classification of titles, the arrangement of the data, the analysis presented above, and the compiled database.

This work is licensed under CC BY 4.0, including any applicable database rights. If you reuse a substantial part of the tables, please credit “Fantasy Read,” link to this page and to the licence, and indicate whether you made any changes.

For a structured version of the data, another format, or a larger collaboration, please contact us.

Sources

The publications, databases and communities we compile and cross-check against. Much of this exists only because of years of volunteer work by each series' wiki community, which deserves the credit for the underlying documentation.