Dan Brown, author of The Da Vinci Code, will publish his sixth novel, Inferno, on May 14 next.
As you might expect, the title of the new novel was not released in the usual, straightforward channels, but through a digital mosaic, according to a Guardian report.
By posting on Facebook, or tweeting using the hashtag #DanBrownToday, readers' profile images were added as tiles in a web graphic, with the title – referring to Dante's 14th-century poem – becoming apparent as further images were added.
"Although I studied Dante's Inferno as a student, it wasn't until recently, while researching in Florence, that I came to appreciate the enduring influence of Dante's work on the modern world," Brown declared.
"With this new novel, I am excited to take readers on a journey deep into this mysterious realm … a landscape of codes, symbols, and more than a few secret passageways."
"Dan Brown's enthusiasm for puzzles, codes and symbols is a passion shared by his readers," said Suzanne Herz at Brown's US publisher Doubleday.
Brown's previous 2009 novel The Lost Symbol, sold in excess of one million copies in the US, UK and Canada in its first 24 hours in the shops. Previous novels The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, Deception Point and Digital Fortress have been huge global best-sellers.
"Like David Bowie, Dan Brown has mastered the art of surprising the world with an unexpected return, " said Rik McShane, head of books at Waterstones. "This is fantastic news for Brown's millions of fans, and also great news for booksellers. The Lost Symbol broke all sorts of sales records on its release in 2009 and this new title is likely to be the bestselling book of 2013."
