2642 Authors Long Listed for Impala Dublin Intergalactic Book Award

"It's just so hard to choose", said the chief judge of the  Dublin Intergalactic Book Award committee today from a remote location when  a record 2642 authors were announced on the 2011 long list.

"Librarians around the world are such nice people and we really don't wish to offend anyone by refusing their submissions. All the books are so very good you know -quite a lot of them have actually been translated from a non-English based language, and a number are very popular with borrowers.  It's not that we are totally incapable, as some Illiterarti types are are suggesting, of making a decision at all - and our sponsors are sooo happy.

As for suggestions that none of us could possibly read so many books to make a proper judgement - outrageous! We will suueeeee!"

When asked why sponsors would be happy,  Siobhán O' Carafluufian refused to answer at first before being coxed by our leprechaun accomplice with a book token from Kenny's.

"Well, the truth is that the press in every country in the world gets a chance to say that their lead authors, plus the occasional first book to keep the interest levels up, have been listed! Our publicity department is almost having baby kittens over the coverage in every nation from Nigeria to Uzbekistan!"


Besides, have you seen what a basket case the Irish Economy is? A Literary Award lead recovery will solve our debt! Nothing more nothing less!"

Our intrepid reporter then asked if the prize had become an absolute farce with so many books listed  that any genuinely interested observer could not possibly pass any intelligent comment other than ones fed to them by the Public Relations People?

" Absolutely not.  I am deeply saddened, hurt, in pain, depressed, gloomy, angst ridden and generally discongromalted that you could even imagine such a thing! Though, in truth your speculation has the making of  fine basis for a novel, perhaps revolving around a woman of ambiguous sexulaity who wakes up one day as a boiled egg to find she/he works in a public relations department with a 12 other boiled eggs charged with the job of promoting leading book awards".

A shortlist of 49 books is expected some time early next year with multiple winners declared on April 1st.

ends