keskikirja

Keskikirja is a Finnish term meaning "the middle book." It is used to refer to the central volume within a multi-volume work, especially in trilogies or series with three or more installments. The term is primarily descriptive and informal; it is not a formal bibliographic category in standard cataloging systems, and its usage can vary between publishers, editors, and readers.

In practical use, keskikirja denotes the book that sits between the opening volume and the concluding volume, often serving as the bridge that sets up the climax and develops characters and subplots further while leaving some threads to be resolved in the finale. Critics and fans may discuss whether the keskikirja leans toward exposition or momentum, and how it handles plot progression and character development.

In some cases, keskikirja may appear as a working or stylistic label, or as the actual title of a work. When used as a title, it is capitalized according to Finnish orthography and treated as a proper noun. The concept can also appear in libraries and catalogs informally, for instance in notes referencing the sequence order of a series. Overall, keskikirja is a functional descriptor rather than a fixed category, reflecting its role as the central installment in a sequence.