Booker Prize semifinalist list includes previous winners Douglas Stuart, Marlon James, Elizabeth Strout

The prestigious Booker Prize has unveiled its 13 semifinalists, a list described by head judge Mary Beard as "literary dynamite." Among the contenders are past winners Marlon James and Douglas Stuart, alongside Pulitzer Prize laureate Elizabeth Strout, signaling a strong field for the 50,000 pound ($66,000) award.

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literary "dynamite."

James, who won in 2015 for "A Brief History of Seven Killings," is nominated for "The Disappearers," a novel exploring the lives of gay men in 1980s Jamaica. Stuart, the 2020 winner for "Shuggie Bain," is recognized for "John of John," a story centered on father-son secrets on a remote Scottish island. Elizabeth Strout, a finalist in 2022 and a Pulitzer winner, is shortlisted for "The Things We Never Say," a tale set in a small town.

The longlist showcases a broad spectrum of literary styles and themes. It includes novels set in Dublin's underworld, dystopian science fiction, and intimate explorations of New England characters. The selection also highlights emerging talent, with three debut authors making the cut: Turkish-American writer Kenan Orhan for "The Renovation," British author Rebecca Perry for "May We Feed the King," and Ireland's Djamel White for "All Them Dogs." At 28, White is the youngest author on the list, while 81-year-old M. John Harrison is the oldest with his postapocalyptic novel "The End of Everything."

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trying to expand the boundaries of how we can think about ourselves in completely different ways.

Beard emphasized that the judging panel sought novels that "expand the boundaries of how we can think about ourselves in completely different ways." She noted that the selected works employ humor, pathos, and even shock value, characterizing the authors as "risk-takers." The Booker Prize, established in 1969, is renowned for its ability to transform writers' careers and is open to novels published in the U.K. and Ireland, regardless of the author's nationality. The six finalists will be announced on September 22, with the ultimate winner revealed at a ceremony in London on November 9.

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Sometimes they're using humor, sometimes it's pathos, sometimes there's shock value. They're risk-takers. They are dynamite. They say 'Come on, try seeing it a different way.'