The Library of Congress > Linked Data Service > LC Subject Headings (LCSH)

Light novels


  • Here are entered works on dialogue- and action-driven fiction that draws heavily on manga themes, plots, and character types.
  • URI(s)

  • Variants

    • Japanese light novels
    • Light novels, Japanese
    • Rainobe
    • Raito noberu
    • Ranobe
  • Broader Terms

  • Closely Matching Concepts from Other Schemes

  • Sources

    • found: Work cat.: Enomoto, A. Raito noberu no tame no tadashii Nihongo : hyōgen o yori yoku suru tame no bunshō tekunikku, 2016(title translates as: Correct Japanese for light novels : sentence technique for better expression)
    • found: 2016496020: Tokushū ichizero nendai no raito noberu, 2016(history and criticism of the Japanese light novel; series: Raito noberu furonto rain [Light novel front line])
    • found: Towada, S. Tokyo ghoul, 2016:cover (Tokyo ghoul light novels book series)
    • found: Miller, S.J. Historical dictionary of modern Japanese literature and theater, 2009:p. 61 (Light novels. "Light novels" (raito noberu) comprise a new genre of young adult novels with anime- or manga-style illustrations. The term light novel often shortened to ranobe or rainobe was coined in the 1990s on a science fiction Internet forum. These prose (as opposed to graphic) novels are written with the young adult reader in mind, containing a large percentage of dialogue and the occasional reading gloss. They are often serialized in magazines, and many have been adapted for television. Popular light novel genres include romance, science fiction, fantasy, mystery and horror. Their enormous popularity among Japanese youth and young adults has led to greater numbers appearing in translation, such as Achi Taro's (1978-) Kage kara mamoru! (Next Door Ninja). See also Cell-Phone Novels)
    • found: TV tropes website, July 20, 2018(Light Novels; prose, written in short paragraphs for fast reading; very popular in Japan, chiefly among teenagers and young adults, but due to the amount of translation involved, very few of them make their way to English-language markets; The term light novel is a misnomer. While many people believe that the word "light" in the name means the novel is short (and they usually don't last much longer than 200 pages) or that it uses manga-style illustrations, the truth is that this actually refers to the text inside. Modern light novels use simpler, easier-to-read everyday kanji as opposed to "hard" novels, which generally contain much older words which, even for Japanese readers, may necessitate keeping a dictionary on hand to understand; Chinese-language literature has a somewhat similar phenomenon, particularly in Taiwan, though there is also a growing online force on Mainland China; much like original English language manga, there are a small group of authors writing [in English] in the style of light novels)
    • found: Goodreads website, July 20, 2018:Genres > Novels > Light Novel (A light novel (or Ranobe) is a style of Japanese novel typically not more than 40-50,000 words long, usually published in bunkobon size, and are often illustrated. The text is often serialized in anthology magazines prior to collection in book form)
    • found: Wong, Melissa. In defense of the original English-language light novel, via Melissa Wong website, posted Aug. 18, 2017, viewed on July 20, 2018([Wong is] writer of English-language light novels; the light novel runs from novella word count range to full novel length (averaging roughly 50,000 words); has a manga-style cover and monochrome illustrations at key points throughout. They are usually long, expansive series with multiple volumes--though one-shots are not unheard of; target audience is late middle-school to early adulthood; can be just as gory, profound, or racy as any other work of fiction)
    • found: U.S. company to be first to publish original English light novels, via Anime News Network website, Sept. 3, 2014, viewed on July 20, 2018(Vic's Lab, LLC will be the first U.S. company to publish original English light novels; Light novels are short novels or novellas that are popular in Japan. These stories often are made into manga and anime shows. They are easy to read, can be read in one sitting, and are typically heavy on dialogue and action. Although companies have published translated light novels in America, Vic's Lab wants to encourage English-speaking authors to embrace this short form of writing)
    • found: Kamei-Dyche, Andrew T. Reading culture in Japan, 2017, in Oxford research encyclopedia of literature via Oxford research encyclopedias, Sept. 11, 2018:(light novels: short dialogue- and action-heavy juvenile fiction works that draw heavily on character archetypes, plot structures, and themes from the manga tradition; feature manga illustrations)
  • General Notes

    • Here are entered works on dialogue- and action-driven fiction that draws heavily on manga themes, plots, and character types.
  • Instance Of

  • Scheme Membership(s)

  • Collection Membership(s)

  • Change Notes

    • 2018-07-20: new
    • 2018-10-04: revised
  • Alternate Formats