The Not the Booker prize is entering its seventh year. Lucky seven. Who’d have thought that when we started out in 2009 as plucky, cheeky, amateurish outsiders we’d outlast the Tribulation?
Come on. Admit it, you didn’t think we’d get this far, did you? But no hard feelings. I’m just as surprised and pleased as anyone. I’m not taking anything for granted, either. Perhaps the prize is turning into something of a fixture on the literary calendar nowadays, but it still feels a little removed from the establishment. It still depends on the public at large rather than any private largesse. It still depends on you. It still feels as though anything can happen.
This uncertainty helps make the prize exciting, but the thing that makes it worthwhile – of course – is literature. Once again, we’re on the cusp of uncovering some fine new books, discovering new talent and having a series of debates about why these things matter. I can’t wait.
Although, before we get down to the good stuff and start with the business of nominations, I have to make a few quick points about rules, regulations and how things will work over the next few months.
In a first for the Not the Booker prize, we’ve hardly changed the format at all. Last year went so well, and was such fun, that we’re pretty much going to aim for more of the same. But since I feel it is expected of me to spread a small amount of paradox and confusion at this stage in the proceedings, let me also point out that no change is in itself a big difference. Let me also remind you that there is still the potential for an enjoyable bit of chaos.
But that’s enough preamble. These are the important bits of procedure that you need to know for now.
• First (in fact right here, right now) is the great longlist free-for-all. Here you can nominate your favourite book from all those theoretically eligible for this year’s Man Booker prize. (And remember that now includes US books originally written in English that have been – or will be – published in the UK between 1 October 2014 and 30 September 2015, as well as British and Commonwealth titles.)
• Next will come the shortlist vote, where we ask you to decide on two books you’d like to go forward, which must be written by two different people and published by two separate publishing companies.
• Once we have that shortlist, we’ll read each book in turn, at the rate of roughly one a week, and post reviews inviting further discussion, argument, and ideally a bit of praise and a lot of love.
Then we’ll have the final vote, in combination with a readers’ panel, once again chosen from those who contribute most to the shortlist read-through.
As per last year, anyone has the potential to become a judge. If you’re reading this article, in fact, you’re on the way there. All we ask is that you contribute thoughts and opinions on a healthy proportion of the books that make it onto our shortlist over the next few months. The wit and wisdom of our last two judges’ panels have been one of the great successes of the Not the Booker prize so far and we hope to continue this fine tradition. This year, we also hope to do something to recognise the hard work of those who help us in the judging process – but more on that soon.
And don’t worry if you just want to vote. You can do that too, and the vote will count. You can find out more about that, and all the other information that you need about dates, whys and wherefores in our rules and regulations. Please do have a read. Not least because they’re always amusing in and of themselves. Really.
So. Here we go. Please nominate one book that you’d like to be considered for the prize in the comments below. If you can supply a publication date and the publisher, that would be very helpful. Nominations will remain open until one minute until midnight on 26 July. The following morning – that’s Monday 27 July – I’ll post a list of all the eligible books put forward for selection. We’ll then start whittling it down to a shortlist of six.
Like I say, I can’t wait.
The prize, as usual, is a Guardian mug. And glory. Let’s hit it!
