Polari prize nominees withdraw over inclusion of 'terf' John Boyne

It's a smart move, and as he said he's taken the time to think about his response.

The prize is under no obligation to shortlist him anyway - he could have just not been shortlisted and we'd never know if it was because of what he said.

He said he'll do this if all the flouncers return. That's unlikely but if they do he'll have made a massive, yet very peacable win - promoting the idea that people with differing views and perspectives can take part in literary life and celebrations together, and put witch-hunting and cancellation behind them. They also return to the chance of a prize (a better chance if he removes himself) as a reward.

If they don't all return, they are showing they value cancellation above reconciliation and reward, and he has a good chance of being shortlisted and winning - which they don't want.

Meanwhile whatever the outcome he shows everyone what "going high" looks like - generous, thoughtful, no threats, no nastiness, no greed, kind and encouraging to newer writers even if they disagree with him.

Well played JB.

The first of these is currently 99p on Kindle.

The Polari Prize for Approved Books Only.

I really hope the judges ignores his request for his book to be disregarded. If the books aren't considered on their literary merits, the prize is devalued.

TRAs so often end up looking classless and humourless, don't they?

Oh, bravo, JB. That is unimpeachable in both tone and content.

I also love the subtle shade in 'I have shelves full of awards at home and my book sales are extremely healthy.'

I haven't actually read him before, but I'm going to hie me over to Amazon immediately and buy up his whole backlist.

Oh, JB writes a good letter. Made me a bit tearful. I bought the Furies book the other day. That letter has bumped it up my tbr pile.

Funnily enough I never read TBITSP. The subject matter put me off; the Holocaust, children toddling into the gas chambers, the monstrousness, so much murder, so callous, so inhuman. Despite all that I might have been tempted but I'd read Private Peaceful, because I was interested in WW1, and I hated it. Then somehow I'd got it into my head they were by the same author! Not saying Morpurgo is a bad writer but that book wasn't for me, even taking into account that PP is aimed at kids,

This is so interesting. I hadn't realised he'd gone TERF.

I enjoyed the Hearts Invisible Furies, but when looking into him a bit more I was put off by his (at the time) anti-Linehan stuff and also by My Brother's Name is Jessica.

That was a stellar statement by John B. What a shame he had to write it. And fuck, what a world where people who declare they are so tolerant would seek to cancel him in this way.

I read, and liked, Niamh ní Mhaoileoin’s novel, although I did note the use of the word ‘queer’ and that very much placed the author in a certain generation - fair enough, not everyone has to use language as I would use it, or have the same views as me. It’s a shame she, and the other tantrumming authors, can’t afford the same courtesy to JB or JKR. For that reason I won’t be spending my money or reading time on any more of her books. I’ll give JB another whirl though, even though I wasn’t a huge fan of TBITSP. His statement above is very gracious.

It's never a good idea to take on someone who can afford to be gracious. Nice work, Mr Boyne.

I felt very emotional reading his statement. It was so dignified and fair. These bullies are vile. I wonder how many of the authors withdrew in protest and how many withdrew because they didn't want to be subject to the same treatment themselves?

Thanks @Justme56 . A very succint and clear letter from John there. So this latest attempted cancellation has been got up by an Irish novelist called Niamh ní Mhaoileoin. John Boyne gave her debut a fair review in the Irish Times but criticised her over use of the term Queer. A lot of gay people do find that problematic.

Oddly enough I've just been trying to find out about Irish witch trials. They were few and far between. The most famous being Alice le Kyteler in Kilkenny and the Carrickfergus trial. These were conducted by Normans and Scots Presbyterians respectively. Actual native Irish people don't seem to have been that bothered.

So now we are making up for it big time! I've never read anything by Niamh or her fellow witch finder Emma van Straaten and now I guess I never will. Would it be paranoid of me to suspect a lot of these snitches are just trying to take down the competition?

Well, he can't say fairer than that really, can he? More gracious about it than most of us would be.

Bloody hell he's a decent sort!

The statement as shown on the page of that link says 'undertaking'. When it is quoted below they use 'intaking'. I'm not sure that attention to detail is these people's strong suit. [Or dress. Or whatevs.]

https://x.com/johnboynebooks/status/1955917315029262792?s=46&t=ZX_bLozRqm8etdGICMcAvA

JB has responded on X.

Attached his letter for those unable to see.

@Chersfrozenface Older posters will remember the School Certificate you used to get upon finishing primary school. Most of these twits would have failed the exam.

A bit off topic but did the original statement really say "intaking a full review of the prize"?

Rather than 'undertaking'?

'Intake' isn't even a verb in any dictionary I have.

Let the cry bullies tantrum. The Arts at this point are becoming an embarrassment, which is a tragedy.

A grovelling apologies to the bullies but at least they're not backing down, 🙄

Not sure this is saying anything:

https://www.scenemag.co.uk/polari-prize-issues-update-after-being-plunged-into-controversy-following-inclusion-of-terf-author-john-boyne-on-2025-longlist/

Yep, sorry, I missed the word “cancelled” from my post. The same TRA types who scream blue murder for the cancellation of a successful female writer who’s given millions to charity, are really keen to “separate the artist from the work” when it comes to Gaiman.

Paul Burston nailed his colours to the sex realist mast years ago. The Arts council may well decide to defund the prize though - which would be quite a statement, as Burston was the LGB correspondent for Time Out London back in the 90s and done a huge amount of work writing about gay history and culture. Talk about the modern “queer” movement traducing its elders.

Boyne generously apologised to Glinner. Who in turn apologised to Count Dankula. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas was a certainly based on a very flawed premise.

Fiction is tricky like that . It's basically stories that didn't happen. Some people find that whole idea problematic. People like Osama bin Laden. And the new Puritans , the liberal Ayatollahs. But this latest fatwa isn't going to work.