The finalists for the inaugural Man Asian Literary Prize were announced in Hong Kong last Friday by Man Group, the sponsor of the Man Booker Prize. The $10,000 prize will be awarded annually for Asian fiction and nonfiction that is unpublished in English. The finalists are Jose Dalisay, Jr. for Soledad's Sister, Reeti Gadekar for Families at Home, Jiang Rong for Wolf Totem, Nu Nu Yi Inwa for Smile As They Bow, and Xu Xi for Habit of a Foreign Sky. Each finalist will receive $3,000.
"The diverse and outstanding finalists for the Man Asian Literary Prize are a revelation of fiction today in Asia," said Adrienne Clarkson, who, along with André Aciman and Nicholas Jose, is judging the prize. "With an entrancing psychic geography, they challenge readers to an exhilerating discovery of ethical and imaginary worlds."
More than 240 submissions were received from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, China, Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan. The winner will be announced on November 10.
