Russian Booker Prize
ろしあん・ぶっかーしょう
Literary award given to outstanding fiction works written in Russian. Established in 1992 and awarded annually until 2017.
Literary awardRussian-language fictionNovel
- Established
- 1992
- Organizer
- Russian Telecom Equipment Company (RTEC)
- Category
- General Fiction and Popular Fiction
- Selection Method
- Recommendation
- Target
- Professional
- Frequency
- 1 per year
- Status
- Ended
Description
The Russian Booker Prize, modeled after the Anglo-Dutch Booker Prize, is a Russian literary award that was awarded annually from 1992 to 2017 for fiction works written in Russian. Award candidates are narrowed from nominations (longlist) to a shortlist of 6 works by the judges, with the judging panel ultimately deciding the winner. Operations and names changed due to sponsor variations (Smirnoff–Booker, Booker–Open Russia, etc.), and after funding issues and sponsor withdrawal, 2017 was the final award ceremony, with the prize's suspension officially announced in 2019 (possibility of temporary resumption remains).
Prize
- Main Prize
- Cash prize to the winner (amount varies by year); sub-prizes also paid to shortlisted works
- Cash Prize
- 600,000 RUB
- Early 1990s: Winner received £10,000 (approximately 48,000 RUB or about $16,000)
- Increased to 600,000 RUB in 2011 (with reported variations in subsequent years)
- Each shortlist finalist received a sub-prize equivalent to about $2,000 in the past (varies by year)
Selection
Selection Process
| Stage | Judges | Pass Rate | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nomination (Longlist) | Selection committee creates longlist based on nominations from publishers and recommenders | Variable (by year) | Announce the longlist |
| Shortlist (6 works) | Selection committee (panel) | Approx. 10% (depends on longlist size, as 6 works selected from longlist) | Announce the shortlist (final 6 candidates) |
| Final judging / Winner determination | Judging panel (chair varies by year, e.g., George Walden (2003–2011), David Gowan (2012–), etc.) | 1/6 (approx. 16.7%) | Officially announce the winning work (usually December) |
Nomination (Longlist)
Judges
Selection committee creates longlist based on nominations from publishers and recommenders
Pass Rate
Variable (by year)
Announcement
Announce the longlist
Shortlist (6 works)
Judges
Selection committee (panel)
Pass Rate
Approx. 10% (depends on longlist size, as 6 works selected from longlist)
Announcement
Announce the shortlist (final 6 candidates)
Final judging / Winner determination
Judges
Judging panel (chair varies by year, e.g., George Walden (2003–2011), David Gowan (2012–), etc.)
Pass Rate
1/6 (approx. 16.7%)
Announcement
Officially announce the winning work (usually December)
Criteria
- Literary merit (evaluation of style, structure, expression)
- Representativeness in contemporary literary genres
- Author's reputation and track record as a writer
- Work's originality and intellectual content
- Length is not a selection criterion (short works can also be candidates)
Application Tips
Dos
- Make clear that it is fiction written in Russian
- Arrange for formal nomination through publishers or official recommenders
- Emphasize the work's literary value, originality, and contemporaneity
- Thoroughly proofread and edit before submission
Don''ts
- Don't worry too much about length alone (length is not an evaluation criterion)
- Do not submit unfinished manuscripts or in unofficial forms
- Avoid submissions that foreground only political claims
From Judges
- Emphasis on literary effort (style, expression, structure)
- Representativeness and thematic qualities in contemporary genres are evaluated
- Author's ongoing activities and reputation may be referenced
- Length is not an evaluation factor, so prioritize work completion
Related Awards
- Booker Prize (UK)
- Smirnoff–Booker Literary Prize (past name)
- Booker–Open Russia Literary Prize (past sponsor name)
- Other literary awards in Russia (e.g., Yasnaya Polyana Prize, etc.)