Is what we read being censored? There are amendments to the US Constitution that protect a variety of rights and a damn good job they do, too, all things considered. However, that said - it may surprise you to learn that there is a form of censorship taking place in the U.S. and the bottom line (the almighty dollar) is largely responsible.

Let’s take a look at what’s going on.

A while ago, a large retail chain decided NOT to order a certain paperback for distribution to their nationwide stores. Why? Because their buyers found the title (containing the word “Virgin”) objectionable and preferred it not be on their shelves.

Additionally, a recent best-selling and award-winning story was also deemed “inappropriate” because certain retail buyers mistakenly assumed it was about a plane hijacking and it was too soon after the 9/11 disasters - their shoppers certainly wouldn’t want to read that! (Note: They got it wrong. It wasn’t about a hijacking at all. It was a science-fiction romance.)

Okay. You might justifiably argue that buyers have the right to make those sorts of decisions about their stock, and indeed they do. However - consider the ripple effect that may well be taking place right now.

These stores account for a sizeable portion of a publisher’s orders. Publisher A notices a distinct drop in their profits since this store did NOT order a certain title. They - being in the business of making money after all - are going to take a long hard look at their new releases. What’s selling - what’s being reordered - where exactly is their profit coming from?

Publisher B also notices the drop in orders (and make no mistake about it, retail chains account for a pretty sizeable chunk of the publishers’ change). What to do? They are accountable to stockholders, corporate boards, etc. etc., and although we’d love everybody to be altruistic, that isn’t the way business works.

The end result is that publishers make decisions on what books to release based on their potential to earn good sales in what they perceive as the current market. You can see where this is going here. If a new release from a very well-established writer is in the pipeline, all well and good. If a new release comes across their desk that might possibly be a hot-seller…decisions need to be made. The frightening thought should be crossing our minds that such decisions are made based NOT on its merits as a good book, but on its marketability.

Our reading selection is, in this way, being partially censored by the folks who make the decision to buy in bulk. They don’t like a title? It doesn’t go out on their shelves, regardless of the quality of the story. God forbid they don’t like the cover or find that male chest a bit “over the top”. Yes, there are a lot of very conservative attitudes in this country - and everybody has the right to their own opinions. It’s what makes us great and is truly an example of democracy at work. BUT…the freedom to exercise our own democracy by choosing what and what not to read is being quietly eroded, and without us even realizing it. If the book isn’t even on the shelves, how can we make an informed decision about whether to buy it or not?

That censorship ripples backwards to the publishers who, for obvious reasons, publish less of those types of stories and more “mainstream” ones that are universally acceptable. The losers in all this are the writers with that superb book, waiting to find a home for it and running into the “bottom line” mentality that insists upon universal conformity. Why, publishers are probably asking themselves, should we risk putting out an unknown book from an unknown writer - title or cover or subject matter notwithstanding - when there are so many “safe” submissions waiting on our editors’ desks?

So what can we, as readers, do? There are several ways to work around this problem and get the books WE want to read. Firstly, most bookstores carry ALL published books or can order them for us. Shop there, not at a retail store. Stay on top of your favorite author’s newsletter, website, whatever - so you know when there’s a new book being issued and by which publisher. On-line shopping (where just about anything is available as your Features Editor’s credit card will attest) is an excellent option - saving you the trip to the mall and gas at the same time. If you have a favorite genre, try a new writer in that genre now and again. Somebody had to buy the first Amanda Quick Regency, or the first Nora Roberts romance. You might find a new favorite author and that sale (combined with those of other like-minded folks) sends a financial message to the publisher - we’re out here. We’ll read these books if you publish them.

Democracy is a wonderful thing. Loopholes are a fact of life. Let’s not let the loopholes swallow up our democratic right to read whatever we choose! And let’s remember that sometimes not every best-selling author’s latest book is as good as the one next to it by an unknown writer.