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

A cited almanac of word counts, chapters and reading times for 100 famous science-fiction and fantasy books - every number sourced, no guesses. Last updated .

Median book here: 156,198 words ≈ 10 hours of reading · Longest single volume: Wind and Truth, 487,000 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 words60. 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 minute59, the split looks like this:

The average fantasy novel

Across the 69 fantasy titles here the median is 196,014 words - about 14 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. The median across the 31 sci-fi titles is 104,588 words - about 7 hours, roughly 91,426 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.

Want recommendations, not just numbers? Browse our guides to cozy fantasy, dark romantasy, YA fantasy romance and sci-fi LitRPG - then come back to see how long they'll take.

Word counts for 100 famous sci-fi & fantasy books

⏱ Reading-time calculator

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

“Time to read” assumes 238 words/min (the average adult silent-reading speed59); “days” assumes 30 minutes of reading a day. Adjust either - or take the 1-minute test - and the table updates for you.

Book Series Words Chapters Time to read Days at your pace
Wind and TruthBrandon Sanderson The Stormlight Archive 487,000≈1 — 34h 06m 69
Rhythm of WarBrandon Sanderson The Stormlight Archive 453,000≈1 — 31h 43m 64
OathbringerBrandon Sanderson The Stormlight Archive 450,000≈1 — 31h 31m 64
A Dance with DragonsGeorge R.R. Martin A Song of Ice and Fire 414,788≈2 — 29h 03m 59
A Storm of SwordsGeorge R.R. Martin A Song of Ice and Fire 414,604≈2 — 29h 02m 59
Words of RadianceBrandon Sanderson The Stormlight Archive 400,000≈1 — 28h 01m 57
The Wise Man's FearPatrick Rothfuss The Kingkiller Chronicle 395,0003 — 27h 40m 56
The Way of KingsBrandon Sanderson The Stormlight Archive 383,000≈1 — 26h 49m 54
A Clash of KingsGeorge R.R. Martin A Song of Ice and Fire 318,903≈2 — 22h 20m 45
Jonathan Strange & Mr NorrellSusanna Clarke — 308,9314 — 21h 38m 44
The Eye of the WorldRobert Jordan The Wheel of Time 305,9025 — 21h 25m 43
A Game of ThronesGeorge R.R. Martin A Song of Ice and Fire 298,000≈6 — 20h 52m 42
A Feast for CrowsGeorge R.R. Martin A Song of Ice and Fire 295,032≈2 — 20h 40m 42
InheritanceChristopher Paolini The Inheritance Cycle 280,0007 — 19h 36m 40
Kingdom of AshSarah J. Maas Throne of Glass 272,682≈8 — 19h 06m 39
The Great HuntRobert Jordan The Wheel of Time 267,0785 — 18h 42m 38
The Well of AscensionBrandon Sanderson Mistborn 259,3589 — 18h 10m 37
House of Earth and BloodSarah J. Maas Crescent City 258,850≈4 — 18h 08m 37
Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixJ.K. Rowling Harry Potter 257,04510 — 18h 00m 36
The Name of the WindPatrick Rothfuss The Kingkiller Chronicle 255,9864 — 17h 56m 36
BrisingrChristopher Paolini The Inheritance Cycle 254,0007 — 17h 47m 36
The Dragon RebornRobert Jordan The Wheel of Time 251,3925 — 17h 36m 36
Iron FlameRebecca Yarros The Empyrean 249,88611 6612 17h 30m 35
The Priory of the Orange TreeSamantha Shannon — 225,000≈13 — 15h 45m 32
The Hero of AgesBrandon Sanderson Mistborn 220,5139 — 15h 27m 31
EldestChristopher Paolini The Inheritance Cycle 213,0007 — 14h 55m 30
A Court of Silver FlamesSarah J. Maas ACOTAR 210,289≈14 — 14h 44m 30
Mistborn: The Final EmpireBrandon Sanderson Mistborn 208,5469 — 14h 36m 30
Fourth WingRebecca Yarros The Empyrean 206,00015 3916 14h 26m 29
Gardens of the MoonSteven Erikson Malazan Book of the Fallen 204,000≈1 — 14h 17m 29
ElantrisBrandon Sanderson — 201,3729 — 14h 06m 29
BabelR.F. Kuang — 200,600≈17 — 14h 03m 29
A Court of Wings and RuinSarah J. Maas ACOTAR 199,464≈14 — 13h 58m 28
Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsJ.K. Rowling Harry Potter 198,22710 — 13h 53m 28
WarbreakerBrandon Sanderson — 196,0149 — 13h 44m 28
Empire of StormsSarah J. Maas Throne of Glass 195,332≈8 — 13h 41m 28
Tower of DawnSarah J. Maas Throne of Glass 191,282≈8 — 13h 24m 27
The Blade ItselfJoe Abercrombie The First Law 191,20018 — 13h 23m 27
