Today's bonus fake: a 'fictional author,' a non-existent 'foundation'

You might have noticed a half-page ad in Wednesday's New York Times headlined DON'T BELIEVE 'BAD TWIN' -- It consisted of a statement from a "Hanso Foundation" which "for over thirty years has stood for compassion and innovation," and went on to warn about a just-published thriller which supposedly defamed the organization and its founders.

Just another crackpot advertisement, you figure. You don't know the half of it. Turns out the ad, along with a television ad and the book itself are just part of a promotion by the producers of the "Lost" television series. Go to the book publisher's page and you see a straight-faced "Note From The Publisher" professing "great concern" over the allegations. Then scroll to the bottom of the page and see:

Bad Twin is a work of fiction and all names, characters and incidents are used fictitiously; the author himself is a fictional character.

Uh... what? Click on the author's name and go to his author page and see:

It's all just a big shuck, expensively arranged. Perhaps one of the more harmless examples of viral marketing -- would anyone but those who are already fans of the show care? -- but it seems strange that a reputable publishing company -- albeit one that mostly does books by celebrities -- would risk association with all the hoaxes and fakes going on in the lit world these days.

fakes, hoaxes, Hanso, viral marketing