What Are Editors Good For?

Let's not beat around the bush: book editors are obsolete.

Traditionally, editors have been an integral part of the publishing process.  They were the gatekeepers, the shepherds of literary careers, and the sharp minds that polished great art into perfect streams of text.  You could write a great book without one, in much the same way you can survive falling out of an airplane without parachute.

Editors have lost a lot of lustre over the years.  Their gatekeeping functions have been largely...