The Guardian view on fiction vending machines: attention seekers | Editorial

If they succeed in distracting commuters from their smartphones, short story dispensers will be a welcome addition to the landscapeCan fiction miniatures dispensed through slots lure commuters away from their smartphone apps and social media feeds into the imaginary worlds created by authors including Virginia Woolf and Anthony Horowitz? We are about to find out. The French company Short Édition, which already has short-story vending machines in France, Hong Kong and the US, arrives in the UK this week, unveiling its first three terminals in London. Henceforth, travellers through Canary Wharf will have the option of forsaking news, email, Football Manager 2019 and every other temptation their handheld device can offer in favour of a story on a scroll of paper, printed on demand for free.It’s a modern twist on the idea of a free bookstall or swap scheme, already familiar to rail travellers across the UK. The cost is borne by businesses, which are encouraged to install the machines as a way of improving customer experiences and preventing people from getting cross or bored. The novelty lies in the dispenser, but also the brevity and portability of the reads on offer, which range from one minute to half an hour, and can also be viewed online. (Mr Horowitz has been commissioned to pen a 60-second whodunnit for the launch.) They demand far less time and energy than a book – in many cases, less effort to read even than a chapter – and will take up next to no space in a bag.... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2019-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The facts on fiction and Marley’s origins | Letters

Karl Sabbagh says small publishers face with huge obstacles with selling books and even letting anyone know they exist; plus a descendant of Dr Miles Marley sets the record straightWith reference to your leader on literary fiction (28 December), as a small publisher we are faced with huge... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-12-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Espionage novel bags Little, Brown UEA Crime Fiction Award

Merle Nygate has won the inaugural Little, Brown Award for crime fiction at the University of East Anglia (UEA). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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‘Our relationship with Facebook is difficult’: The Guardian’s David Pemsel says the platform doesn’t value quality

David Pemsel, CEO of Guardian Media Group, is concerned about Facebook but bullish on the ability of philanthropic contributions to fund publishing. The post ‘Our relationship with Facebook is difficult’: The Guardian’s David Pemsel says the platform doesn’t value quality appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Edward St Aubyn's King Lear and the future of literary fiction - books podcast

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[ The Guardian | 2017-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The UK’s Man Booker Prize for Fiction Observes Its 50th Anniversary in 2018

Ahead of special events for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction's half-century anniversary, the foundation releases a desk diary with covers of winning titles. The post The UK’s Man Booker Prize for Fiction Observes Its 50th Anniversary in 2018 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Literary fiction is in crisis. A new chapter of funding authors must begin | Claire Armistead

Competition from smartphones and readers sticking to well-known writers means novelists are suffering. We must find ways better ways to enable themFinally it’s official: literary fiction is in crisis, and writers across the land are burning the midnight oil in their garrets, teaching or slogging... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Crisis in literary fiction a 'wake-up call'

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[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Literary fiction under threat, ACE report concludes

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[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Arts Council England’s Alarm for Literary Fiction: ‘The Problem Is a Real One’

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Is literary fiction in trouble? Readers and authors respond

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[ The Guardian | 2017-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Literary fiction in crisis as sale drop dramatically, Arts Council England reports

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[ The Guardian | 2017-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Henn's first fiction series to HC

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[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Global Kids Connect 2017: 'Breaking Through the Clutter' with Attention-Grabbing Content

Publishing experts spoke about standing out in a crowded marketplace at the third annual Global Kids Connect conference, held in New York City on December 4. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-12-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple’s App of the Year Makes Sense If You've Been Paying Attention to the News

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[ Slate | 2017-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Rise of Surender Mohan Pathak: HarperCollins India Wins Big With Hindi Pulp Fiction

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-12-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Exploration of death is Raven's first non-fiction

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[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sands to chair Women’s Prize for Fiction judges

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[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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At Guadalajara: Four Views of International Trade and Publishing in the Time of Trump

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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