No one.  For the first time in 35 years, the Pulitzer Prize board members have decided to forego a winner in fiction for 2012.  Yes, after a jury read and subsequently narrowed hills and mountains of books down to just three finalists, one of the most prestigious and influential literary forces in the country couldn’t make up its mind this year.  While this has decidedly sparked provocation in the book community, having no winner gives rise to a much larger assessment of the current and future state of books.

2012, not even halfway through, has already seen controversial strides in digital publishing, monstrous success in young adult fiction (who hasn’t been following The Hunger Games empire?), and new industry models that upset the standard.  Proving to be a significant barometer of where we’re going, this year is ripe with potential, discovery, and revolution for books.  So, why then, would an organization that produces aggrandized reading on top of immense book sales make a seemingly ambivalent move?  And perhaps more crucial to ask: why now?

Deliberations are confidential, but statements from the board have made it clear that no book garnered a majority vote.  While this can be viewed as a diss to all American fiction published in the last year, we’re only left with assumptions at this point (if we want to be optimistic, we can choose to view this year’s results as a tie- all are winners).  Perhaps, it’s as simple as three people not coming to a consensus over opinions.  From any perspective, the role of the Pulitzer Prize remains at the center of the debate.

Known to launch careers, the Pulitzer Prize garners overwhelming press for the winner.  It acts as an authoritative and key figure in contemporary literature; many readers look to it for both direction and news.  With so much responsibility, this year’s results are undoubtedly lasting and (dare I say) political.  At the forefront of my mind, questions such as, “What does a lack of a winner mean in a context as mutable as the present book industry?” spark a range of discussion that might not even be palpable in the present.  In the very least, this year’s controversy  gives readers an opportunity (and seemingly encourages them) to try out channels of book recommendations formerly unexplored.  Independent bookstores, blogs, and mobile apps all come to mind.  Fitting, no?

The nominated finalists in fiction for 2012 were: Train Dreams by Denis Johnson, Swamplandia! by Karen Russell, and The Pale King by the late David Foster Wallace.