2010 Commonwealth Writers' Prize Regional Shortlists

By Perry Middlemiss on February 22, 2010 1:51 PM

The shortlisted works for the 2010 Commonwealth Writers' Prize have been announced.

In the South East Asia and Pacific Region, of which Australia is a part, the shortlisted works are:

Summertime by J.M Coetzee (Australia)

A Good Land by Nada Awar Jarrar (Australia)

The Adventures of Vela by Albert Wendt (Samoa)

Singularity by Charlotte Grimshaw (New Zealand)

The People's Train by Thomas Keneally (Australia)

Parrot and Olivier in America by Peter Carey (Australia)

And, in the same region, the nominations for the Best First Book are:

The Ice Age by Kirsten Reed (Australia)

After the fire, a still small voice by Evie Wyld (Australia)

Look Who's Morphing by Tom Cho (Australia)

Document Z by Andrew Croome (Australia)

Come Inside by Glenys Osborne (Australia)

Siddon Rock by Glenda Guest (Australia)

The regional winners for Best Book and Bests First Book will be announced in Delhi in early April with the overall winners in each category to be announced on April 12.

Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie
The second book in the "First Law" series. Epic fantasy written to honour the honour and explore the standard fantasy tropes, as well as to poke more than a little fun at them at the same time. A big book, but still a page-turner.

How it Feels by Brendan Cowell
A debut novel from a multi-talented author/actor/director. A coming-of-age novel which might well be semi-autobiographical.

Monster Blood Tattoo: Factotum by D. M. Cornish
The third book in the MBT series. Will we finally find out who Rossamund really is? And will we be sad to leave this fully-realised fantasy world? I suspect the answer will be "yes" to both.

Rendezvous at Kamakura Inn by Marshall Browne
Browne's first novel in a new series, this time featuring a Japanese detective, Inspector Aoki. This novel finds the inspector investigating an old murder in a snowed-in remote Japanese retreat.

The City & The City by China Miéville
Miéville's Hugo Award winning novel of two cities inhabiting the same physical location. A murder mystery with hints of classic sf/fantasy memes, from Dick to Borges, but in a European setting.
Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child
The 13th Jack Reacher novel. Suicide bombers on the New York subway and international terrorism mixed with hard-boiled action makes for an interesting brew.

The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Heroic fantasy in the modern style. A fantasy that is laced through with noirish elements, and excellent characterisations. First book of The First Law trilogy.
Where Have You Been? by Wendy James
What happens when a sister returns after being missing, presumed dead, for twenty years? James enhances her reputation as one of Australia's rising literary novelists.
Wyatt by Garry Disher
Disher's anti-hero is back after an absence of ten years with a gritty, fast, noirish struggle for survival. All the best aspects of Disher's work are on display here.

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
A Young Adult steampunk novel set at the start of an alternate history First World War. Fast-paced, intriguing and totally captivating.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
Dick's novel of the near future when the difference between human and android is barely discernible. One of the great all-time sf titles.

American Journeys by Don Watson
Watson journeys into the heart of America, by train and car. There he discovers the best, and the worst, of humanity and society.

Ghostlines by Nick Gadd
2009 Best First Novel at the Ned Kelly Awards. Murder in the art world involving political intrigue and business corruption in Melbourne.