Why do some books have the words "A Novel" in the title?

[Badbird]

This is something that has bugged me for a while. Why is it that some books include the words "A Novel" after the title?

It's just kind of annoying. That would be like calling it: Unstoppable: A Film. I mean, do they think that we don't know it's a novel? Or does putting "A Novel" give it some kind of hint of prestige? Some kind of fancy-pants, I'm-better-that-you credibility? Like "Oh, this isn't a book, it's a novel."

[The Postmaster General]

Yeah, then you have Charles Dickens calling his novel a "tale." It's all so weird.

[Powerslave]

Well, lots of books aren't novels.

But beyond that, I always thought is was just kind of a stylistic thing.

[The Postmaster General]

^Bingo!


I mean, man this is crazy:

http://www.amazon.com/Thirteenth-Tal.../dp/0743298039