After the Swedish Academy scandals and this year's cancellation of the Nobel prize for literature, a replacement award set up by a host of Swedish cultural figures has unveiled a shortlist that includes British fantasy novelist Neil Gaiman and Japanese literary superstar Haruki Murakami, reports The Guardian.
The alternative Nobel follows the same schedule as the original award, but rather than a secretive and small panel selecting the winner, the New Academy – made up of more than 100 Swedish cultural figures – asked Sweden’s librarians for nominations.
Announcing their finalists, the New Academy said Gaiman is “a true superstar in the fantasy community”.
Gaiman tweeted that he was “thrilled” to be on the shortlist.
I’m thrilled to be on that shortlist. Winning would not make me any happier than being on that list makes me. So I don’t think of it as being up against opponents, just as being in glorious and honoured company. https://t.co/tXIfQGrf2b
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) August 30, 2018
Murakami, frequently a frontrunner for the Nobel prize for literature, is “one of our most celebrated authors and translators”, said the New Academy, whose work, which includes the novels Norwegian Wood and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.
