Inside the Lab

My friends at Publishing Perspectives recently wrote about Anthony Zuiker’s latest creation, the digi-novel. Zuiker masterminded the CSI franchise and spent this week launching a new one. Billed as an “immersive storytelling experience,” the digi-novel moves readers across different media—you read a few pages in a physical book, then log on to a website to watch a short video “bridge” to the next chapter. About an hour of original video accompanies the first book, and Zuiker promises you’ll recognize the actors who appear onscreen.

Level 26: Dark Origins will be released on September 8 and tells the story of forensic operative, Steve Dark. I’ll let you find out more about the premise on your own, but suffice it to say, it’s grisly stuff. Level26.com launched Thursday and includes a social community where readers can connect. The entire experience is being showcased today at Comic-Con.

This week’s coverage has generated a lot of comments about Hollywood egos and the sad state of traditional media, but surprisingly few about embracing innovation as a way to help shape the future of our respective industries. As a book lover, I don’t know if I’ll like the digi-novel experience. As a video producer, I’m intrigued. So in spite of my aversion to extreme grisliness, my copy of Level 26 is on pre-order.

- Julie Morey