Google Maps, the storyteller

The UK arm of Penguin Books has launched "We Tell Stories," an alternate reality game that pairs six authors with six game designers.

The goal is to create stories that cannot be told on paper, reports Reuters. Week after week the story takes on a different form and absorbs different media; for example, parts of the story can be told through Google Maps.

After the six stories are told, readers must piece together clues to help shape a seventh story. In doing so, they can win prizes like the Penguin library of classics, worth over $25,000.

Last year Penguin launched a collaborative "wiki-novel" project called A Million Penguins, which generated 85,000 unique visitors in five weeks.

Penguin UK also launched Penguin Tasters, which allows customers to download the first chapter of its new releases on the pdf format.

In addition to myriad interactive efforts, the company is investing in the social networking game. Teen site Spinebreakers, and a relaunched Penguin site for young people, includes stock social networking capabilities as well as a blog platform for older readers who enjoy the classics.

Penguin serves regular updates to users on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

Meanwhile, the US side of Penguin is launching the e-book version of Pride and Prejudice. It will include the original text plus recipes from the era and a primer on social etiquette circa 1813.

Silicon Alley compares it to a DVD packed with "extras."