Book length (another ex-OT thread)

[David <dfrankiswork@netscape.net>]

No: HPFGUIDX 49918

On OT we have had an absorbing discussion about the length of OOP 
and whether it is possible to predict accurately the length of the 
remaining two books.  (Inaccurate prediction is easy.)  See OT post 
13373 et seq.

I maintain that can only be done with any confidence if we have some 
sort of rationale for why the existing books are as long as they are.

So, a canon question: why have the books so far increased steadily 
in length?  Given that most other series either have fairly 
consistent length (e.g. Narnia), or seem to fluctuate more or less 
randomly (e.g. Discworld), what is going on?  Is there an internal 
dynamic to the story that is affecting the number of words needed to 
tell it?

It would seem plausible that the fact that the HP series was 
conceived as an organic whole has something to do with it, as this 
is not true for the above series.

David, who forgot to change the subject on his last after deciding 
his latest flowerbed theory was no bed of roses

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