History Main / PrintLongRunners

* [[GlobalGuardiansPBEMUniverse The Global Guardians]] (1994 to 2006. Most web-based text games last months. A couple make it to a year. One or two make it to three years. The Global Guardians lasted twelve years, a feat that has yet to be equaled by any other non-commercial online shared world.)

*** If we look at it another way in terms of when the Bible ''was written'' then you have one exceedingly long narrative, being written possibly over a period 1000+ years, or at the minimum several centuries.

** The Torah, aka the first five books of the Old Testament, has been in print for so long that there is argument over ''how'' long. Probably at ''least'' 2,500 years, maybe more. Likely, no changes whatsoever in that entire time. Interestingly, the method of printing hasn't changed at all in the meantime; it's the only tome left still commonly printed on lambskin scrolls.
*** Actually many Scholars, Jewish and Christian, state that the Torah is not likely in its original form. It is believed that the Torah is a distillation of 4 major (lost) sources into the five books separated by topic. The Jewish Law (and early mythology) was likely passed down orally at first, written in various places, and then constructed into what we call the Torah.

The printed word (or character, pictogram, what-have-you) is one of the oldest forms of passing information or creating entertainment. This listing honors print media that has reached the state of LongRunner. Print media includes books (and [[{{ScienceMarchesOn}} e-books]]), comics, newspapers, and {{manga}}. Long running is considered to be a print run of 20 years or more, or 15 volumes in a book series, since they typically publish once a year or so.

[[AC:Book Series]]
* ''AnitaBlake'' - Laurell K. Hamilton (17 volumes)
* ''{{Animorphs}}'' - K.A. Applegate (54 main, 10 supplemental; now ended)
* ''{{Arthur}}'' Aardvark and the spinoff books about his sister D.W. (since 1976, 26 books in the main Arthur adventure series, numerous spinoff books and books based on the television series)
* ''TheBabysittersClub'' -- (Ran from 1986 to 2000, 209 books total)
* The ''Cat Who...'' series - Lilian Jackson Braun (1968-present; 30 volumes with the latest one)
* ''ChooseYourOwnAdventure'' - various authors (185 volumes plus numerous spin-offs, 1979-1998)
* {{Discworld}} - Terry Pratchett (38 volumes and short stories)
* ''DocSavage'' - 181 novels over 16 years, plus modern sequels.
* ''DoctorWho'' - various (155 novelizations of TV episodes, 350+ [[DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse original books]])
** VirginNewAdventures (61 novels)
** EighthDoctorAdventures (73 novels)
* DragonridersOfPern - Anne (and later Todd) [=McCaffrey=] (41 years, 19 volumes)
* The ''Drizzt'' series - R.A. Salvatore (25 years)
* ''{{Franklin}}'' Turtle (Over twenty books in the original series since 1986, numerous television tie-in books)
* The ''{{Gor}}'' series (43 years, 28 volumes with at least 2 more scheduled at this writing)
* The ''...InDeath'' series - J. D. Robb (29 volumes plus short stories as of February 2009)
* The Kinsey Millhone [[{{IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming}} alphabet murders]] series - Sue Grafton (20 volumes, 6 more to go, according to WordOfGod)
* ''LoneWolf'' - Joe Dever (28 volumes published from 1984-1998, with the final four of the intended 32 due for publication now the series has been UnCancelled)
* MidnightLouie (First appeared in short stories in 1990, then after ''Pussyfoot'' began appearing in a series of alphabetically-themed volumes that is up to "U" as of 2010.)
* NeroWolfe: 33 novels and 39 short stories over 51 years.
* ''{{Redwall}}'' - Brian Jacques (19 volumes)
* The '' [[TheRiftwarCycle Riftwar]] '' novels - Raymond E. Feist (~25 volumes). First book published in 1982, there's a new book (almost) every year, and the last book is expected around 2013.
* ''{{Shannara}}'' - Terry Brooks (17 volumes with more planned) 1977-present.
* ''StarTrekExpandedUniverse'' - various (1979 to present; the number of ''Original Series'' books now exceeds the number of episodes of the show it's based on. Also known for creating series with original crews, or expanding on history only hinted at in {{canon}})
* ''StarWarsExpandedUniverse'' - over 250 novels and novellas, 1976-present. Unlike the ''StarTrekExpandedUniverse'', books in this series are considered {{canon}} unless they are stated [[{{CanonDiscontinuity}} not to be]] by WordOfGod or directly contradict the movies. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Star_Wars_books The Other Wiki]] has a list.) %%[sic] The novelisation of A New Hope predates the movie.
* The StephaniePlum series - Janet Evanovich (14 novels, 3 novellas)
* The Saint books by Leslie Charteris and later ghost-writers - 1928-1983 (plus a movie novelisation and a subsequent semi-professionally published novel in 1997). 52 books of new material in total, including novels and short-story collections.
* {{Xanth}} - Piers Anthony (34 volumes - a surprising number for what was meant to be a trilogy)
* YoungWizards - (26 years, with a long break between volumes 3 and 4)
* ''MariaSamaGaMiteru'' light novel series (33 and counting).
* The ''PerryRhodan'' novels have been released ''once a week'' since 1961. Not to forget various spin-offs.
* Just William series - Richmal Crompton (49 years, 37 short story compilations and 1 novel).
* Since 1969 over 670 novels have been released revolving around Don Pendleton's MackBolan character, a.k.a. the Executioner.
* UncleJohnsBathroomReader, a trivia/humor/reference book, in print since 1988.
* PGWodehouse's Jeeves series: 11 novels and 35 short stories between 1915 and 1974.
* ''VampireHunterD'': 1983 - present, with 21 volumes and counting.
* {{TKKG}} has been published since 1978 and has more than 167 books and is still going strong. There are also more than 100 audio books in the series.
* JamesBond: IanFleming's works fall just short (12 novels, 2 short story collections[[hottip:*:Not counting ''Quantum of Solace'', which combines the other two]]). Continuations push the total number of volumes over 40, with John Gardner's contributions qualifying on their own.

