Dreaming about the publishing landscape after electronic media make distribution a cheap no-brainer for everyone, Jonathan Karp is actually bullish about capital-L Literature and even capital-A advances for said Lit.
"Publishers will be forced to invest in works of quality to maintain their niche. These books will be the one product that only they can deliver better than anyone else. Those same corporate executives who dictate annual returns may begin to proclaim the virtues of research and development, the great engine of growth for business. For publishers, R&D means giving authors the resources to write the best books -- works that will last, because the lasting books will, ultimately, be where the money is."
