Following the Saturday proceedings, Planet Awards conferences have shed their political context amid a broad editorial pivot. The Group remains headquartered in Madrid, and a return to prior activity is not anticipated soon. The focus starts with numbers: 71 million readers have shown interest in a Planeta-winning novel at some point, a record this year. There were 1,129 original works, with 461 more than in 2022, perhaps signaling a first year where the system was digitized to permit email-based submissions.
There was debate about whether Artificial Intelligence (AI), a topic that concerns many, can help generate novels that become world-seller terms. Some observers suggest that the rise in original works may be linked to AI, since there is currently no reliable method to detect it within the group, according to the book division manager. The ethical stance lies with editors, but AI can assist authors with documentation tasks and editors with distribution responsibilities (Attribution: Planet Awards).
Jury with Tradition
Juan Eslava Galán, speaking for a jury known for its traditional values, notes that innovation and talent often reside in human hands rather than machines. The chairman, José Crehueras, joked about the absence of a need for any digital system to uncover fraud, highlighting Pere Gimferrer as a longtime, prescient observer of AI trends. In the customary pre-award spotlight, attention turned to a recent Valencian publishing house acquisition, discussed with mutual respect for both origin and philosophy. The group also noted that one in five books sold in Spain is handled by its network, reinforcing the role of independent bookstores and resilient physical channels alongside digital trade. During pandemic times digital trading rose to 33% and today represents about 27% of the market.
Regarding the winner, the presenting teams stressed that a bestseller had emerged even without a Planet seal, and it had been many years since a Latin American author achieved the feat. Among the most compelling themes highlighted by authors, aligned with current business trends, are noir novels that place female protagonists at the center, with a focus on strong, recognizable arcs. The organization continues to seek stories that reflect contemporary dynamics and enduring human concerns, while acknowledging the evolving publishing landscape and its diverse voices (Attribution: Planet Awards).