Aren't Light Novels supposed to have illustrations?

[FGCCheckmate]

I've seen more than a few stories claim to be light novels, but virtually all of them contain no art whatsoever.

I assumed the presence art is what separated light novels from traditional novels. Unless there is something else that makes the medium different from stories that are purely text, such as style or themes?

 

[Cipiteca396]

Light Novel literally just means it has fewer words in it than a 'heavier' story. In Japanese variants, they're also written with a particular script that's easier to read for kids. Reading in English, there's no distinction between a Light Novel and a normal novel. Though 'pulp fictions' are quite similar.

 

[Deleted member 58005]

Does the cover count? There are some that have only the cover but no illustrations in the actual book

 

[FGCCheckmate]

Does the cover count? There are some that have only the cover but no illustrations in the actual book

I always thought a light novel was a hybrid of a comic/manga and traditional book. So it would require more illustrations than the cover (or so I thought).

 

[Cipiteca396]

I always thought a light novel was a hybrid of a comic/manga and traditional book. So it would require more illustrations than the cover (or so I thought).

Tbh, I had this impression too, for a while. I'm not sure why, except that I often saw illustrations in translated stories that were sourced 'from the Light Novel'.

 

[CL]

I always thought a light novel was a hybrid of a comic/manga and traditional book. So it would require more illustrations than the cover (or so I thought).

Tbh, I had this impression too, for a while. I'm not sure why, except that I often saw illustrations in translated stories that were sourced 'from the Light Novel'.

I blame VNGs for this misconception.

 

[Kilolo]

look alright. Light Novel term only exist in japanese to begin with.
in western civilization, there's no such things. the most closest to it are called young-adult novels

novels in japan are written in kanji, and for young people who doesn't know that much kanji. reading those could be exasperating.

this is where Light Novels comes in. the idea is to produce a novel with younger people as it's demographic. so they add furigana (small hiragana overtext of the kanji to help with the pronounciation), and that's the essence of Light Novels. it's those furigana.

light themed story, teenager main character, pretty cover, midscene illustration, it's all just a bonus.

but most people just assume that those bonus are the most important part of the light novels, especially when it comes to overseas audience who read the translated works.

 

[PancakesWitch]

There are many japanese light novels that only have illustration in the cover, look them up. Illustrations are all dependent in the publisher and how much they're willing to invest for an adaptation. Most japanese call light novels "anime in words" because it is a very "light" form of writting and story, fewer words, simplistic descriptions and storylines, and so on, it is often not so "heavy" like the "real" novels. But as Light Novels evolve, there are higher and higher quality ones, and because of localizations and western writters getting atached to their simplistic way of writing with their own simple writing, while also attempting to appeal to the readerbase of japanese media, they call their own works "light novels" sometimes, although i always call whatever i write as "webnovels" because that's really waht they are. Anybody that claims that what they write is a "light novel" is usually wrong unless they're actual japanese writers having their stories published and labeled as light novels.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

themes

Yes, that's it. Light novels are generally for relaxation. Other novels may be designed to get the reader to think or at least become more aware of an issue.

 

[EternalSunset0]

Mine does have them in volume 1

But overall, a light novel is not determined by pictures. It's the language, the themes, or the general story beats that don't go too deep or intricate.

For example of the no-illustration thing, the latest Asterisk War volume didn't have insert illustrations.

 

[CheertheDead]

Yup. I believe once there were such definition that Light novel is novel with lots of illustrations.

It’s a nice silly thing.

 

[Ilikewaterkusa]

I've seen more than a few stories claim to be light novels, but virtually all of them contain no art whatsoever.

I assumed the presence art is what separated light novels from traditional novels. Unless there is something else that makes the medium different from stories that are purely text, such as style or themes?

Yes but some people are poor

 

[BlackKnightX]

I've seen more than a few stories claim to be light novels, but virtually all of them contain no art whatsoever.

I assumed the presence art is what separated light novels from traditional novels. Unless there is something else that makes the medium different from stories that are purely text, such as style or themes?

I assume you’re referring to OELN(Original English Light Novel), which is just like its name implies, is a light novel written in English.

Light novel is originally from Japan. It’s a unique type of novel with its own characteristics different from the western novel—the contents, the writing style, the tropes, etc.

Then there’s this OELN(Original English Light Novel) which comes as a result of imitating that. But as you all know, English light novel market is not as blooming as in Japan. If I’m correct I think there’s only a couple of publishing houses that publish the English light novel right now. This will contain no illustrations like in the original—Japanese’s light novel.

 

[gaylolis]

Yes but some people are poor

maybe they're also too lazy to draw or afraid to get bonked by FBI

 

[PeacefulMyst]

I would've done that. If only I had money.

 

[Toripuru-S]

I like to promote Royal Four-Ces and Amber Age as light novels, because they are loaded with illustrations ??????????????????

Royal Four-Ces will be getting even more, because I'm taking advantage of the hiatus by slowly going back in, cleaning up the text ?, and adding new art when it's ready ?

Yeah, I always assumed that "light novel" implied having illustrations, but that's apparently not the case depending on the story ?