It was written in the best traditions of a spine-tingling Stephen King novel: the chilling story of a mutant vampire plant that wreaks havoc and mayhem as it preys on unsuspecting citizens.
But now the author has included a nasty shock for fans of his chapter-by-chapter online book, The Plant. He has decided to can the project for the foreseeable future.
Attention and sales have steadily faded and this month the multi-millionaire decided to suspend the novel, explaining that he needs to work on more conventional books. "The Plant will be going back into hibernation" he wrote last week on the site, saying that he began the story years ago and would eventually finish it. He added: "Don't despair. The last time The Plant furled its leaves, the story remained dormant for 19 years. If it could survive that, I am sure it can survive a year or two."
Originally King had claimed he would write up to eight instalments of The Plant, in segments ranging from 5,000 to 7,000 words. The sixth instalment will go on sale in December, described by King as the "most logical stopping point".
Marsha DeFilippo, the author's assistant, said sales had fallen sharply to levels that threatened the future of the project. King also discovered the harsh economic reality of internet publishing - that some people are freeloaders. The writer issued instalments of The Plant under an honesty plan where readers were asked for $1 per chapter. He pledged to keep writing if at least 75% of readers complied, adding: "If you pay the story rolls. If you don't, the story folds".
The first three chapters cost $1 and those after $2. Downloading was free but readers were asked to "return to pay" at a page headlined "Thank you for your honesty".
But by chapter two, only 70% of readers paid; by part four, only 46% paid. "There is undoubtedly some thievery and bootlegging going on," King complained last month.
King's publisher has been bombarded with angry emails from people who have spent $7 (£5) on a book that may never be finished.
King's curtailment of the project also contrasted sharply with his optimistic prediction at the outset, describing The Plant as perhaps "going to be publishing's worst nightmare".
The horror writer is not the only author to embark on the e-book revolution. Frederick Forsyth recently published a series of five short stories on the internet which can be downloaded for £1.99 each, but was more sceptical.
"If it's a startlingly small number of hits then I shall desist from ever doing it again because it will be shown to be hype. Certainly the boasting is way ahead of the technology."
Useful link:
Stephen King's website
