2008 in Australian literature

Events

• "The Bulletin" magazine publishes its last issue, the first was in 1880
• The Australia Council for the Arts announces Christopher Koch and Gerald Murnane as recipients of its 2008 emeritus writers awards
• The Australian Federal Government announces funding for a new chair of Australian Literature based at the University of Western Australia
• Clunes, Victoria, holds its second Booktown weekend
• The first Crime and Justice Festival in held in Melbourne over the weekend of 19–20 July
• Australia wins the right to host the 2010 World SF convention in Melbourne
• A number of previously unknown Banjo Paterson poems are found in an old cash book dating back to the Boer War
• UNESCO names Melbourne as its second City of Literature, after Edinburgh received the first such award in 2004
• Caro Llewellyn, a former director of the Sydney Writers' Festival and PEN World Voices Festival in New York, is appointed as director of the new Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas (now called the Wheeler Centre) in Melbourne
• The Indie Book Awards are presented for the first time

Major publications

Literary fiction

• Debra Adelaide – The Household Guide to Dying
• Murray Bail – The Pages
• Geraldine Brooks – People of the Book
• Peter Carey – His Illegal Self
• Luke Davies – God of Speed
• Robert Drewe – The Rip
• Richard Flanagan – Wanting
• Helen Garner – The Spare Room
• Peter Goldsworthy – Everything I Knew
• Kate Grenville – The Lieutenant
• Vicki Hastrich – The Great Arch
• Wendy James – The Steele Diaries
• Susan Johnson – Life in Seven Mistakes
• Toni Jordan – Addition
• Sofie Laguna – One Foot Wrong
• Nam Le – The Boat
• Joan London – The Good Parents
• Louis Nowra – Ice
• Kevin Rabelais – The Landscape of Desire
• Claire Thomas – fugitive blue
• Steve Toltz – A Fraction of the Whole
• Ian Townsend – The Devil's Eye
• Christos Tsiolkas – The Slap
• Tim Winton – Breath
• Arnold Zable – Sea of Many Returns

Children's and young adult fiction

• Isobelle Carmody – The Stone Key
• Kate Constable – Always Mackenzie
• Alison Croggon — The Singing
• Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury – Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes
• Jackie French – A Rose for the ANZAC Boys
• Mark Greenwood and Frane Lessac – Simpson and His Donkey
• Sonya Hartnett – Sadie and Ratz
• Jack Heath – Money Run
• Simone Howell – Everything Beautiful
• Catherine Jinks – Genius Squad
• Maureen McCarthy – Somebody's Crying
• Melina Marchetta – Finnikin of the Rock
• Sophie Masson – The Case of the Diamond Shadow
• Garth Nix – Superior Saturday
• Penni Russon – The Indigo Girls
• Shaun Tan – Tales from Outer Suburbia
• Lili Wilkinson – The (Not Quite) Perfect Boyfriend
• Sean Williams
  • The Changeling
  • Dust Devils

Crime and mystery

• Peter Corris – Open File
• Leah Giarratano – Voodoo Doll
• Kerry Greenwood – Murder on a Midsummer Night
• Marion Halligan – Murder on the Apricot Coast
• Jarad Henry – Blood Sunset
• Katherine Howell – The Darkest Hour
• Barry Maitland – Bright Air
• PD Martin – Fan Mail
• Camilla Nelson – Crooked
• Malla Nunn – A Beautiful Place to Die
• Alex Palmer – The Tattooed Man
• Bronwyn Parry – As Darkness Falls
• Kel Robertson – Smoke and Mirrors
• Michael Robotham – Shatter

Romance

• Anne Gracie – The Stolen Princess
• Stephanie Laurens – The Edge of Desire
• Margaret Leigh – The Heart Divided
• Estelle Pinney – Burnt Sunshine

Science fiction and fantasy

• K. A. Bedford – Time Machines Repaired While-U-Wait
• Honey Brown – Red Queen
• Nathan Burrage – Fivefold
• Sara Douglass – The Twisted Citadel
• Greg Egan
  • "Crystal Nights"
  • Dark Integers and Other Stories
  • Incandescence
  • "Lost Continent"
• Jennifer Fallon – The Chaos Crystal
• Pamela Freeman – Deep Water
• Alison Goodman – The Two Pearls of Wisdom
• Traci Harding – The Dragon Queens
• Simon Haynes – Hal Spacejock: No Free Lunch
• Margo Lanagan – Tender Morsels
• Juliet Marillier – Heir to Sevenwaters
• Karen Miller – Hammer of God
• K. E. Mills – The Accidental Sorcerer
• Cat Sparks – "Sammarynda Deep"
• Sean Williams – Earth Ascendant

Drama

• John Doyle – The Pig Iron People
• Alexandra Edmondson – Cruising
• Joanna Murray-Smith – Ninety

