Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize

Republic of Consciousness Prize
Awarded for	Book of the year published by UK and Irish small presses
Country	United Kingdom
First award	2017
Website	Official website

The Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize, formerly called the Republic of Consciousness Prize for Small Presses, is an annual British literary prize founded by the author Neil Griffiths. It rewards fiction published by UK and Irish small presses, defined as those with fewer than five full-time employees. The prize money – initially raised by crowdfunding and latterly augmented by sponsorship – is divided between the publishing house, the author, and, if relevant, the translator.

History

The prize was first awarded in 2017. ^[1] It ran for nine years as the Republic of Consciousness Prize for Small Presses. In 2025 it announced that it was partnering with Queen Mary University and rebranding as the Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize. The first award under that name will be the 2026 prize. ^{[2] [3]}

Winners, shortlists and longlists

2017

The shortlist for the 2017 award was announced on 11 January 2017. ^[1] The winner was announced on 9 March 2017. ^[4]

• Winner: John Keene, Counternarratives (Fitzcarraldo Editions)
• Elnathan John, Born on a Tuesday (Cassava Republic Press)
• Mike McCormack, Solar Bones (Tramp Press)
• KJ Orr, Light Box (Daunt Books)
• Anakana Schofield, Martin John (And Other Stories)
• Paul Stanbridge, Forbidden Line (Galley Beggar Press)
• Diane Williams, Fine, Fine, Fine, Fine, Fine (CB Editions)
• Lara Williams, Treats (Freight Books)

Runners-up prizes were awarded to Martin John and Solar Bones; a Best First Novel prize for "Surfeit of Multitudinous Energy" was awarded to Forbidden Line. ^[5] The following books were also longlisted for the prize: ^[6]

• Kate Armstrong, The Storyteller (Holland House)
• Marcia Douglas, The Marvellous Equations of the Dread (Peepal Tree Press)
• Mia Gallagher, Beautiful Pictures of a Lost Homeland (New Island Books)
• Seraphina Madsen, Dodge and Burn (Dodo Ink)
• Sally O’Reilly, Crude (Eros)
• Faruk Šehić, Quiet Flows the Una, translated by Will Firth (Istros Books)
• Linda Stift, The Empress and the Cake, translated by Jamie Bolloch (Peirene Press)
• Chris Wilson, Glue Ponys (Tangerine Press)

2018

The shortlist for the 2018 award was announced on 19 February 2018. ^[7] The winner was announced on 20 March 2018. ^[8]

• Winner: Eley Williams, Attrib. and Other Stories (Influx Press)
• Ariana Harwicz, Die, My Love, translated by Sarah Moses and Carolina Orloff (Charco Press)
• David Hayden, Darker with the Lights On (Little Island Press)
• Noémi Lefebvre, Blue Self-Portrait, translated by Sophie Lewis (Les Fugitives)
• Preti Taneja, We That Are Young (Galley Beggar Press)
• Isabel Waidner, Gaudy Bauble (Dostoyevsky Wannabe)

The following books were also longlisted for the prize: ^[9]

• Patty Yumi Cottrell, Sorry to Disrupt the Peace (And Other Stories)
• Kevin Davey, Playing Possum (Aaaargh! Press)
• Mathias Énard, Compass, translated by Charlotte Mandell (Fitzcarraldo Editions)
• Arja Kajermo, The Iron Age (Tramp Press)
• Ben Myers, The Gallows Pole (Bluemoose Books)
• Simon Okotie, In the Absence of Absalon (Salt Publishing)
• Jack Robinson, An Overcoat (CB Editions)

A special prize was awarded to Charles Boyle both publisher, as CB Editions, and, under the pseudonym Jack Robinson, author of An Overcoat: "The William Gass award for metafiction and for being the best person in publishing, like ever." ^[10]

2019

The shortlist for the 2019 award was announced on 2 March 2019. The joint winners were announced on 28 March 2019. ^[11]

• Winner: Will Eaves, Murmur (CB Editions)
• Winner: Alex Pheby, Lucia (Galley Beggar Press)
• Daša Drndić, Doppelgänger, translated by Celia Hawkesworth & S. D. Curtis (Istros Books)
• Wendy Erskine, Sweet Home (The Stinging Fly)
• Anthony Joseph, Kitch: A Fictional Biography of a Calypso Icon (Peepal Tree Press)
• Chris McCabe, Dedalus (Henningham Family Press)

The following books were also longlisted for the prize: ^[12]

