We're starting to see the consequences of risk-averse publishing, and it's exactly what the literary world fears the most

If you're interested in embarking on a relatively brief publishing-related thought experiment, consider the following dilemma:

• In France, author Marco Koskas' latest book Bande de Français is rejected by traditional publishing venues.
• Koskas then decides to go the route of self-publishing and takes the book to Amazon, where it is published and sold exclusively.
• Bande de Français garners much acclaim and is subsequently longlisted for a prestigious literary award, the Prix Renaudot, by a jury of experts.
• Booksellers across France are outraged by this development. The Syndicat de la librairie française, which represents French booksellers, says that "[the jury's] move rewards the company [Amazon] threatening their livelihood" and call for the award — and Koskas' book — to be boycotted.

The question at the heart of the issue is: who should these booksellers really be pointing their finger at when it comes to Amazon's publishing win and their own comparative misfortune?

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