* ForBetterOrForWorse (1979-2008)

* ''DoctorWho'' - various (155 novelizations of TV episodes, 350+ [[DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse original books]])

* ''StarTrek'' Expanded Universe - various (1979 to present; the number of ''Original Series'' books now exceeds the number of episodes of the show it's based on. Also known for creating series with original crews, or expanding on history only hinted at in {{canon}})
* ''StarWars'' Expanded Universe - various ([[{{ArchivePanic}} I'm just going to throw in the towel here]] and say an ''unholy shitload'' of volumes. Unlike the ''StarTrek'' EU, books in this series are considered {{canon}} unless they are stated [[{{CanonDiscontinuity}} not to be]] by WordOfGod or directly contradict the movies. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Star_Wars_books The Other Wiki]] has a list.)
** According to TheOtherWiki's list, 255 novels and novellas - counting the movie novelizations, counting the e-books, not counting short story anthologies, and quite importantly not counting the 70-plus [[AllThereInTheManual reference books]] or the dozen-odd roleplaying guidebooks.

As stated in the FranchiseZombie page, NewspaperComics tend to be PrintLongRunners, with a disturbing tendency toward becoming the aforementioned undead creature. Whether it is or not is [[{{SubjectiveTrope}} subjective.]]

* Apartment 3-G (47 years)
* Archie (67 years)
* [[{{BC}} B.C.]] (51 years)
* Barney Google and Snuffy Smith (90 years)
* ''BeetleBailey'' (58 years; an extremely noticeable use of ComicBookTime, the characters have been 1950's-era Army since 1950)
* ''{{Blondie}}'' (78 years)
* Broom-Hilda (39 years)
* ''CalvinAndHobbes'' ''averts'' the hell out of this. It ran for 10 years, 1 month, and 12 days, and was stopped by the author, who was trying to avoid FranchiseZombie status. There have, however, been enough book collections to qualify as long running.

* ''DennisTheMenace'' (US) (57 years)
* ''DickTracy'' (77 years)
* ''{{Dilbert}}'' (21 years)
* ''{{Doonesbury}}'' (38 years- it started in 1970)
* ''DykesToWatchOutFor'' (25 years)
* ''TheFamilyCircus'' (48 years)
* ''FunkyWinkerbean'' (37 years)
* ''{{Garfield}}'' (32 years)
* ''Gasoline Alley'' (90 years)
* ''Gil Thorp'' (50 years)
* ''Grin and Bear It'' (76 years)
* ''HagarTheHorrible'' (35 years)
* ''{{Heathcliff}}'' (36 years)
* ''HiAndLois'' (55 years)
* ''JudgeParker'' (58 years)
* The Katzenjammer Kids (an astonishing ''century'' of continuous production!)
* The Lockhorns (41 years)
* ''MandrakeTheMagician'' (75 years)
* ''MarkTrail'' (62 years)
* ''{{Marmaduke}}'' (54 years)
* ''MaryWorth'' (68 years)
* ''MotherGooseAndGrimm'' (25 years)
* Nancy (71 years)
* ''{{Peanuts}}'' (49 years and 4 months- when the author stopped doing it, he [[AuthorExistenceFailure died right after]]. Has been in reruns for the past decade.)
* ''{{Popeye}}'' (79 years)
* ''PrinceValiant'' (72 years)
* Rex Morgan M.D. (60 years)
* ''{{Shoe}}'' (32 years)
* ''Tank [=McNamara=]'' (34 years)
* ''TheWizardOfId'' (44 years)
* ''{{Ziggy}}'' (38 years)
* ''ThePhantom'' (73 years)