Poetry

See also 2008 in poetry

• Robert Adamson – The Golden Bird: New and Selected Poems, winner of the C.J. Dennis Prize for Poetry in the 2009 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards, shortlisted for the 2009 Age Book of the Year Awards
• Michael Brennan – Unanimous Night
• David Brooks – The Balcony, finalist for the 2008 Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry; University of Queensland Press,
• Brook Emery – At a Slight Angle: and Other Poems
• Jamie Grant – 100 Australian Poems You Need to Know (edited)
• Elizabeth Hodgson – Skin Painting, winner of the 2007 David Unaipon Award; University of Queensland Press,
• Sarah Holland-Batt – Aria
• Clive James – Opal Sunset: Selected Poems, 1958–2008
• John Kinsella – Divine Comedy, University of Queensland Press,
• Anthony Lawrence – Bark, University of Queensland Press,
• David Malouf – Revolving Days, University of Queensland Press,
• Peter Rose editor – The Best Australian Poems 2008 Black Inc.,
• Alan Wearne – The Australian Popular Songbook

Non-fiction

• Germaine Greer – On Rage
• Chloe Hooper – The Tall Man: Death and Life on Palm Island
• John Silvester and Andrew Rule – Underbelly: The Gangland War

Biographies

• Peter Costello – The Costello Memoirs
• Jacqueline Kent – An Exacting Heart: The Story of Hephzibah Menuhin
• Andrew Riemer – A Family History of Smoking

Awards and honours

Lifetime achievement

Literary

Fiction

International

National

Children and young adult

National

Crime and mystery

National

Science fiction

Poetry

Drama

Non-fiction

Deaths

• 11 January – Nancy Phelan, author (born 1913)
• 27 March – Alan Collins, short story writer (born 1928)
• 8 April – John Button, politician and author (born 1933)
• 26 April – Pamela Bone, journalist and author (born 1940)
• 29 April – John Hooker, author (born 1932)
• 21 June – Justina Williams, poet (born 1916)
• 24 August – Patricia Rolfe, short story writer and critic (born 1920)
• 30 September – Eleanor Spence, writer for children (born 1928)
• 30 October – Jacob Rosenberg, poet and memoirist (born 1922)
• 15 November – Ivan Southall, writer for children (born 1921)
• 10 December – Dorothy Porter, poet (born 1954)

References

Note: all references relating to awards can, or should be, found on the relevant award's page.

