Anthony Zuiker created one of the most popular and
profitable franchises on TV, the CSI series. Now he’s creating a new genre, the
digi-novel. It’s a book that is supplemented every twenty pages or so with a
three-minute video online. Also on the website, readers/viewers can discuss the
story and even add to it.
The project is called “Level 26.” Zuiker wrote a 60-page
outline, Duane Swiercynski wrote the novel, and Zuiker wrote and directed the
video bits, which he calls “cyber-bridges.”
One of the problems with the format is that the current
e-readers don’t play video so you’ll need to access the internet in a way
that’s separate from how you’re reading the novel. Knowing that not everybody
will want to be jumping back and forth, Zuiker has structured the work so that
you don’t actually need to view the video portions in order to follow the
story. That seems a weakness—it means the videos remain an interesting but
dispensable add-on.
As of this writing there is a lot of speculation that Apple
may be about to release a tablet device that could play video as well as
display text. If and when that kind of device is available, digi-novels could
become a viable new form.
However, there is still a question whether people who enjoy
reading or video will really want to combine them. They may just wonder why
it’s not a film OR a book.
Addendum: here's the first (negative) review: www.usatoday.com/life/books/reviews/2009-09-07-level-26-anthony-zuiker_N.htm . I do think it's a shame that it has to be about a serial killer...have you noticed how many books or movies or TV shows promise to take you "inside the mind of a serial killer"? I don't know about you, but I don't WANT to be inside the mind of a serial killer.
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