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

[QAOPspaceman]

A third of the nominated authors and a judge have withdrawn from the Polari prize because John Boyne, apparently a self-confessed terf (!) and friend of JK Rowling (!!!), is nominated. He wrote The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and has previously said "while I will happily employ any term that a person feels best defines them... I reject the notion that someone can force an unwanted term on to another" so is clearly a fascist.

Have never read his stuff but am tempted to order his complete works immediately.

https://www.thebookseller.com/news/polari-prize-will-review-processes-after-a-third-of-nominated-authors-withdraw-books-from-longlist

https://archive.ph/J39nH

Like all totalitarian regimes, it would descend into purges and denouncements very quickly.

It would be highly entertaining though.

Very true! I know a couple of people whose names are not on the list ... somewhat to my surprise. One of whom has been very strident in her condemnation of GC people in the past. Sniffing the wind maybe.

Ps Sacha Coward signed it. I want him or her to be a secret agent. ...

The name is too good to be true

I thought the same - plenty of people in books and publishing are just having to keep their heads down, be very careful who they are honest with, or toe the line but still have a clear business awareness that this kind of witch-hunting and purity-spiralling is not helpful and people who go in for it are likely to be a nightmare to work with. They’ve all just declared in public that they’re all aboard with victimising a leading, successful, popular and well-liked writer for wrongthink - people will be hanging onto that list.

I was also surprised to see a few key names not on it and wondered if they had the same realisation.

Sacha Coward must be a real person, whoever they are, because they're one of the shortlisted authors who withdrew.

My thoughts exactly. From a reader's perspective, I also looked through that list to make sure I had none of the books by those authors and to avoid them in the future. They don't even realise they are alienating a particular audience, or maybe don't care? I'd say they haven't put any deep thought into their decision to sign that letter, they're just going along with the mob.

Me too, I saved the list on my phone and not one of them will get a cent from me again. The only exception I'll make is writers who are currently very young. I was kind of surprised to see the Motherfoclóir guy there. I knew he was woke but I didn't realise he was a nasty bully.

Boyne really annoyed me when he was still mid-peakening (trying to appease the D.I.E Vampyre when his book ‘My Brother’s Name is Jessica’ didn’t land the way he expected) but he has really stepped up to the plate since and his humour has won me over.

Fuck this daft prize facilitated by cowards, John can have a Mumsnet FWR award instead.

Sucha Coward seems to spend his time 'queering' museum collections. I didn't see Patrick Ness's name and he's been absolutely vile.

I haven’t read the whole thread but some have mentioned Arts England in passing but it would seem to be their hands are all over the later responses from Polari. I don’t know but imagine Arts England is pretty much full captured but I seem to remember they’ve been in the dock before on this topic and lost?

Boyne getting huge sales boost. People like truth telling authors.

J.K. Rowling

@jk_rowling
Readers are currently way more liberal than the craven elitists running book festivals and literary prizes.

John Boyne Books
For some inexplicable reason, my book sales increased hugely last week in UK/Ire & the ENTIRE Top 4 Bestsellers are my ELEMENTS novellas again!
In polari position one might say.
Maybe we're all sick of the bullshit & the bullies?
Pre-order The Elements:
https://linktr.ee/johnboyneelements

"in polari position"
:)
Fab

Arts Council is fully captured. Their employee Denise Fahmy took them to court, won and has now set up Freedom in the Arts. Arts Council, National Lottery, all of them are part of the problem! Today she took Index on censorship to task for their weak response to the Nat Library of Scotland fiasco.

I’m so happy support for JB has tangibly shown itself in his book sales. I’m glad to be one of those who immediately bought all four Elements novellas and read them back to back over a few days.

Up yours, Polari!

Got the Elements on pre order.

The denizens of the literary ivory towers show themselves to be out of touch with the actual reading, book-buying public again.

Very sad to see Danielle Giles on that petition. Mere is one of my favourite books of the year so far.

I also know one of the writers who signed - an old work colleague (I work in publishing). Not surprised to see her there at all.

Great news about the boost to John Boyne's sales! I can’t find the open letter at all - interested to see who has signed it, does anyone have a link?

Here you go!

https://medium.com/@nnimhaoileoin/author-statement-on-the-polari-prize-longlist-42111cca1c53

My word. That's an awfully long list of Literally Who types.

Quite a few Irish names, which is par for the course. I'm tempted to look into some of them, because the Irish literary world is not big.

I've just read the comments - only a few, but excoriating!

Oh my god that list of names is enormous. Horrific. Haven’t heard of (m)any of them though

I didn't like The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas at all, for similar reasons to those detailed upthread, but ironically it's precisely because of those faults that it makes for a good teaching experience.

I've stuck Elements on my wish list.

Didn’t buy Mere or an AK Benedict book today. Exercising my choice not to fund bullies.

I’m due a namechange though, this one is taken from Adam Leslie’s debut novel