novelette

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A novelette (or, rarely, novelet^[1]) is a piece of short prose fiction. The distinction between a novelette and other literary forms, like a novella, is usually based upon word count. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula awards for science fiction define the novelette as having a word count of between 7,500 and 17,499, inclusive.^[2]

The terms novelette and novelettish can also be derogatory, suggesting fiction which is "trite, feeble or sentimental". ^[3]

The word was used by the composer Robert Schumann as a title for some piano pieces, a choice that reflected his literary background and interests. The music in question (op. 21, and op. 99 no. 9) is episodic, however, and does not especially resemble a narrative. He was followed by Niels Gade, Stephen Heller and much later by Poulenc, Lutosławski ("Novelette for Orchestra"), Chaminade, Tcherepnin, and George Gershwin ("Novelette in Fourths").

Jesse Lee Kercheval believes that the term novelette is an alternative term for the novella, which "enjoyed a vogue". ^[4]

See also

• Chain novel

Footnotes

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