• Jean Frémon, Now, Now, Louison, translated by Cole Swensen (Les Fugitives)
• Julián Fuks, Resistance, translated by Daniel Hahn (Charco Press)
• Nora Ikstena, Soviet Milk, translated by Margita Gailitis (Peirene Press)
• Gabriel Josipovici, The Cemetery in Barnes (Carcanet Press)
• Sophie van Llewyn, Bottled Goods (Fairlight Books)
• Sue Rainsford, Follow Me to Ground (New Island Books)
• Nicholas John Turner, Hang Him When He Is Not There (Splice)

2020

The shortlist for the 2020 award was announced on 26 February 2020. The Winner was announced on 30 March 2020. ^[13]

• Winner: Jean-Baptiste Del Amo, Animalia, translated by Frank Wynne (Fitzcarraldo Editions)
• Toby Litt, Patience (Galley Beggar Press)
• Hanne Ørstavik, Love, translated by Martin Aitken (And Other Stories)
• Minoli Salgado, Broken Jaw (The 87 Press)
• Isabel Waidner, We Are Made of Diamond Stuff (Dostoyevsky Wannabe)

The following books were also longlisted for the prize: ^[14]

• Mara Coson, Aliasing (Book Works)
• Sarah Henstra, The Red Word (Tramp Press)
• Rónán Hession, Leonard and Hungry Paul (Bluemoose Books)
• Caleb Klaces, Fatherhood (Prototype Publishing)
• Melissa Lee-Houghton, That Lonesome Valley (Morbid Books)
• Juan Rulfo, El Llano in flames, translated by Stephen Beechinor (Structo Press)
• Faruk Šehić, Under Pressure, translated by Mirza Purić (Istros Books)

2021

The shortlist for the 2021 prize was announced on 26 March 2021. ^[15] The winner was announced on 19 May 2021. ^[16]

• Winner: Shola von Reinhold, Lote (Jacaranda Books)
• Lynne Tillman, Men and Apparitions (Peninsula Press)
• Monique Roffey, The Mermaid of Black Conch (Peepal Tree Press)
• Luis Sagasti, A Musical Offering, translated by Fionn Petch (Charco Press)
• Doireann Ní Ghríofa, A Ghost in the Throat (Tramp Press)

The following books were also longlisted for the prize. ^[17]

• Katharina Volckmer, The Appointment (Fitzcarraldo Editions)
• Alex Pheby, Mordew (Galley Beggar Press)
• Paul Griffiths, Mr Beethoven (Henningham Family Press)
• Huw Lemmey and Hildegard von Bingen, Unknown Language (Ignota Books)
• Alhierd Bacharevič, Alindarka’s Children, translated by Jim Dingley & Petra Reid (Scotland Street Press)

2022

The shortlist for the 2022 prize was announced on 27 March 2022. ^[18] The winner was announced on 11 May 2022. ^[19]

• Winner: Norman Erikson Pasaribu, Happy Stories, Mostly, translated by Tiffany Tsao (Tilted Axis Press)
• Scholastique Mukasonga, Our Lady of the Nile , translated by Melanie Mauthner (Daunt Books)
• Vanessa Onwuemezi, Dark Neighbourhood (Fitzcarraldo Editions)
• Montserrat Roig, The Song of Youth, translated by Tiago Miller (Fum D'Estampa Press)
• Isabel Waidner, Sterling Karat Gold (Peninsula Press)

The following books were also longlisted for the prize: ^[20]

• Mona Arshi, Somebody Loves You (And Other Stories)
• Badr Ahmad, Five Days Untold, translated by Christiaan James (Dar Arab)
• Ryan Dennis, The Beasts They Turned Away (Epoque Press)
• Jonas Eika, After the Sun, translated by Sherilyn Nicolette Hellberg (Lolli Editions)

2023

The shortlist for the 2023 prize was announced on 16 March 2023. ^[21] The winner was announced on 26 April 2023. ^[22]

• Winner: Missouri Williams, The Doloriad (Dead Ink)
• Steven J Fowler, MUEUM (Tenement Press)
• Nate Lippens, My Dead Book (Pilot Press)
• Sheena Patel, I’m a Fan (Rough Trade Books)
• Thuận, Chinatown, translated by Nguyễn An Lý (Tilted Axis Press)

The following books were also longlisted for the prize: ^[23]

• Fatima Daas, The Last One, translated by Lara Vergnaud (Hope Road)
• Eva Ďurovec, New Mindmapping Forms (Montez Press)
• Yewande Omotoso, An Unusual Grief (Cassava Republic Press)
• John Smith, Little Boy (Boiler House Press)
• Zoë Wicomb, Still Life (Peninsula Press)

