Long time readers will know that I have covered The Republic of Consciousness Prize on my blog since its inception. I was delighted to be on the judging panel in 2018.
This year, for a variety of reasons, I felt unable to become as involved as previously. The prize has grown and I was pleased to see that its website offered interviews and extracts from longlisted publishers and authors in the run-up to the announcement of the winner. It has provided a book of the month through its Patreon. Readers are being offered the opportunity to discover some fabulous reads.
The longlist
The shortlist
I had accepted an invitation to attend the winners’ announcement in London last month but then this had to be cancelled. Instead, the announcement was made on Twitter earlier this week. A note from the founder, Neil Griffiths, may be read here.
The winner
As I have, so far, only read one of the longlisted books I cannot comment further on the judges’ decision. What I was pleased to see was that the prize pot was being divided equally to help all the shortlisted presses. In these strange times, and especially with the closure of bookshops, our fantastic small, independent publishers need all the support they can get.
If you are able, where possible, do please consider ordering books direct from small publisher’s websites.
And well done to the organisers of this year’s prize for obtaining sponsorship along with wider coverage in the media, and for running the best book prize so well.
neverimitate 
I am keen to read Animalia, and even moreso because it is translated by the imcomparable Frank Wynne!