Skip to main content

Vending machine prints out free short stories for London commuters

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Smartphones help millions of people to while away the daily commute, whether with music, social media, news apps, or podcasts. But from this week, workers in London have another way of passing the time — with short stories grabbed from a vending machine.

Recommended Videos

Three such machines have been installed in the city’s busy office district of Canary Wharf, each one offering thousands of different short stories that take around one, three, or five minutes to read. Written by famous authors past and present, the stories are printed out on slips of eco-friendly papyrus paper and are free to all, according to the Canary Wharf Group, which installed the machines.

One of the contributors is author and screenwriter Anthony Horowitz, best known for his Alex Rider spy novels. His whodunnit, titled Mr. Robinson, was penned especially for the so-called “Short Story Station” vending machine and is the shortest piece of fictional work he’s ever written.

“I’ve always loved the challenge of the short story, creating a whole world in just a few pages, so I was very happy to write Mr. Robinson for Canary Wharf’s brilliant new Short Story Stations,” Horowitz said. “Here’s a whodunnit, complete with suspects and clues, that can be started and finished in just a minute. I hope it will entertain tube travelers who will know, at least, that they won’t have the frustration of having to get off before the end.”

The vending machines are the creation of French firm Short Édition and have been installed in several other countries, including France, the United States, and Hong Kong.

The Canary Wharf Group was prompted to try the machines after its own research revealed that more than 53 million books go unfinished every year in the United Kingdom because people “can’t find the time to reach the final chapters.”

The research found that 36 percent of Brits have given up on at least one book in the last 12 months because of a lack of time, while 30 percent admit it’s been more than six months since they last completed a book.

Lucie Moore, head of arts and events at the Canary Wharf Group, said: “We’re all guilty of saying we’re too busy, but our research found that a staggering 70 percent of us would rather get lost in a good book than get lost down the rabbit hole of social media.”

Moore added: “Our Short Story Stations provide the perfect digital antidote — a return to analog scrolling. We hope Anthony’s brilliant new work helps people to fall back in love with short stories.”

Another somewhat offbeat vending machine that appeared for Londoners recently is one that lets you do your laundry.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
The Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the $7,500 tax credit
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5

After a brief and confusing absence, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit — and this time, it's sticking around (at least for now). So, what happened? Let’s unpack the ride.

The Ioniq 5, a sleek and tech-savvy electric crossover, initially made headlines not just for its design, but for being built at Hyundai’s brand-new Metaplant in Georgia. That domestic assembly qualified it for the EV tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which requires vehicles to be made in North America with batteries sourced from trade-friendly countries. But early in 2025, the Ioniq 5 vanished from the list. Why? Likely due to its battery packs, which were then still being sourced from SK On’s Hungarian facility.

Read more
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more