Published in Interfaces, 12 (October 1982), 62-74

Our hypothetical experiment is an extension of the Kosinski study [Ross 1979, 1982]. In 1979, Ross typed up Jerry Kosinski s novel Steps and submitted it, untitled, to fourteen major publishing houses and thirteen literary agents. This novel, which had won the prestigious National Book Award for fiction in 1969, was rejected by all, including Random House, its original publisher. No one recognized the book. Yet, when the results of Ross's study were published, not one of the publishers or agents seemed to feel as Ross did: that the review system for novels should be evaluated.