The Institute for the Future of the Book and McKenzie Work

Wark, McKenzie. GAM3R 7H30RY / McKenzie Wark / Version 1.1. ; About this project
http://www.futureofthebook.org/gamertheory/?page_id=2

The Institute for the Future of the Book is a web site whose stated mission is to chronicle the passage of the printed page to the network screen and "impact this development in a positive direction". McKenzie Work has joined the effort to develop this networked book in new and innovative patterns and to make writing a book a collaborative work of art. He brings his experience writing on and about the web, in particular web based games. Much of the initial work dealt with how to present the book. Concerns included how to keep the book flowing and generate feedback from the readers. They wanted a format that would encourage "equitable discussion" and place comments with the text, not a click away. A card-shuffle interface that was decided on was the result of inventive collabotation,"some sideways luck" and the adapting some borrowed ideas.
I have always been a little skeptical of online texts. I treasure the image of "curling up with a good book". But a closer look at online "networked books" gives me with optimism. Books and games still need authors but the online books give many writers the opportunity to have a hand in a work in progress. The pooling of talent by the Foundation provides a groundwork that is meant to capture the reader and make it easy for anyone who wishes to contribute.
One result of this joint effort was Agony. The "card-shuffle interface" had exactly the desired effect on me. The short chapters made for easy reading. With each chapter building on the next, a reader is quickly drawn into the storyline. I could find it very easy to contribute. "Placing the book and its discussion on an equal footing" emphasizes the attempt to make all of us authors.
In the end most of my fears were quite handily put to rest. While we "see what happens when authors and readers are brought into conversation over an evolving text...when the book is 'finished,' it will be published in print by a conventional press." The I can still curl up in a chair and read it if I want.