The widespread adoption of new technologies in everyday life has had a significant impact on book culture. New media, for example, the internet, have been sometimes described as being incompatible with literary culture. I argue that the internet can offer spaces where literature is created and/or discussed and that such spaces contribute to the perpetuation of reading culture through modern tools. In Russia, the advent of the internet has coincided with the period of economic and cultural transition following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the switch to a market economy. Crime fiction author Boris Akunin rose to fame during this period and has a very active online fan base. In this article, I analyse how the peculiarities of the time and space settings of Akunin’s series ‘The adventures of Erast Fandorin’ are presented on two websites dedicated to him and his work, and I discuss how this helps his readers to actively engage with the literary texts, enhancing their reading experience.
Language of contribution: English