What the flip

The print versus digital debate has been raging in publishing for some time now, with some vehement loyalists on both sides. Despite all the new products and technologies that have been evolving on the digital side, it is rare that the same can be said for those in the print camp.

However, publisher Hodder is set to launch the ‘flipback’ book format this summer, which it is championing as a rival to pocket-sized e-books. The book itself is about the size of a cassette tape and is formed much like a animator’s flip book, so that each page is read downwards across two pages.

Hodder is launching 12 of its bestsellers in this new format, including works from Jodi Picoult, David Mitchell and John le Carré.

Obviously its inability to store hundreds of titles digitally and connect to the net for easy cross-referencing is not going to make it a real rival to the Kindle and iPad. But it’s a surprisingly comfortable format to use and streamlines the position of the elbows with each turn so you’re not starting fights on the Tube.

Hodders Flipback first series will launch on 7 July, with further titles launching in September