The novella -- alive or just undead?

[Marc Joan]

I was pleased to see the below at a Waterstone's branch the other day. But a closer look seemed to suggest that most of the works were by dead authors. Not sure if this means the novella is alive, undead, or not dead but sleeping.

 

[Peggy Lou]

On the subject of novella, Journalstone is looking for submissions. If anyone has anything to offer.

 

[Robinne Weiss]

The novella is alive and kicking--just go to Amazon. They call them 'shorts'.

 

[Paul Whybrow]

Novellas and short stories are back in demand, owing to people reading in small chunks from their iPhones while commuting and taking a coffee break.

In France, they're giving stories away for free, printed on long paper tickets, like supermarket receipts.

How a City in France Got the World’s First Short-Story Vending Machines - The New Yorker

 

[David Newrick]

I am not sure the short story or novella were ever the 'undead' so I don't understand why you are saying that. I am currently reading through the Oxford Library of Classic English Short Stories, which can only be described as pure literary joy. Very soon we will be assailed by a short/story novella that will seem to be everywhere - Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

The short story is dead, long live the short story!

 

[Marc Joan]

They were / are the undead because, as a rule, mainstream publishers won't touch them with a bargepole. Unless, as I point out above, they are reprints of well-known works by dead authors.

 

[Robinne Weiss]

Novellas and short stories are back in demand, owing to people reading in small chunks from their iPhones while commuting and taking a coffee break.

In France, they're giving stories away for free, printed on long paper tickets, like supermarket receipts.

How a City in France Got the World’s First Short-Story Vending Machines - The New Yorker

That would be perfect! My daughter loves to read grocery receipts aloud in the back of the car. (she reads them quite dramatically, too...)

 

[David Newrick]

They were / are the undead because, as a rule, mainstream publishers won't touch them with a bargepole. Unless, as I point out above, they are reprints of well-known works by dead authors.

Have you seen these? If you keep an eye on supermarket bookshelves you will most likely see these cropping up in a lot of them. James Patterson at 150 pages or less - BookShots Patterson is a huge seller and frequently 'collaborates' with other writers. So in one form or another novellas are still being published.