LONESOME GEORGE CONTENDS FOR LITERARY PRIZE

Go George! The critically acclaimed biography of the Galapagos' most famous resident Lonesome George is a hot contender for this year's Guardian First Book Award.

Lonesome George: the life and loves of a conservation icon by science writer and GCT member Henry Nichollls (Macmillan Science, 2006) is one of 10 books on the longlist announced in August. Nicholls' book - rave reviewed by TLS, THES, Nature, Wired, Booklist, Guardian, Focus, NewScientist and Seed Magazine - is ostensibly the story of the world's most famous reptile. Much more that that, it is a crafted blend of character, drama, derrring-do and discovery exploring our troubled relationship with our fragile planet. The shortlist is announced in November and the winner in December.

The award, for first-time authors, aims to recognise and reward new writing across fiction and non-fiction. It is unique in weighing views from readers' groups. Wikipedia calls the Guardian First Book award "the oldest and best-established of the awards sponsored by a newspaper". The prize was launched in 1999, replacing the Guardian Fiction Prize, which ran for 33 years.

You can catch an exerpt from Lonesome George and view the other nominations on the Guardian website.

..Top