* ''AndyCapp'' (late 1950s - present)
* Bristow (49 years, 1961 - present)
* The Broons (72 years)
* Desperate Dan (71 years)
* Fred Basset (45 years)
* Oor Wullie (72 years)
* ''ThePerishers'' (almost 50 years, closed after writer Maurice Dodd died)
* {{Rupert Bear}} (89 years)

** The Bash Street Kids (54 years, 1955-present)
** [[DennisTheMenaceUK Dennis the Menace (UK)]](58 years, 1951-present)
** Lord Snooty (62 years, now cancelled)
*** Interestingly enough, the concept is still spoofed in ''PrivateEye'' with "Dave Snooty".
*** In an odd inversion of cartoon characters rarely aging, a new strip in the comic is "Lord Snooty III", supposedly the grandson of the original Lord Snooty.
** Minnie the Minx (55 years, 1953-present)
** Roger the Dodger (56 years, 1952-present)
** Ivy the Terrible (not sure of the date, but this troper remembers her in comics since 1987, so at least 23 years for this hyper-energetic preschooler)

* ForBetterOrForWorse (1979 to the present, although as of September 2008 it's begun a bizarre mixture of reruns and new strips set in the past.)
** {{It Gets Worse}} As of October, 2008, the strip has been rebooted and is now putting on THE ENTIRE SERIES FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, if with a somewhat darker slant.

* The ''{{Gor}}'' series (42 years, 27 volumes)

* Judge Parker (56 years)

* [=~The Qur'an~=] was first officially written down and standardized in 653. As far as printing goes the oldest surviving printing blocks are from the 10th century.

* [[{{UsefulNotes.Islam}} The Qur'an]] was first officially written down and standardized in 653. As far as printing goes the oldest surviving printing blocks are from the 10th century.

* ''{{Batman}}'' (1938-present)

* The Perishers (almost 50 years, closed after writer Maurice Dodd died)

** SirArthurConanDoyle

* Suske en Wiske, a Flemish comic (1945-present).

<<|{{Fan-Speak}}|>>

** Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

* ''TheEpicOfGilgamesh'' deserves special mention even among epics as its generally considered to be the first concrete "story" humans have to offer. The first versions were written approximately four thousand years ago (2150-2000 BCE) and the most familiar version was codified about a ''millennium'' later (1300-1000 BCE). Even the first modern translation was preformed in the 1873. Ya, it's pretty old.

* ''AhMyGoddess'' manga (20 years)
* ''{{Batman}}'' (70 years)
* ''{{Cerebus}}'' (27 years; longest-running English-language comic by a single writer and artist)
* ''ElfQuest'' (30 years)
* ''FantasticFour'' (47 years)
* ''TheIncredibleHulk'' (46 years)
* ''GlassMask'' (34 years)
* ''{{Golgo 13}}'' (39 years)
* ''JojosBizarreAdventure'' (22 years, 93 collected volumes as of now)
* ''{{Kochikame}}'' (32 years, longest continuously published manga, 13 more volumes than ''{{Golgo 13}}'')
* ''{{Spider Man}}'' (47 years)
* ''{{Superman}}'' (71 years)
* ''WonderWoman'' (67 years)
* ''ArchieComics'' (68 years)
* ''SpirouAndFantasio'' (71 years)
* ''{{Asterix}}'', technically a comic, but he follows a schedule more like a book series. 33 Comic books in 50 years. All by the same two guys (later one guy).
* ''{{Oishinbo}}'', 25 years and over 100 volumes.
* ''{{Diabolik}}'', Monthly since November 1962.

* ''Comicbook/{{X-Men}}'' (46 years)
* ''Comicbook/TheAvengers'' (46 years)
* ''{{Daredevil}}'' (45 years)

* ''The Phantom'' It is the most popular comic book in Australia (the australian edition going on for 62 years and over 2000 issues with no end in sight)

* ''{{Tintin}}''; although Hergé, the author, [[AuthorExistenceFailure died in 1983]] and forbade in his will that anybody else publish new stories, it's always been in print since its debut in 1937, and probably should be considered Hall of Fame material- it'll obviously stay in print for a loooong time to come (in its original French version, anyway).
* ''Bio-Booster Armor {{Guyver}}'' (25 years and 27 volumes)
* ''{{Blackhawk}}'' (27 years in its original run, plus another 10-odd years in scattered revivals)

** According to TheOtherWiki's list, 255 novels and novellas - counting the movie novelizations, counting the e-books, not counting short story anthologies, and quite importantly not counting the 70-plus [[AllThereInTheManual reference books]] or the dozen-odd roleplaying guidebooks. So, uh... ''yeah''.

** In ''print''? Yeah right :)

*** In an odd inversion of cartoon characters rarely aging, a new strip in the comic is "Lord Snooty III", supposedly the grandson of the original Lord Snooty. SoYeah...

* ''{{Spiderman}}'' (47 years)