The Wilbur & Niso Smith Foundation have announced the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing shortlist.
Six authors are shortlisted for the annual £10,000 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, Best Published Novel award. These exceptional novels reflect the diversity and ingenuity of the adventure genre, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with every turn of the page. The three modern and three historical novels encompass a tale of redemption during the gold rush of the American south, a road-trip thriller across the Australian outback, a journey of survival through China and America, an exploration of hope and love amidst the chaos of war in Sarajevo, a high-stakes nuclear experiment, and a race against time and technology. This list truly offers ‘An Adventure for Everyone’.
Submissions were open to writers of any nationality, writing in English. British, New Zealand, Australian and Chinese-American authors are represented on the shortlist, the six being selected from almost 100 entries.
The shortlist
- My Name is Yip by Paddy Crewe
- Going Zero by Anthony McCarten
- Black Butterflies by Priscilla Morris
- The Half Life of Valery K by Natasha Pulley
- No Country for Girls by Emma Styles
- Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang
The shortlisted books were carefully selected by a team of librarians and library staff, to represent the very best of today’s adventure fiction.
Tim Davies, Lead Librarian for North Lincolnshire Libraries, said:
This year was particularly enjoyable for both the diversity and high quality of the books submitted. I’ve been back in time, forward in time, to other continents on this world and to other worlds altogether – and always in the company of some strong, resourceful and engaging characters. This year’s shortlist is incredibly strong, and bears witness to the long and difficult discussions we on the reading panel had to have in whittling it down to a mere six.
The judges
These books now progress to the expert judging panel, comprising Felicity Aston MBE, renowned climate scientist, polar explorer, and expedition leader; Leon McCarron, award-winning adventurer, filmmaker, and writer; Simon Savidge, journalist, presenter, and founder of the popular blog and BookTube channel @SavidgeReads; and Giles Kristian, acclaimed author and winner of the 2022 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize for Best Published Novel.
When asked what the panel will be looking for in this year’s winner, Kristian said:
For me, the adventure itself and the characters experiencing it must be inextricably connected. Without the adventure, the characters have nothing to overcome. Without compelling characters, we don’t care if they make it or not. As I read, I will of course be looking for danger, for unfamiliar environments and challenges that get my pulse racing. For high stakes that force me to keep turning the pages. I’ll be hoping for evocative, immersive writing and well-crafted prose. But most of all, I will be looking for engaging, complex characters with whom to share the adventure.
The winner for the £10,000 Best Published Novel award will be revealed on 18th October 2023 at an Awards Ceremony hosted at London’s Royal Geographical Society. Also being celebrated on the same night will be the New Voices award for aspiring writers and the Author of Tomorrow award for writers aged 21 years and under who have completed a short piece of adventure writing.
Get involved
The Reader’s Vote is open 1 June – 31 August, and gives everyone three votes to award, whether they go all to one or to three different titles. Cast your vote for your favourite here. The votes will be collated and awarded the equivalent weight to one seat on the panel, giving readers a voice in determining the winner.
If you work in a library or workplace and would like to promote the prize, you can download a free digital pack from our shop.
What do you think of the 2023 shortlisted titles? Which have you read and what will be added to your TBR pile? Add your comments below, or click any title above to leave a review.
Share your thoughts with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #AdventureWritingPrize.
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