My literary agent called today to offer me a contract with an independent book publisher. They want me to buy 100 books up front. Is this unheard of?

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You need to have complete trust in your agent. It is their job to do the best thing for you. If you think there is something wrong with what they are suggesting it probably means you have the wrong agent.

Run and run fast. This screams vanity publisher which means there will be a financial investment on your part and no return. Anything that will require you to use any of your own money is a scam. Money is supposed to go to you as the writer, not the other way around.

Holy &&&&! RUN AWAY!!! YOUR AGENT IS A CROOK. You never EVER pay to get published. Publishers are supposed to pay YOU. Fire your agent on the spot and get another one. You could have a scammer or one so inept he/she is clueless about how publishing really works. What he/she is trying to get you into is called "subsidy press" and authors help foot the bill. This is also called vanity press. NO LEGIT AGENT would EVER recommend this to a writer! Please do a background check on your agent here: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=22 http://anotherealm.com/prededitors/ Your agent might even own a piece of that subsidy press and be getting a kickback! Legit agents I have dealt with. This is so you know what REAL ones look like. http://www.spectrumliteraryagency.com/ http://www.knightagency.net/ http://www.maassagency.com/ Please let us know how this turns out. An inept agent is sometimes worse than a scammer.