No agent wants to see a book until he or she has decided whether to pursue the relationship.

Paretsky’s remark points to the gatekeeping logic of traditional publishing: an agent’s first commitment is not to a manuscript but to a working partnership with an author. Before investing time in reading a full book, the agent typically evaluates whether the writer’s pitch, professionalism, and market fit suggest a relationship worth pursuing. The quote underscores that representation is a business and a collaboration—agents manage careers, negotiate contracts, and shape submissions—so they screen for compatibility and viability early. It also implicitly advises writers to focus on the query/pitch stage as a decisive filter rather than assuming the manuscript will be read on spec.