Short Story Dispensing Machines

Lee Hadden writes:

\”The Wall Street Journal has an interesting story of an entrepreneur
who has placed \”reading vending machines\” in the London Underground to sell
short stories to commuters. The stories are packaged like folded maps, and
can be read easily in a crowded subway car. The cost is one pound each
(about $1.50), and are designed so the average reader would spend about 40
minutes reading the story.

At the Baker Street Station, for example, are short stories about
Sherlock Holmes. Elementary, of course. Backers claim there is massive
potential in this market, and others claim it is the best new idea in
publishing since the paperback book. The backers of the new service want to
end the practice of commuters reading tabloids on the train.

Their website is: travelman.co.uk.


Wade Lambert. \”Publisher Puts Story Machine in London Tube.\” Wall
Street Journal. February 22, 2001, page B1, B4.