Long story about a steamy state (4)

I believe the answer is:

saga

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'long story' is the definition.
(a saga is a long and complicated story)

'about a steamy state' is the wordplay.
'about' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'steamy state' becomes 'gas' (gas is a kind of state. I am not sure about the 'steamy' bit.).
'a'+'gas'='agas'
'agas' written backwards gives 'SAGA'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for saga that I've seen before include "Body of legend" , "Epic story" , "Long heroic tale" , "Soap opera" , "Long narrative" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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