British author M John Harrison has made history by becoming the first science fiction writer to win the Booker Prize. The 81-year-old author's novel 'The End of Everything' has been selected for this year's award, also making him the oldest winner in the prize's history.
The award and trophy were presented to Harrison at a ceremony held in London on Monday evening. The prize carries a monetary value of 50,000 pounds, equivalent to approximately 8 million Bangladeshi taka.
A six-decade literary career
Harrison has been writing for more than six decades. However, this is the first time one of his books has made it to the Booker Prize shortlist. He has now won the award on his very first nomination, adding a new dimension to his long literary career.Booker Prize Foundation's assessment
Gaby Wood, chief executive of the Booker Prize Foundation, said that many previous Booker-winning authors have written on science fiction themes. However, Harrison is the first writer to emerge directly from the science fiction world and win this prize. According to her, this is a historic moment for the science fiction genre and an important recognition in expanding the boundaries of literature.Harrison's achievement is being widely welcomed in literary circles. Some critics have long noted that the science fiction genre has been overlooked in mainstream literary awards. They express hope that this prize could change that perception.