2024

The shortlist for the 2024 prize was announced on 4 March 2024. ^[24] The winner was announced on 17 April 2024. ^[25]

• Winner: Ana Paula Maia, Of Cattle and Men, translated by Zoë Perry (Charco Press)
• Farai Mudzingwa, Avenues by Train (Cassava Republic)
• Sheyla Smanioto, Out of Earth, translated by Laura Garmeson & Sophie Lewis (Dead Ink)
• Miri Yu, The End of August, translated by Morgan Giles (Tilted Axis Press)
• Maxim Znak, The Zekameron, translated by Jim & Ella Dingley (Scotland Street Press)

A prize for Outstanding First Novel went to Out of Earth. The following books were also longlisted for the prize: ^[26]

• Ventura Ametller, Summa Kaotica, translated by Douglas Suttle (Fum d’Estampa Press)
• Emilienne Malfatto, May the Tigris Grieve for You, translated by Lorna Scott Fox (Les Fugitives)
• So Mayer, Truth & Dare (Cipher Press)
• Olga Ravn, My Work, translated by Sophia Hersi Smith & Jennifer Russell (Lolli Editions)
• Krisztina Tóth, Barcode, translated by Peter Sherwood (Jantar Press)

2025

The 2025 longlist was announced on 30 January 2025. ^[27] The shortlist was announced in February 2025 and the winner on 1 April 2025. ^[28]

• Winner: Gaëlle Bélem, There’s a Monster Behind the Door, translated by Karen Fleetwood and Laëtitia Saint-Loubert (Bullaun Press)
• Catherine Axelrad, Célina, translated by Philip Terry (Les Fugitives)
• Marouane Bakhti, How to Leave the World, translated by Lara Vergnaud (Divided Publishing)
• Charles Boyle, Invisible Dogs, (CB Editions)
• Glen James Brown, Mother Naked (Peninsula Press)

The following books were also longlisted for the prize:

• Sulaiman Addonia, The Seers (Prototype)
• Jenni Daiches, Somewhere Else (Scotland Street Press)
• Ella Frears, Good Lord (Rough Trade)
• Karen Jennings, Crooked Seeds (Holland House Books)
• Nathan Knapp, Daybook (Splice)

US and Canada prize

In 2021, the Republic of Consciousness Prize for Small Presses in the USA was launched. Its principles and guidelines are based on the UK prize, but it rewards books published in the US or Canada. ^[29]

2024 (US and Canada)

The shortlist for the US and Canada 2024 prize was announced on 5 March 2024 and the winner on 19 March 2024. ^[30]

• Winner: Ebru Ojen, Lojman, translated by Aron Aji and Selin Gökçesu (City Lights Publishers)
• Kate Briggs, The Long Form (Dorothy, a publishing project)
• Sebastián Martínez Daniell, Two Sherpas, translated by Jennifer Croft (Charco Press)
• Laurent Mauvignier, The Birthday Party, translated by Daniel Levin Becker (Transit Books)
• Mandy-Suzanne Wong, The Box (Graywolf Press)

The following books were also longlisted for the prize: ^{[30] [31]}

• Jazmina Barrera, Cross Stitch, translated by Christina MacSweeney (Two Lines Press)
• Don Gillmor, Breaking and Entering (Biblioasis)
• Johanna Hedva, Your Love is Not Good (And Other Stories)
• Christine Lai, Landscapes (Two Dollar Radio)
• Ada Zhang, The Sorrows of Others (A Public Space)

2025 (US and Canada)

The shortlist for the US and Canada 2025 prize was announced on 26 February 2025. ^[32]

• Winner: Rodrigo Fresán, Melvill, translated by Will Vanderhyden (Open Letter Books) ^{[33] [34]}
• Jakuta Alikavazovic, Like a Sky Inside, translated by Daniel Levin Becker (Fern Books)
• Mark Haber, Lesser Ruins (Coffee House Press)
• Vera Mutafchieva, The Case of Cem, translated by Angela Rodel (Sandorf Passage)
• Jón Kalman Stefánsson, Your Absence Is Darkness, translated by Philip Roughton (Biblioasis)

The following books were also longlisted for the prize: ^[35]

• Leah Hager Cohen, To & Fro (Bellevue Literary Press)
• Lindsay Hill, Tidal Lock (McPherson & Company)
• Ariane Koch, Overstaying, translated by Damion Searls (Dorothy)
• Suzumi Suzuki, Gifted, translated by Allison Markin Powell (Transit Books)
• Manya Wilkinson, Lublin (And Other Stories)

