I met my pal Duane Swierczynski at a pub on East 36th Street yesterday
(he picked the place, called The Ginger Man, because it was a.) good and b.) the unofficial hangout of his pals at Marvel Comics, which are two fine reasons, although it meant passing up the chance to visit the bar’s compellingly named neighbor, The Galway Hooker.) Before Duane helped me kick around some ideas, we toasted the excellent news that he has been collaborating with Anthony Zuiker, creator of the hit TV series CSI, on a new multimedia “digi-novel.” The novel is called Level 26: Dark Origins, and it’s about a serial killer. To be published by Dutton on Sept. 8, it will be the first in a series in which each book will be supplemented with 20 videos, or “cyber-bridges,” featuring actors playing characters from the novel. After every 20 pages or so, readers will be able to go online to watch a three-minute video. The videos are designed, Zuiker says, “to embellish the novel and drive readers to the next book.” The salvation of the novel? A step goowards? Who knows? I’m just happy for Duane.
