Booker Prize 2026 Shortlist

Hello Gentle Reader,

The Booker Prize Shortlist has been revealed, leaning heavily towards established authorial voices with a few up and comers in the fray to even it out. Without further delay here is this year’s shortlist:

            Marlon James – “The Disappears,”
            Elizabeth Strout – “The Things We Never Say,”
            M. John Harrison – “The End of Everything,”
            Rebecca Perry – “May We Feed the King,”
            Luke Kennard – “Black Bag,”
            Douglas Stuart – “John of John,”

The shortlist is dominated by Marlon James, Elizabeth Strout and Douglas Stuart. Both Marlon James and Douglas Stuart have both already won the award, and by all accounts relatively recently, 2015 for James and 2020 for Stuart. There was a relatively short double award period for Hilary Mantel as well (2009 and 2012), where previous double winners waited over a decade to win the prize a second time. This has always been a massive complaint leveraged against the Booker Prize, with its inability to look beyond itself at times. Re-awarding the usual candidates who have already won or been nominated prior. This year’s shortlist is a prime example of this insularity in judging; however, Marlon James's novel “The Disappears,” has been described as yet another masterpiece. It would not be surprising to see James win this year’s award.

Luke Kennard and Rebecca Perry are the two outliers on this year’s award. Both of their novels are certainly an off-kilter injection of the world. Specifically in the case of Luke Kennard whose novel “Black Bag,” has all the satire and almost implausible premise of Ali Smith’s novel “There but for the,” which was critically omitted from the Booker Prize in 2011, and was considered a massive snub. “Black Bag,” equally delights in its psychological probing and satire of the modern world, and just how warped our definition of reality is becoming. Whereas Rebecca Perry’s novel “May We Feed the King,” has been praised as a strong debut. Recounting the parrel lives of one museum curator and one reluctant king, the novel has been described as a meditation on history and the nature of storytelling, in addition to our fantasies of the past in attempts to escape from our present.

To go without saying, M. John Harrision is this year’s dark horse with his unapologetic literary science fiction novel: “The End of Everything.”

Ultimately, Gentle Reader, Marlon James appears to be the strongest contender (based on critical consensus) for this year’s prize; though, either Luke Kennard, Rebecca Perry or M. John Harrison may challenge this assumption, with their unique visions. It is, however, disappointing to see some cut. Specifically, Gwendoline Riley with her novel “The Palm House.” There’s something compelling about Riley’s stainless-steel musical prose, engaging on a prosody level the musical intricacies of the prose; a complete contrast to Riley's contemporaries, who are the usual austere anemic grey minimalists. Nothing short of a lifeless brood. Whereas Riley’s work has the surgeon’s proclivity and pathologist eye for examining the existential and urban dissatisfaction of individuals caught up in contemporary society becoming increasingly consumed with alienation, which reveals a loss of innocence and a sense of disillusionment, delivered in a deadpan manner. The hallmarks of Riley's dry ice wit and gallows humour. Certainly, an underrated writer.

Congratulations to the shortlisted writers. It’ll be interesting to see who wins this year’s prize.

Thank you For Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read
 
M. Mary