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Slightly de trop

The online retailer Amazon has been likened to the militant group Isis by one of the world’s most powerful literary agents.

Andrew Wylie, the US-based agent who counts Martin Amis and Philip Roth among his many clients, condemned the “brutality” of Amazon’s tactics in a speech to the international festival of authors in Toronto.

Not heard of Amazon executing people in the street.

In March he said: “If you have a choice between the plague and Amazon, pick the plague.”

A tad over the top maybe?

8 thoughts on “Slightly de trop”

  1. Amazon’s extraordinary capability at uniting the specialist interest reader/listener with books and music to suit plus suggestions for further forays, has eclipsed the old model book and music sellers, flogging only the popular and fashionable. “Agent” has about the same contemporary feel as “hansom cab driver”.

  2. Ljh – since self publication seldom seems to be a route to riches, and especially megariches, I think we will be seeing agents for some time.

  3. Agents are parasites in whatever area of life they function; books, sport, entertainment.

    Their opinions should be treated accordingly – obliterated with DDT.

  4. @GeoffH

    ‘Agents are parasites in whatever area of life they function; books, sport, entertainment.’

    Not so. Your average footballer would be earning a pittance were it not for agents. Parasites are uninvited, too – I don’t know but I suspect Rayne Wooney went looking for his.

  5. Myburningears – self publication is a start for some authors.
    Prove you can write a book that sells and the publishers take less of a chance on you.
    From what I hear JK Rowling was advised to get a day job as she wouldn’t make much as an author…. several hundred million pounds later maybe she’s thinking the person who said that was wrong? 🙂

  6. since self publication seldom seems to be a route to riches, and especially megariches

    Nor is submitting to agents and publishers who reject 99% of novels they receive. At least you’ll make a few quid if you self-publish something readable.

  7. Hmm; “if you have a choice between the plague and Amazon, pick the plague”. But books by his clients are listed on Amazon, so he’ll sign up with the beast for money.

    Interesting set of priorities – there are things he’d do for money that he wouldn’t do to avoid the plague.

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