Harry Potter and the Goblet of FireJ.K. Rowling Harry Potter 190,63710 — 13h 21m 27
The Fellowship of the RingJ.R.R. Tolkien The Lord of the Rings 187,79019 — 13h 09m 27
A Court of Mist and FurySarah J. Maas ACOTAR 186,220≈14 — 13h 02m 27
Queen of ShadowsSarah J. Maas Throne of Glass 183,840≈8 — 12h 52m 26
DuneFrank Herbert Dune 181,493≈20 — 12h 43m 26
HyperionDan Simmons Hyperion Cantos 177,960≈21 — 12h 28m 25
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood PrinceJ.K. Rowling Harry Potter 168,92310 — 11h 50m 24
Heretics of DuneFrank Herbert Dune 164,000≈1 — 11h 29m 23
Heir of FireSarah J. Maas Throne of Glass 163,266≈8 — 11h 26m 23
Snow CrashNeal Stephenson — 162,578≈22 — 11h 23m 23
EragonChristopher Paolini The Inheritance Cycle 157,0007 — 11h 00m 22
The Two TowersJ.R.R. Tolkien The Lord of the Rings 156,19819 — 10h 56m 22
Red RisingPierce Brown Red Rising 150,660≈4 — 10h 33m 22
Project Hail MaryAndy Weir — 150,326≈23 — 10h 32m 22
Children of DuneFrank Herbert Dune 148,000≈1 — 10h 22m 21
Leviathan WakesJames S.A. Corey The Expanse 145,500≈24 — 10h 11m 21
Chapterhouse: DuneFrank Herbert Dune 141,000≈1 — 9h 52m 20
Jade CityFonda Lee The Green Bone Saga 140,000≈17 — 9h 48m 20
God Emperor of DuneFrank Herbert Dune 138,000≈1 — 9h 40m 20
The Return of the KingJ.R.R. Tolkien The Lord of the Rings 137,11519 — 9h 36m 20
Crooked KingdomLeigh Bardugo Six of Crows 136,500≈4 — 9h 34m 20
Ready Player OneErnest Cline Ready Player One 136,048≈25 — 9h 32m 20
Onyx StormRebecca Yarros The Empyrean 136,000≈17 6612 9h 31m 20
The Poppy WarR.F. Kuang The Poppy War 136,000≈17 — 9h 31m 20
A Court of Thorns and RosesSarah J. Maas ACOTAR 130,423≈14 4626 9h 08m 19
The SilmarillionJ.R.R. Tolkien Middle-earth 130,000≈19 — 9h 06m 19
Foundation and EarthIsaac Asimov Foundation 124,750≈4 — 8h 44m 18
Prelude to FoundationIsaac Asimov Foundation 123,250≈4 — 8h 38m 18
QuicksilverCallie Hart Fae & Alchemy 122,250≈4 — 8h 34m 18
Forward the FoundationIsaac Asimov Foundation 120,000≈4 — 8h 24m 17
The Cruel PrinceHolly Black The Folk of the Air 117,180≈4 — 8h 12m 17
Six of CrowsLeigh Bardugo Six of Crows 116,250≈4 — 8h 08m 17
Crown of MidnightSarah J. Maas Throne of Glass 114,494≈8 — 8h 01m 17
Throne of GlassSarah J. Maas Throne of Glass 113,655≈8 5527 7h 58m 16
Foundation's EdgeIsaac Asimov Foundation 112,500≈4 — 7h 53m 16
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of AzkabanJ.K. Rowling Harry Potter 107,25310 — 7h 31m 16
Tress of the Emerald SeaBrandon Sanderson — 107,22728 — 7h 31m 16
The MartianAndy Weir — 104,588≈29 — 7h 19m 15
The Three-Body ProblemLiu Cixin Remembrance of Earth's Past 104,000≈4 — 7h 17m 15
CaravalStephanie Garber Caraval 101,750≈4 — 7h 08m 15
Ender's GameOrson Scott Card Ender's Saga 100,609≈30 — 7h 03m 15
The HobbitJ.R.R. Tolkien Middle-earth 95,02219 1931 6h 39m 14
1984George Orwell — 88,942≈32 — 6h 14m 13
The Lightning ThiefRick Riordan Percy Jackson 87,22333 — 6h 06m 13
Dark MatterBlake Crouch — 85,500≈4 — 5h 59m 12
Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsJ.K. Rowling Harry Potter 85,14110 — 5h 58m 12
Dune MessiahFrank Herbert Dune 82,250≈4 — 5h 46m 12
RecursionBlake Crouch — 82,250≈4 — 5h 46m 12
NeuromancerWilliam Gibson Sprawl Trilogy 79,034≈34 — 5h 32m 12
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's StoneJ.K. Rowling Harry Potter 76,94410 1735 5h 23m 11
Legends & LattesTravis Baldree Legends & Lattes 74,000≈4 — 5h 11m 11
Foundation and EmpireIsaac Asimov Foundation 70,500≈4 — 4h 56m 10
I, RobotIsaac Asimov Robot 69,881≈36 — 4h 54m 10
Second FoundationIsaac Asimov Foundation 69,750≈4 — 4h 53m 10
FoundationIsaac Asimov Foundation 66,658≈36 — 4h 40m 10
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?Philip K. Dick — 64,331≈37 — 4h 30m 9
Brave New WorldAldous Huxley — 63,766≈4 — 4h 28m 9
PiranesiSusanna Clarke — 61,250≈4 — 4h 17m 9
A Court of Frost and StarlightSarah J. Maas ACOTAR 57,763≈14 — 4h 03m 9
Fahrenheit 451Ray Bradbury — 47,061≈38 — 3h 18m 7
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyDouglas Adams The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 46,333≈39 — 3h 15m 7
The Lion, the Witch and the WardrobeC.S. Lewis The Chronicles of Narnia 38,42140 — 2h 41m 6

