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‘Baffling but brilliant’ post-apocalyptic novel The End of Everything wins Booker Prize
M John Harrison has won the Booker Prize for *The End of Everything*, becoming the award’s oldest winner at 81. The post-apocalyptic novel has divided readers, but judges praised its originality and said its challenging, unsettling story leaves a hint of optimism.
Set on the south-east English coast after an unexplained disaster, the novel follows a man and his aunt as they encounter mysterious alien beings. Harrison, whose writing career spans 60 years, said he withheld explanations to share the characters’ confusion and to satirise today’s barrage of information. He received the £50,000 prize, surpassing Margaret Atwood as the oldest Booker winner.
In short
- M John Harrison, 81, wins the Booker Prize.
- *The End of Everything* explores life after an unexplained disaster.
- Judges praised the challenging novel’s originality and unexpected optimism.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The award recognises a novel whose refusal to explain the disaster or its strange visitors can immerse readers in the characters’ uncertainty and challenge the expectation that every mystery must be resolved. Its originality, unsettling atmosphere and faint optimism make it a bold choice that rewards imaginative risk-taking.
The case against
The same deliberate ambiguity may leave readers without enough narrative or emotional clarity to make sense of the story, turning uncertainty into frustration rather than meaningful unease. A prize jury could reasonably favour a work that achieves greater accessibility while still taking creative risks.
Explained simply
The Booker Prize is one of the best-known awards for fiction published in the UK and Ireland. Its annual prize recognises a novel written in English, and the winner receives £50,000.
M John Harrison is a British novelist whose writing career has spanned six decades. His work often explores unfamiliar or unsettling worlds, and he has written fiction across several genres.
Post-apocalyptic fiction imagines life after a catastrophe has disrupted society. Harrison’s novel is set on England’s south-east coast and follows a man and his aunt as they encounter mysterious beings; its unexplained events have led readers to differ over how to interpret it.