2024: Republic of Consciousness Prize
Announcing this year's longlist
Year 8: A year of fiction in translation.
I know I always say this
The longlist is the most special moment of any prize cycle. It’s the most honest. When is there ever five better than another five when it comes to a shortlist? And one better than all the rest? It’s never the case; it’s just how it has to be. (OK, yes, sometimes it’s the case - there are standout books.) This year the judges wanted 13 to make it through. But even if we had a longlist of 20 it still wouldn’t adequately demonstrate the range of great writing being published by small presses in the UK and Ireland.
New presses, nationalities, languages
It is always exciting to have new presses to the longlist and this year we welcome Jantar and Cipher. We also have writers from 4 new nationalities: Korea, Zimbabwe, Belarus and Hungary, and three new languages, Japanese, Hungarian, Russian. And without wishing to sound facetious, the first written from a prison cell. While as a charity the RofC is not politically aligned, we recognise small presses are doing essential work in publishing important work in this area.
But before we announce, here is what our judges have to say about this year’s prize:
“As with the narrative arc of a good novel, the judging process brought with it many moments of revelation, delightful bewilderment, shifts of mindset and subjective insights. Each book that arrived in my postbox brought with it a feeling of anticipation as it quickly became clear how immense the imaginative and stylistic range of books being published by the small presses is. I am very grateful to all of those publishers who made judging this prize such a pleasure. May their daring and their openness to unorthodox voices be fostered and encouraged.” - Declan O’Driscoll
“Judging the Republic of Consciousness Prize has been a highly rewarding and humbling experience. At a moment when literary prizes are being cancelled, or changing in title, sponsorship, funding, and eligibility, it is reassuring to see a prize stand by its original mission statement of recognising and validating the often important, risk-taking, and trailblazing work being done by small, independent presses. I hope readers will find on this longlist books often not stocked in bookshops, or included in bestseller or end-of-year lists, and ask why. It has been a pleasure and honour to play a small part in bringing to the centre of literary conversation the type of writing and publishing which is otherwise pushed to the peripheries of the literary industry.” - Sana Goyal (Tweets @SansyG)
“Being one of the judges for this year's RoC Prize has entirely restored my faith in the world of publishing. The vitality, range and originality of the books coming from the small presses has given me many hours of exhilarating reading, and I salute every one of these publishers for their courageous dedication to literary innovation and creativity in all its wild and wonderful manifestations.” - Rebecca Abrams
The longlist: in alphabetical order, by press
Out of Earth
By Sheyla Smanioto
Translated by Laura Garmeson & Sophie Lewis
Boiler House Press
Our judges said: “A vivid, mesmerising multigenerational novel, which tackles brutality and violence within familial relationships with tact. A very impressive book.”
Avenues by Train
By Farai Mudzingwa
Cassava Republic
Our judges said: “An assured debut. It addresses the objective truth of these lives but also deftly conveys the character's subjective understanding of the forces that influence their fate.”
Of Cattle and Men
By Ana Paula Maia
Translated by Zoë Perry
Charco Press
Our judges said: “A stunning thriller of sorts. So understated. So powerful. So heartbreaking. Worked for me completely on both the level of a human story and as a warning parable for our times.“
Truth & Dare
By So Mayer
Cipher Press *
Our judges said: “An excellent approach taken to evoking situations. I'm a fan of this press and these stories – really cheeky, playful, weird and wonderful.”
Summa Kaotica
By Ventura Ametller
Translation by Douglas Suttle
Fum d’Estampa Press
Our judges said: “Fizzing with wild, creative energy blending myth, legend, fact and history - Don Quixote meets Tristram Shandy meets The Flounder.”
Barcode
By Krisztina Toth
Translated by Peter Sherwood
Jantar Press *
Our judges said: "Sharply observed, surprising explorations of identity, community, guilt. Each story swerves in a fleet, deliberately discombobulating fashion. Wonderful prose work from a poet.“
May the Tigris Grieve for You
By Emilienne Malfatto
Translated by Lorna Scott Fox
Les Fugitives
Our judges said: “A very powerful little book. It stages the ambiguities, hesitations, fears, and all the grey stuff that makes us human. Poetic, yet powerful in political statement.”
My Work
By Olga Ravn
Translated by Sophia Hersi Smith & Jennifer Russell
Lolli Editions
Our judges said: “A startling presentation of her troubling experience of motherhood. Admired its structural risk-taking, dark humour, its unrelenting honesty and intellectual seriousness.”
The Zekameron
By Maxim Znak
Translated by Jim & Ella Dingley
Scotland Street Press
Our judges said: “Deceptively light touch to these powerful stories by imprisoned Belarusian lawyer and activist. A truly important book.”
The End of August
By Yu Miri
Translated by Morgan Giles
Tilted Axis Press
Our judges said: “Ambitious in scope and execution. Amazingly well-sustained, multi-layered, many-voiced novel. A joy to read.”
Prize money
As usual, we’re spreading the prize fund across the prize cycle, with each of the longlisted presses receiving £500. The 5 shortlisted presses will receive a further £1,000 each, with 25% to the writer. As always, the winner gets nothing more. But then, some say, “winning is everything,” so if you share that philosophy, you could say the winner gets £1,500 and everything, which is a lot.
Mark your calendars
Shortlist Announced: March 11, 2024
Winner Event to be held at Foyles, Charing Cross Road: 17 April, 2024
A virtual thank you note to our supporters
And finally, a grateful reminder that our book club subscribers keep us afloat. Join us here to receive 12 of UK-based small presses’ best publications at your doorstep.