2011 Prime Minister's Literary Awards Shortlists

By Perry Middlemiss on May 30, 2011 2:43 PM | No TrackBacks

The shortlists for the 2011 Prime Minister's Literary Awards have been released.

The shortlisted works are:

Fiction
Traitor, Stephen Daisley
Notorious, Roberta Lowing
When Colts Ran, Roger McDonald
Glissando, David Musgrave
That Deadman Dance, Kim Scott

Non-fiction
Sydney, Delia Falconer
How to Make Gravy, Paul Kelly
The Party, Richard McGregor
The Hard Light of Day, Rod Moss
Claude Levi-Strauss, Patrick Wilcken

Young adult fiction
Good Oil, Laura Buzo
Graffiti Moon, Cath Crowley
The Three Loves of Persimmon, Cassandra Golds
About a Girl, Joanne Horniman
The Piper's Son, Melina Marchetta

Children's fiction
Why I Love Australia, Bronwyn Bancroft
Flyaway, Lucy Christopher
Now, Morris Gleitzman
April Underhill, Tooth Fairy, Bob Graham
Shake a Leg, Boori Monty Pryor and Jan Ormerod

The judging panels comprised of Professor Peter Pierce (chair), Professor John Hay AC and Dr Lyn Gallacher (fiction); Mr Brian Johns AO (chair), Mr Colin Steele and Dr Faye Sutherland (non-fiction); and Dr Robyn Sheahan-Bright (chair), Mr Mike Shuttleworth and Ms Mary-Ruth Mendel (children's and young adult fiction).

The winners will be announced in the week of 4-8 July.

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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 ore 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.