There’s been a lot of coverage in the blogosphere about the interaction between Barbara Bauer and Absolute Write lately.  The 20 Worst Agents list has been posted in numerous places, even before this blow up, but I’m posting the one from SFWA.  Miss Snark and others identified this issue many, many months ago.  From what I can tell, Ms Bauer has made numerous threats but done little to prove the statements are not warranted.  Interestingly, if Absolute Write’s ISP had not responded as they had, this issue would never have blown up to these proportions.  ‘Nuff said for now.  Here’s the list of agents who have a track record for being the worst in the business:

• The Abacus Group Literary Agency
• Allred and Allred Literary Agents (refers clients to “book doctor” Victor West of Pacific Literary Services)
• Barbara Bauer Literary Agency
• Benedict Associates (also d/b/a B.A. Literary Agency)
• Sherwood Broome, Inc.
• Capital Literary Agency (formerly American Literary Agents of Washington, Inc.)
• Desert Rose Literary Agency
• Arthur Fleming Associates
• Finesse Literary Agency (Karen Carr)
• Brock Gannon Literary Agency
• Harris Literary Agency
• The Literary Agency Group, which includes the following:
  -Children’s Literary Agency
  -Christian Literary Agency
  -New York Literary Agency
  -Poets Literary Agency
  -The Screenplay Agency
  -Stylus Literary Agency (formerly ST Literary Agency, formerly Sydra-Techniques)
  -Writers Literary & Publishing Services Company (the editing arm of the above-mentioned agencies)
• Martin-McLean Literary Associates
• Mocknick Productions Literary Agency, Inc.
• B.K. Nelson, Inc.
• The Robins Agency (Cris Robins)
• Michele Rooney Literary Agency (also d/b/a Creative Literary Agency, Simply Nonfiction, and Michele Glance Rooney Literary Agency)
• Southeast Literary Agency
• Mark Sullivan Associates
• West Coast Literary Associates (also d/b/a California Literary Services)

If you’re a writer seeking agent representation, research those you query carefully, and educate yourself about what an appropriate writer/agent relationship should be like.  Once place to learn this and more is www.fmwriters.com.