Costa's Fiction 2008 Lists

It certainly seems to be literary award season. The shortlist for the Costa was announced on Tuesday.

The contenders for best novel in 2008 are :

Sebastian Barry - The Secret Scripture

Chris Cleave - The Other Hand

Louis de Bernières - A Partisan's Daughter

Patrick McGrath - Trauma

and the 2008 Costa first novel award shortlist :

Poppy Adams - The Behaviour of Moths

Sadie Jones's - The Outcast

Tom Rob Smith - Child 44

Jennie Rooney's - Inside the Whale

There are also shortlists for biography, poetry and children's fiction which you can find on the website, along with information about each title. and the authors.

Sebastian Barry seems to be the favourite for the fiction prize, which is understandable, given that he also reached the shortlist for the Booker. Tom Rob Smith's Child 44 was of course longlisted for the same prize.

The winners will be announced 6th January 2009.