The longest series by total word count

SeriesBooksTotal words
The Wheel of Time 14 4,287,8865
The Stormlight Archive (sum of per-book approximations) 5 2,173,0001
A Song of Ice and Fire (published so far (7 planned)) 5 1,741,3272
Harry Potter 7 1,084,17010
Dune (Frank Herbert's original six) 6 854,7431
Foundation (Asimov's seven) 7 687,4084
The Lord of the Rings (+Hobbit) 4 576,45919

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.

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, not a census - and dividing by total words gives something nobody usually measures: character density. George R.R. Martin turns out to be in a league of his own.

SeriesDocumented charactersTotal wordsCharacters per 100k words
A Song of Ice and Fire 2,30241 1,741,327 132
Harry Potter 77243 1,084,170 71
The Wheel of Time 2,78242 4,287,886 65
The Inheritance Cycle 47944 904,000 53
The Stormlight Archive 1,08845 2,173,000 50
The Empyrean (Fourth Wing) 18046 591,886 30
The Kingkiller Chronicle 19047 650,986 29
ACOTAR 21248 784,159 27
Throne of Glass 19449 1,234,551 16

Other documented tallies: Middle-earth (Hobbit + LOTR + posthumous works): 98219 · Crescent City: 13850 · Grishaverse (all Bardugo): 25751 · Riordanverse (all Riordan): 1,75452 · Red Rising: 28953 · Wings of Fire: 48954 · Keeper of the Lost Cities: 18855 · The First Law: 27456 · Narnia: 15457 · All Brandon Sanderson works (Cosmere + non-Cosmere): 2,67945 · Dune (whole franchise wiki): 20858.

Frequently asked questions

How many words is Fourth Wing?

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is about 206,000 words across 39 chapters - 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 about 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 about 487,000 words - close to 34h 06m 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 about 181,493 words - close to 12h 43m of reading at 238 words per minute.

How long is the average fantasy novel?

Across the 69 fantasy titles here the median is 196,014 words - about 14 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?

The median across the 31 science-fiction titles here is 104,588 words - about 7 hours of reading, roughly 91,426 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 & sources

Word counts are compiled from published sources - author statements, school reading-program data, fan-wiki statistical pages and audiobook-derived estimate databases. Figures marked ≈ are estimates; counts vary slightly between editions. Chapter counts come from published study guides and fan wikis. Reading time is word count ÷ your reading speed (default 238 words/min, from Brysbaert's 2019 meta-analysis of adult silent reading59). Character counts are the number of character entries documented by each series' fan encyclopedia as of the date shown - communities differ in how exhaustively they document minor characters, so treat these as dated floors and the density figures as our own derived analysis. Retrieved 2026-07-21. Spotted an error? Tell us: contact@fantasyread.ai.

These counts exist because of years of volunteer work by each series' wiki community - the Coppermind, AWOIAF, and the Fandom wikis linked below deserve the credit for the underlying documentation.

Reuse. The individual figures are facts, cited to the sources below and free for anyone to use. What's ours is the compilation - the selection of titles, the arrangement, the reading-time and character-density calculations, and this presentation - which we license under CC BY 4.0. Use it, just credit Fantasy Read with a link.

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  22. Popular Novel Word Count — Neal Stephenson (Snow Crash) - retrieved 2026-07-24
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  37. Popular Novel Word Count — Philip K. Dick - retrieved 2026-07-24
  38. Popular Novel Word Count — Ray Bradbury (Fahrenheit 451) - retrieved 2026-07-24
  39. Word Counters — The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - retrieved 2026-07-24
  40. Popular Novel Word Count — Narnia - retrieved 2026-07-21
  41. WinterIsComing — How many ASOIAF characters - retrieved 2026-07-21
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