[fjtorres]

Modesitt is mostly correct in his "social clique" analysis but he doesn't go far enough in looking at the motivations. I'd also add in: M-O-N-E-Y.

The phallic symbol award represents a significant sales boost to nominees and winners so one particular clique controlling it for a generation was bound to draw opposition from those cut off from the feeding trough. Especially at a time when a significant portion of sales are leaking out of the grip of both (all three?) camps.

Remember, the cliques have existed for a long time, yet the bloodletting only started recently, as the tradpub collective share of genre revenues started declining.

The award itself stopped being meaningful years and years ago but the money it represents has only gotten more meaningful in recent years. And when money is at stake...

Again, the real issue isn't social issues; it is all about power and money.