Oneworld signs Stanton’s ChatGPT-inspired adult debut

Oneworld has acquired an AI-inspired adult début from the author of the Mr Gum series (Egmont Books), Andy Stanton, entitled Benny the Blue Whale: A ChatGPT Fantasy in Chaos.

Publishing director Sam Carter acquired world rights in all languages and audio from Eve White at the Eve White Literary Agency. It is scheduled for publication on 2nd November.

Carter said: “When a genuinely original book crosses your path, you sit up. The more I talked to Andy, the more I was caught up in his febrile imagination and commitment to a unique creation. It’s going to be a blast bringing Benny into the world."

Described as something completely different, the book came about when Stanton, intrigued by the launch of ChatGPT, began to play around with the technology. Things got interesting when he prompted it to tell him a story about a blue whale with a tiny penis, said the publisher.

Stanton then asked the AI bot to write about Benny the Blue Whale to help generate buzz at the London Book Fair.

ChatGPT answered: "Introducing ‘Benny the Blue Whale’—a hilarious and heartwarming tale of adventure, friendship and self-discovery. Benny may be small in size but he’s big in heart as he navigates the challenges of life as a blue whale with a tiny penis. Join Benny and his eclectic group of friends, including a sentient piece of sushi, a barmaid with a heart of gold, and a giant crab judge, as they journey through the Kingdom of Fantasy in Chaos in search of acceptance, love and purpose."