Culture
10 Nov 26

Sci-fi author M. John Harrison becomes oldest winner of Booker Prize

M. John Harrison Credit: David Parry

Harrison began his Virconium series in 1971, set on a futuristic Earth, and continued to write about the fictional city through 1984. He completed the Kefahuchi Tract trilogy between 2002 and 2012. This year was his first nomination for the Booker Prize.

M. John Harrison has become the oldest winner of the Booker Prize aged 81.

The British author's novel The End of Everything was honoured during a ceremony at London's Old Billingsgate on Monday. Harrison will receive a prize of £50,000 (€60,000).

The judging panel, chaired by historian Mary Beard, featured writers Patricia Lockwood, Raymond Antrobus, critic Rebecca Liu, and Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker.

Harrison's post-apocalyptic tale takes place in an English coastal town in the not-too-distant future invaded by mysterious objects known as the iGhetti.

The story is primarily told through Phillip Tennent, a beach scavenger who recovers a biological “artefact" discarded in the sea by the iGhetti.

"Current affairs provided the themes and the satire," said Harrison of his book.

"What happens when all of our expectations and explanations of the world become an ongoing disaster, but we still have to make a life?"

Artificial intelligence had been on the judge's minds through the selection process which saw them shortlist six novels from 163 entries.

Beard pointed to concerns surrounding AI were "pretty high on this book."

During a press conference she said: "Phillip has got this object, this artefact, and it's not clear how sentient it is. It's not clear what it is,"

Earlier, in an interview with AFP, the historian said the panel would have to think about the role of AI in publishing and writing in the coming years.

"I think for the future it's inevitable that will be on the agenda. You can't bury your head in the sand about that."

Last year's Booker Prize went to David Szalay's Flesh, a novel recounting a Hungarian immigrant's journey from poverty to London high society. Other notable winners include Salman Rushdie, William Golding, and Arundhati Roy.

Margaret Atwood previously held the distinction of the oldest author to be honoured, when she was recognised for The Testaments at age 79.