Fry says bookshops could go the way of blacksmiths

16.09.10 - Philip Jones - The Bookseller

Stephen Fry (pic left - Getty Images) has predicted that there will be a "hell of a culling" of traditional bookstores as a result of the increasing adoption of iPads and ebooks, but added that some will survive. Fry was responding to a question posed to him during a Twitter-based interview conducted on high street bookseller Waterstone's Twitter feed.

Fry, a noted technophile, was asked by Sarah Taylor (location Strawberry Hill, Twickenham) what he thought "about new technology such as iPads/E-Books potentially destroying bookstores?" Fry responded on Waterstone's own Twitter account: "I think there'll be a hell of a culling, as there was of farriers and blacksmiths when the car came in. But not total".

Fry took over the Waterstone's Twitter for an hour yesterday as part of the promotion for his new book The Fry Chronicles (Michael Joseph), expected to be one of the biggest titles for bookshops this Christmas. Fry's publicity has been particularly digitally minded with the launch of an app, enhanced iBook, and a live event broadcast in about 60 cinemas.

During his hour on the Waterstone's Twitter, he was also asked, "who would you like to be trapped in a lift for an hour with?", to which he responded: "Martina Navratilova, Lady Gaga, Jools Holland or Tom Daley would all be fine". And, "excluding oscar wilde which author alive or dead would you like to have dinner with?" To which Fry Twittered: "Chekhov. Such a civilised, kindly, rational man. Greatest short story writer ever IMHO".