Not the Booker prize: it's back, and you're a judge Jul 22nd 2013, 09:56
Our pioneering attempt to create a truly democratic, reader-judged books prize, is returning for another year of high-toned brawling. Seconds out!
The Not the Booker prize is back. Yes it is. Last year there were some quality novels on the shortlist, not to mention two hilarious duds. There was excellent discussion and debate and some engrossing, enjoyable controversy. And then even more controversy. Ewan Morrison's victorious campaign even left us questioning whether the award had run its course. In the proud democratic style of the Not the Booker, we put the continued survival of the prize to a vote and happily, it was spared.
And so here we are, once again on the verge of reading some fantastic new books, of discovering exciting new talent and of having a fantastic debate about what we value in literature and why we value it. Just like we do every year. I'm excited already.
As usual we're introducing a couple of tweaks to the basic format. After struggling to take account of votes being cast on other sites last year, we're going back to basics and only counting votes posted right here on the Guardian books site. We'll be diverting the course of shortlist log-rolling by asking for voters to pick two books – by two different publishers – instead of just one. And we're taking on board your suggestions for a readers' panel to help with the selection of the winner.
But more of that soon. For now we need to focus on putting together a longlist and, ideally, placing some of publishing's big hitters alongside new voices that would never have a chance of featuring in that other prize. As always, we're looking for the best, without any restrictions on theme or genre. We just want the most vibrant, the most compelling, the most surprising full-length novels written by Commonwealth citizens and scheduled for publication between 1 October 2012 and 30 September 2013 – so no Americans, no poets and no arguing. The same eligibility criteria as the vanilla Booker. Easy! If you're confused, you can find a full list of eligibility criteria on the Man Booker website.
All you have to do at this stage is name one book – and only one book – you'd like to see considered for the prize in the comments section below. On 5 August, I'll post our annual longer-list of all the books put forward for selection, and we'll start whittling that down to a shortlist of six.
Once we have that shortlist, I'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 all that remains is a final vote …
The prize is a Guardian mug. And glory. Let's hit it!
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