References

1. Kean, Danuta (11 January 2017). "Crowdfunded small-press prize announces inaugural shortlist". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
2. "Republic of Consciousness Prize rebrands as the Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize". The Bookseller. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
3. "Republic of Consciousness Foundation finds new partner and rebrands as the Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize". Republic of Consciousness Prize. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
4. Cain, Sian (10 March 2017). "Prize set up to reward 'brave, bold' publishers goes to Fitzcarraldo". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
5. "RofC Prize Rewards 'Brilliant & Brave' Fiction from the Small Presses". The Contemporary Small Press. 10 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
6. Onwuemezi, Natasha (9 November 2016). "Tramp, Daunt and New Island presses longlisted for Republic of Consciousness Prize". The Bookseller. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
7. "The UK's Republic of Consciousness Prize for Small Presses Names its 2018 Shortlist". Publishing Perspectives. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
8. Onwuemezi, Natasha (20 March 2018). "Influx wins Republic of Consciousness Prize". The Bookseller . Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
9. "The Republic of Consciousness Prize longlist". The Times Literary Supplement. 7 December 2017. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
10. Law, Jackie (23 March 2018). "Gig Review: The Republic of Consciousness Prize for Small Presses – Winner 2017". Never Imitate. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
11. Flood, Alison (28 March 2019). "Book prize names two winners as it criticises 'false hierarchy' of awards". The Guardian .
12. "The Republic of Consciousness Prize 2019 longlist". The Times Literary Supplement . 14 January 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
13. Payn, Jessica (31 March 2020). "Fitzcarraldo Editions wins Republic of Consciousness Prize". The Arts Desk . Archived from the original on 1 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
14. "The Republic of Consciousness 2020 longlist". Republic of Consciousness website. 24 January 2020.
15. "2021 Prize". Republic of Consciousness. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
16. Comerford, Ruth (19 May 2021). "Jacaranda and von Reinhold win Republic of Consciousness Prize". The Bookseller . Retrieved 19 May 2021.
17. Comerford, Ruth (4 February 2021). "Costa-winning Peepal Tree longlisted for Republic of Consciousness Prize". The Bookseller . Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
18. "Republic of Consciousness Prize 2022 shortlist announced". Books+Publishing. 29 March 2022. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
19. "'Happy Stories, Mostly' wins Republic of Consciousness Prize". Books+Publishing. 12 May 2022. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
20. "Republic of Consciousness Prize Longlist 2022". London Review Bookshop. Archived from the original on 29 June 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
21. "Awards: Lammy Finalists; Republic of Consciousness Shortlist". Shelf Awareness . 20 March 2023. Archived from the original on 15 December 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
22. Knight, Lucy (26 April 2023). "Dead Ink wins Republic of Consciousness prize with Missouri Williams's 'astonishing' debut". The Guardian .
23. "Awards: Republic of Consciousness Longlist". Shelf Awareness . 30 January 2023. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
24. "Republic of Consciousness Prize shortlist sees the most works in translation in prize's history". 4 March 2024. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
25. Creamer, Ella (17 April 2024). "Charco Press wins Republic of Consciousness prize for 'gut-punch' novel". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
26. "Awards: Audie Finalists; Republic of Consciousness Longlist". Shelf Awareness . 31 January 2024. Archived from the original on 5 October 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
27. "The Republic of Consciousness Prize Longlist 2025". London Review Bookshop. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
28. "Bullaun Press wins Republic of Consciousness prize for 'rollicking picaresque' novel". The Guardian. 1 April 2025. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
29. "About Us". Republic of Consciousness Prize United States and Canada. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
30. "News". Republic of Consciousness Prize USA and Canada. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
31. "Canadians Christine Lai and Don Gillmor longlisted for $46K prize for books from indie publishers". CBC. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
32. "Awards: Republic of Consciousness U.S. & Canada Shortlist". Shelf Awareness . 28 February 2025. Archived from the original on 28 February 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
33. Schaub, Michael (12 March 2025). "Republic of Consciousness Prize Winner Revealed". Kirkus Reviews . Retrieved 15 March 2025.
34. "Awards: Republic of Consciousness U.S. & Canada Winner". Shelf Awareness . 14 March 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
35. "Awards: Republic of Consciousness, U.S. & Canada Longlist". Shelf Awareness . 17 January 2025. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.

External links

• Official website