Amazon launches Kindle Singles, stories just as long as they need to be

What's longer than a magazine feature, shorter than a novel, and (hopefully) still full of literary merit? Amazon today announced the launch of Kindle Singles, a new way for writers to get their work to readers without having to adhere to standard lengths.

Says Amazon: "Typically between 5,000 and 30,000 words, each Kindle Single is intended to allow a single killer idea—well researched, well argued and well illustrated—to be expressed at its natural length." You can wirelessly download and read Singles on any Kindle or device with a Kindle app installed. They also work with Amazon Whispersync, which holds the place you left off reading across all your devices.

Amazon called for "serious writers, thinkers, scientists, business leaders, historians, politicians and publishers to submit works for Kindle Singles." Already such writers as Jodi Picoult, Pete Hamill, and Jonathan Littell have Singles available at Amazon.com for purchase. Prices range from 99 cents to $4.99.

Check Consumer Reports Online for e-book reader advice and Ratings (available to subscribers).

—Carol Mangis

—Carol Mangis