Book readings, immersive installations, piano music, and more to discuss about the future of publishing on fantastic book writing in Europe 

The Möbius consortium presents an evening of immersive fantasy storytelling at the Kunstkraftwerk venue during the Leipzig Book Fair on April 28th, 2023. Based on the fantasy novel by Giulio Ravizza “The Influence of Blue”, Franz Fischnaller created an audio-visual immersive show that will be presented in a short version within the framework of “Leipzig Liest”, framed by an author reading and a piano piece by the composer Rupert Huber. After the premiere in April, the opening of the complete and final work will take place next Fall 2023.

The installation will be displayed in the large hall of the Kunstkraftwerk venue. In addition, in a 5m x 5m x 3m Mobile Immersive Book Box (MIBB) projection space with a 3D audio system, both allowing for an immersive book experience. The MIBB is transportable and can be brought to other locations. The immersive show is accompanied by its own soundtrack, specially composed to enhance the storytelling experience.  

“Influence of Blue” is a fictitious story that follows the disappearance of the color blue from our lives, leading to a dystopian world where people live boring and phlegmatic lives. The novel’s protagonist discovers that he is the only one who understands the implications of the loss of blue. The immersive show created by Franz Fischnaller, Former Media Creative Director of the Kunstkraftwerk (KKW), lasts for approximately 12 minutes, fully immersing viewers in the story’s fantastic world.  

Attendees can enjoy discussions about the future of the European book publishing industry, with several publishing houses in attendance. It’s an opportunity to experience immersive reading experiences while discovering more about Möbius and its partner publishing house BookaBook.  

Visitors can also find the Möbius project’s booth at HALL 3 D400 at the Leipzig Book Fair from April 27th-30th, 2023. Here, visitors can discover and test Möbius Innovative Applications, web-based applications for publishers and writers to create interactive content, including the Prosumers Intelligence Toolkit, Möbius Creator, and Möbius Player. The event is open to the public.  

About Möbius, renewing the book experience 

Möbius  is an initiative funded under the European Commission Horizon 2020 programme that aims to modernize the European book publishing sector by remodelling the traditional value chains and business models uncovering the prosumers potential and delivering new enriched media experiences. 

Leipzig Book Fair, connecting the publishing and media industries internationally 

Leipzig Book Fair is one of the most important get-togethers for the book and media industry in Germany, connecting readers with authors, publishers and media companies from Germany and around the world. It has a strong connection to the fantasy book scene. Visitors to a diversity of literature, discover innovations and gain new perspectives. There are over 1000 book readings during these days distributed in the city of Leipzig.  

At the last event, 2,500 exhibitors from 46 countries presented the novelties of the spring, delighting 286,000 visitors on the exhibition grounds and throughout the city. Leipzig Book Fair is held in conjunction with the Manga-Comic-Con and the “Leipzig Liest” (“Leipzig reads”) reading festival. Leipzig Book Fair is supported by the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels. 

Leipzig Book Fair 2023 takes place from 27 to 30 April 2023.