How about 'ancient tale'? It can refer to a story that takes place in a bygone time and shares similarities with historical fiction.
You could say 'period fiction'. It's often used interchangeably with historical fiction to describe stories set in a particular past era.
Another term might be 'past-oriented fiction'. This implies that the focus of the story is on events and circumstances from the past.
A third word that can be used instead of fiction is 'fable'. However, a fable often has a moral lesson within it, which is not always the case for all types of fiction. But in a general sense, it can be considered as another word for fiction. Fables are fictional tales that usually involve animals or inanimate objects as characters, and they are passed down through generations to teach people certain values or life lessons.
The plot complexity is a big factor. If there are multiple storylines and sub - plots in a historical fiction, it will likely have a higher word count. For example, a story about a war with different battles and political intrigues will need more words to be fully told. Another factor is the historical period. If it's a little - known period, more words might be used to describe the setting, customs, and politics. Also, the number of characters. A large cast of characters with their own backstories and development will increase the word count.
Derivative work can also be considered another word for fan fiction. Fan fiction is often based on existing works, like a book or a movie, and creates a new story using the elements from that original work, which is what a derivative work essentially is.
Another term for it is'speculative fiction'. This encompasses a wide range of fictional works that include elements of the fantastic, such as science fiction, horror, and of course, fantasy. It allows for a great deal of creativity and exploration of the unknown, much like fantasy fiction. For example, works that involve time travel or alternate realities can be considered speculative fiction, as well as those with wizards and dragons in a made - up land.
Verisimilitudinous fiction. This rather fancy - sounding word means having the appearance of truth or realism. So, it can be used as another way to describe realistic fiction, as it emphasizes the quality of seeming real that such fiction has.
Another word might be 'literary narratives'. Literary fiction is about telling stories in a more artistic and thought - provoking way, and 'literary narratives' captures that essence. These narratives usually have in - depth exploration of human nature, emotions, and society, which are typical features of literary fiction.
One could also say 'SF' as another term for science fiction. This is a more concise abbreviation, similar to 'sci - fi'. It's often used in the context of categorizing books, movies, or other forms of media. For example, in a bookstore, you might find a section labeled 'SF' which contains all kinds of science - fiction works.
Another term is 'fiction'. While 'novel' specifically refers to a long work of prose, 'fiction' encompasses all made - up stories, including short stories, novellas, and novels. So in a sense, all novels are fiction, but not all fiction is a novel.