Horror writer's latest work to be distributed through cyberspace

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) -- Stephen King, whose serialized novel "The Green Mile" was a salute to publishing's past, is now embracing today's technology by offering his latest work exclusively on the

Wednesday, March 8th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) -- Stephen King, whose serialized novel "The Green Mile" was a salute to publishing's past, is now embracing today's technology by offering his latest work exclusively on the Internet.

"Riding the Bullet," a 66-page tale that King describes as "a ghost story in the grand manner," will be available Tuesday as an "e-book," which buyers can download for $2.50 and read on a computer, personal organizer or electronic book.

The short story will be electronically published through Simon & Schuster Online, which will make it available through Web sites of e-book manufacturers and online booksellers.

King completed "Riding the Bullet" while recuperating from near-fatal injuries after he was struck by a minivan in June while walking on the shoulder of a country road near his summer home in Lovell, Maine.

"I'm curious to see what sort of response there is and whether or not this is the future," King said in a statement. Some science fiction writers have experimented with cyberspace-only distribution of their work.

But King, the author of more than 30 best sellers, is the first in the very highest tier of top-selling authors to give the method a try.

"This is really the first effective market test," said Keith Loris, president of SoftLock.com of Maynard, Mass., which provided some of the technology. "Up to now, this has been technology in search of a market."

King's publisher said the e-book format compresses the traditional yearlong publishing cycle. "What's exciting is that we are able to go from Stephen King's computer to the reader in a fraction of the print-book publishing arc," said Kate Tentler, vice president and publisher of Simon & Schuster Online. ------
On the Net: Simon & Schuster Online at http://www.simonandschuster.com