If you’re connected to the book world, you’ll probably want to read this essay at The Millions by Alex Shakar on how he spent a year as the Next Big Thing, with a Massive Advance to boot — only for his book to be published days after 9/11, instantly “irrelevant.”

There were a lot of books that met the same fate. Sam Lipsyte’s THE SUBJECT STEVE. Stona Fitch’s SENSELESS. I know I’m forgetting many others. Perhaps it’s time to compile a list?