Quote:
Originally Posted by latepaul
But one of the main reasons I changed my mind over this is that while I do think publishers act as a gatekeeper in quality to some extent, they are not a route to discovery per se. I've never picked up a book because of the publisher. I couldn't tell you who put out my favourite books without checking.
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I think it's very true for some publishers. Especially the big 5, which are stuck in the same desperation for blockbusters that has led Hollywood to forget that cinema used to be referred to as the 7th Art. Agents' role shouldn't be overlooked either. In some ways, they have even more clout as gatekeepers.
On the other hand, like the example given by Harry, there are small publishers who do a great job of defending a vision of literature with quality in mind as opposed to chasing after trends.