What do we call a longer work of fiction that usually contains a large cast of characters and extensive plotting?

The term used to describe a longer work of fiction that typically includes a large cast of characters and extensive plotting is a novel. Novels are known for their depth and complexity, allowing for detailed character development, intricate storylines, and often multiple subplots that enhance the main narrative. This format provides authors the space to explore themes, ideas, and character arcs over a significant length, distinguishing them from shorter forms of fiction.

Short stories are brief narratives that focus on a single event or character and do not possess the same level of complexity in character and plot development as novels. A novella, while longer than a short story, is still shorter than a full novel and typically involves fewer characters and a more focused plot. The term narrative broadly refers to any account of connected events, including novels, but does not specify the length or the complexity associated with a novel. Therefore, the specific characteristics of a novel make it the appropriate label for a longer work of fiction with a large cast of characters and extensive plotting.