Zoo City named Arthur C Clarke science fiction novel of the year
28th April 2011
Zoo City has claimed the Arthur C Clarke Award for science fiction novel of the year.
Lauren Beukes' novel has been hailed as an 'innovative and exciting' read, with the award's director Tom Hunter saying it is likely to introduce a 'whole new readership' to the science fiction genre.
'Zoo City is a title that realises the enormous potential of SF literature, and as a piece of social commentary it is unsurpassed in the field,' chair of the judges Paul Billinger told The Bookseller.
Beukes was presented with the award, which is worth GBP 2,011, at a ceremony held as part of London's Sci-Fi Film Festival.
Other books which made it onto the shortlist for the award included The Dervish House by Ian McDonald, Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness, Generosity by Richard Powers, Declare by Tim Powers and Tricia Sullivan's Lightborn.
The Arthur C Clarke Award is now in its 25th year. Past winners include Margaret Atwood for The Handmaid's Tale.