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 ]
News tagged with: #modern twist

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Focus on the Family Launches Fiction Imprint

The first three titles under the Focus Fiction imprint will be acquired and edited by Jerry B. Jenkins and will be published this fall. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Focus on the Family Launches Fiction Titles

The first three titles under the Focus Fiction label will be acquired and edited by Jerry B. Jenkins and will be published this fall. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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24 New Fiction Books to Read This Summer

A sequel to Colson Whitehead’s “Harlem Shuffle,” new stories from Jamel Brinkley, a debut novel about a teenager who worked for Andy Warhol — and more. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-06-09 09:01:29 UTC ]
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Seeing the Light on Religious Fiction

Jeff Crosby, the executive director of the Evangelical Christian Publishing Association, learns to embrace Christian fiction after years as a skeptic. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-09 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Seeing the Light on Religious Fiction

Jeff Crosby, the executive director of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, learns to embrace Christian fiction after years as a skeptic. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-09 04:00:00 UTC ]
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9 Science Fiction Reads for Every Mood

Whether you're looking to belly laugh, contemplate the future of humanity, or dig into conspiracy theories, I have a sci-fi read for you! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-05-30 10:34:00 UTC ]
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New Historical Fiction to Read This Summer

These books rewind time, depositing readers in the Cumbrian countryside, coastal Maine, rural Wyoming and beyond. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-05-26 15:30:50 UTC ]
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New Science Fiction and Fantasy Books

New novels by Fonda Lee, Martha Wells, Nick Harkaway, Kelly Link and Emma Törzs. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-05-26 15:30:50 UTC ]
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With a Boost from Adult Fiction, Print Book Sales Rose 1.3% Last Week

A combination of a 13.1% increase in the adult fiction category and flat sales in adult nonfiction was enough to lift unit sales of print books up 1.3% last week over the comparable week in 2022 at outlets that report to Circana BookScan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Two novels share Pulitzer in fiction as 'His Name Is George Floyd' wins for nonfiction

Two novels, "Demon Copperhead" and "Trust," shared the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for fiction while "His Name Is George Floyd" took home the nonfiction prize. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-05-08 21:55:41 UTC ]
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AI machines aren’t ‘hallucinating’. But their makers are | Naomi Klein

Tech CEOs want us to believe that generative AI will benefit humanity. They are kidding themselvesInside the many debates swirling around the rapid rollout of so-called artificial intelligence, there is a relatively obscure skirmish focused on the choice of the word “hallucinate”.This is the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-05-08 08:02:01 UTC ]
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Have a look back at every Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner of the 21st Century.

On Monday, at around 3PM (EST), from Columbia University in New York City, the winner of this year’s Pulitzer Prize for Fiction will be announced. As well as a check for a cool $15,000 dollars (which feels a little low, tbh), the victor (if there is to be one; see 2012) will gain entry to […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-05-05 14:30:48 UTC ]
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Fatimah Asghar takes the inaugural Carol Shields Prize for Fiction.

The “richest literary prize in the world for women and non-binary writers,” The Carol Shields Prize for Fiction, announced its first winner over night at an event at Parnassus Books. Please have a glass in hand … Fatimah Asghar, author of When We Were Sisters, published by One World/Random... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-05-05 13:34:53 UTC ]
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Where are fiction’s real working-class heroes? | Letter

Working-class lives are unlikely to be properly represented in fiction if the publishing industry is run by middle-class graduates, says Nick MossKeiran Goddard is right to say that too many novels that claim to portray working-class life just give us “recent arts graduate feels emotionally,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-30 16:40:05 UTC ]
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Predicting the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction

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[ Electric Literature | 2023-04-28 11:05:00 UTC ]
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Love & Other Epic Adventures: Science Fiction Romance Books

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[ Book Riot | 2023-04-28 10:36:00 UTC ]
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Three debut novels compete among Women’s prize for fiction shortlist

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[ The Guardian | 2023-04-26 06:30:01 UTC ]
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Never too late: over-50s urged to write fiction with prize for debut novel

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[ The Guardian | 2023-04-23 09:00:35 UTC ]
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Publishers are Seeking Spiritual Seekers

New faith-based books aim to draw in those looking outside of doctrinal religions for meaning in life. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-21 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The Publishers Seeking Spiritual Seekers

New faith-based books aim to draw in those looking outside of doctrinal religions for meaning in life. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-21 04:00:00 UTC ]
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