Cigarette Vending Machines Rejiggered to Sell Books

Let’s take a trip. Suppose for a minute that you’re a foreign exchange student at the University of Hamburg. And why not? The website, at least, makes it look plenty nice. You just left your Ethnology class when you figure you’ll get a pack of cigarettes. You’re trying to quit, sure, but it’s finals season. You see one of those old cigarette vending machines on the corner wall, but what’s this? A mini graphic novel? And only 4 euros? I’m there! I’ll never smoke again!

Or something to this effect. As Publishing Perspectives reports, Hamburg-based publisher Hamburger Automatenverlag is promoting literacy by remixing those old cigarette machines into book machines.

The books–all original texts by Hamburg authors, ranging from graphic novels to poetry to a travel guide for professional women–will each cost four euros. As reported in the Boersenblatt, the titles will also be available for purchase online.

How delightfully quaint! My first thought, personally, would be, “How would that turn out over here?” And I tend to think that, at least with the age of the ebook upon us, this would only be met with mild fascination. But just imagine it. Say you’re at a vending machine about to buy that bottle of soda? Then you see Scott Pilgrim next to it? Wouldn’t you at least consider the purchase?

[via GalleyCat]

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Kwame Opam