This week's unveiling of the Booker shortlist unleashed a host of questions about the nature of literary fiction – centred in particular on two of the shortlisted books. So we asked both writers to explain themselves. Tom McCarthy gives us a taster of his novel C and explains why, in spite of anything the critics might say, he does not regard it as experimental. Plus, Damon Galgut describes the moment when memory becomes fiction.
We also hear from Stephen Hawking about his new book The Grand Design, and ask a leading commentator what God has got to do with it.
Plus, Seamus Heaney comes to us live from The Poetry Prom 2010 – an annual partnership event presented by The Poetry Trust and Aldeburgh Music - with readings of poems from his chart-topping new collection, Human Chain. You can listen to more from Seamus Heaney at The Poetry Prom on The Poetry Channel at www.thepoetrytrust.org.
Reading List
C by Tom McCarthy (Cape) (Buy it on the Guardian bookshop)
In a Strange Room by Damon Galgut (Atlantic) (Buy it on the Guardian bookshop)
Human Chain by Seamus Heaney (Faber) (Buy it on the Guardian bookshop)
