Book Anatomy · The Worm Ouroboros
The Worm Ouroboros: Commercial facts
13 lenses on commercial facts for The Worm Ouroboros by E.R. Eddison. Count lenses are exact for our text. AI lenses are our reading and cite only quotes that passed a word for word check.
Jump to: L1 L2 L3 L4 L5 L6 L7 L8 L9 L10 L11 L12 L13
L1. Total word count. Count
1922, 170,881 words. See the full lens on the book page.
L2. Chapter count and average length. Count
1922, 170,881 words. See the full lens on the book page.
L3. Length against modern norms for the genre. Both
170,881 words. Modern fantasy and children's often runs 30,000 to 60,000 words, so this is long for the shelf today. These ranges are rough trade norms, not rules.
At 170,881 words, this is exceptionally long for fantasy, even by 1922 standards. Modern fantasy epics (Tolkien, Martin) are comparable, but contemporary readers expect shorter books. The length reflects Eddison's ornate style.
L4. First published as a serial or a volume? Research
1922, 170,881 words. See the full lens on the book page.
Facts from outside the text (sales, serial history, adaptations, sequels, most quoted lines). Coming in a later phase, with sources and dates.
L5. Serial instalment breaks and how each ends. Both
The book has no serial breaks. It was published as a single volume in 1922. However, natural breaks occur at chapter 27 (return to Demonland), chapter 43 (winter pause), and chapter 47 (Goldry rescued).
Chapters: Ch 27, Ch 43, Ch 47
L6. Sales and reviews in its day. Research
Facts from outside the text (sales, serial history, adaptations, sequels, most quoted lines). Coming in a later phase, with sources and dates.
L7. Adaptations: film, TV, stage, count and type. Research
Facts from outside the text (sales, serial history, adaptations, sequels, most quoted lines). Coming in a later phase, with sources and dates.
L8. Sequels and series. Research
Facts from outside the text (sales, serial history, adaptations, sequels, most quoted lines). Coming in a later phase, with sources and dates.
L9. Modern books in the same mould (comps). AI
Modern comps: Tolkien's Lord of the Rings (epic quest, secondary world), Patrick Rothfuss's Name of the Wind (ornate prose, coming of age), N.K. Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy (complex magic systems). Eddison influenced all.
L10. Who it would be shelved for today. AI
Today it would shelve in adult fantasy, possibly under 'classic fantasy' or 'literary fantasy'. Readers of Tolkien, Le Guin, and Rothfuss would find it rewarding. Academic readers and fantasy historians would value it highly.
L11. Content notes. AI
Content notes: extensive battle violence, death of major characters, themes of war and conquest, brief sexual content (seduction scenes), dark sorcery. No graphic sexual content or modern sensitivities violated.
Chapters: Ch 28, Ch 29, Ch 38, Ch 51, Ch 52, Ch 53
L12. A modern pitch line and blurb. AI
When his brother is captured by the sorcerer-king of Witchland, Lord Juss embarks on an epic quest across impossible mountains to rescue him, only to discover that true strength comes not from martial prowess but from loyalty and love.
L13. Title style against genre norms. AI
The title is mythic and symbolic rather than plot-driven. It echoes medieval romance titles (The Song of Roland) and epic naming conventions. Modern genre titles tend toward character names or plot hooks; this is more literary and archaic.
Rightfully, having such a timeless life, this King weareth on his thumb that worm Ouroboros (Ch 26, para 14)
Ask The Worm Ouroboros a question about its craft (free beta)
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