References

1. [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/the-bulletin-shuts-down-after-128-years/2008/01/24/1201157560398.html The Bulletin shuts down after 128 years]
2. "Critically acclaimed writers honoured with top literary prize".
3. "Government funds new Chair in Australian Literature".
4. [http://www.theage.com.au/news/books/the-book-of-regenesis/2008/05/01/1209235055334.html The book of regenesis]
5. [http://www.crimeandjusticefestival.com/ Crime and Justice Festival]
6. [http://aussiecon4.org.au/ Aussiecon 4]
7. [http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24196115-953,00.html Poet's works discovered in war diary]
8. [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/write-at-the-centre/2008/08/20/1218911820869.html Write at the centre]
9. [http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/books/centre-for-writing-and-books-gains-services-of-a-mind-muchtravelled/2008/12/16/1229189617945.html Centre for writing and books gains services of a mind much travelled]
10. ""Indie Book Awards"". Australian Independent Booksellers.
11. "''The Household Guide to Dying'' by Debra Adelaide". National Library of Australia.
12. "''God of Speed'' by Luke Davies". National Library of Australia.
13. "''The Rip'' by Robert Drewe". National Library of Australia.
14. "''Everything I Knew'' by Peter Goldsworthy". National Library of Australia.
15. "''The Great Arch'' by Vicki Hastrich". National Library of Australia.
16. "''The Steele Diaries'' by Wendy James". National Library of Australia.
17. "''Life in Seven Mistakes'' by Susan Johnson". National Library of Australia.
18. "''Addition'' by Toni Jordan". National Library of Australia.
19. "''One Foot Wrong'' by Sofie Laguna". National Library of Australia.
20. "''The Landscape of Desire'' by Kevin Rabelais". National Library of Australia.
21. "''fugitive blue'' by Claire Thomas". National Library of Australia.
22. "''The Devil's Eye'' by Ian Townsend". National Library of Australia.
23. "''Sea of Many Returns'' by Arnold Zable". National Library of Australia.
24. "'' Always Mackenzie'' by Kate Constable". National Library of Australia.
25. "''The Singing'' by Alison Croggon". National Library of Australia.
26. "''Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes'' by Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury". National Library of Australia.
27. "''A Rose for the ANZAC Boys'' by Jackie French". National Library of Australia.
28. "''Simpson and His Donkey'' by Mark Greenwood and Frane Lessac". National Library of Australia.
29. "''Money Run'' by Jack Heath". National Library of Australia.
30. "''Everything Beautiful'' by Simone Howell". National Library of Australia.
31. "''Genius Squad'' by Catherine Jinks". National Library of Australia.
32. "''Somebody's Crying'' by Maureen McCarthy". National Library of Australia.
33. "''Finnikin of the Rock'' by Melina Marchetta". National Library of Australia.
34. "''The Case of the Diamond Shadow'' by Sophie Masson". National Library of Australia.
35. "''The Indigo Girls'' by Penni Russon". National Library of Australia.
36. "''Tales from Outer Suburbia'' by Shaun Tan".
37. "''The (Not Quite) Perfect Boyfriend'' by Lili Wilkinson". National Library of Australia.
38. "''The Changeling'' by Sean Williams". National Library of Australia.
39. "''Dust Devils'' by Sean Williams". National Library of Australia.
40. "''Open File'' by Peter Corris". National Library of Australia.
41. "''Voodoo Doll'' by Leah Giarratano". National Library of Australia.
42. "''Murder on a Midsummer Night'' by Kerry Greenwood". National Library of Australia.
43. "''Murder on the Apricot Coast'' by Marion Halligan". National Library of Australia.
44. "''Blood Sunset'' by Jarad Henry". National Library of Australia.
45. "''Bright Air'' by Barry Maitland". National Library of Australia.
46. "''Fan Mail'' by PD Martin". National Library of Australia.
47. "''Crooked'' by Camilla Nelson". National Library of Australia.
48. "''The Tattooed Man'' by Alex Palmer". National Library of Australia.
49. "''As Darkness Falls'' by Bronwyn Parry". National Library of Australia.
50. "''The Stolen Princess'' by Anne Gracie". Austlit.
51. "''The Edge of Desire'' by Stephanie Laurens". National Library of Australia.
52. "''The Heart Divided'' by Margaret Leigh". Austlit.
53. "''Burnt Sunshine'' by Estelle Pinney". National Library of Australia.
54. "''Time Machines Repaired While-U-Wait'' by K. A. Bedford". ISFDB.
55. "''Red Queen'' by Honey Brown". ISFDB.
56. "''Fivefold'' by Nathan Burrage". ISFDB.
57. "''The Twisted Citadel'' by Sara Douglass". ISFDB.
58. "''The Chaos Crystal'' by Jennifer Fallon". ISFDB.
59. "''Deep Water'' by Pamela Freeman". ISFDB.
60. "''The Dragon Queens'' by Traci Harding". ISFDB.
61. "''Hal Spacejock: No Free Lunch'' by Simon Haynes". ISFDB.
62. "''Heir to Sevenwaters'' by Juliet Marillier". ISFDB.
63. "''The Accidental Sorcerer'' by K. E. Mills". ISFDB.
64. "''Earth Ascendant'' by Sean Williams". ISFDB.
65. "''The Pig Iron People'' by John Doyle". Austlit.
66. "''Ninety'' by Joanna Murray-Smith". Austlit.
67. "''The Golden Bird: New and Selected Poems'' by Robert Adamson". National Library of Australia.
68. "''Unanimous Night'' by Michael Brennan". Austlit.
69. "''The Balcony'' by David Brooks". National Library of Australia.
70. "''Skin Painting'' by Elizabeth Hodgson". National Library of Australia.
71. "''Aria'' by Sarah Holland-Batt". National Library of Australia.
72. "''Opal Sunset: Selected Poems, 1958–2008'' by Clive James". National Library of Australia.
73. "''Divine Comedy'' by John Kinsella". National Library of Australia.
74. "''Bark'' by Anthony Lawrence". National Library of Australia.
75. "''Revolving Days'' by David Malouf". National Library of Australia.
76. "''The Best Australian Poems 2008'' edited by Peter Rose". Austlit.
77. "''On Rage'' by Germaine Greer".
78. "''Underbelly: The Gangland War'' by John Silvester and Andrew Rule". National Library of Australia.
79. "''The Costello Memoirs'' by Peter Costello". National Library of Australia.
80. "''An Exacting Heart: The Story of Hephzibah Menuhin'' by Jacqueline Kent". National Library of Australia.
81. "''A Family History of Smoking'' by Andrew Riemer". National Library of Australia.
82. "Austlit – Patrick White Award – Past Winners". Austlit.
83. Steger, Jason. (2008-08-22). "US travel memoir wins Age Book of the Year Award".
84. "ALS Gold Medal – Previous Winners". Association for the Study of Australian Literature.
85. "Colin Roderick Award – Other Winners". James Cook University.
86. ""Indie Book Awards – Winners 2012 & prior"". Australian Independent Booksellers.
87. (2009-06-09). "Kibble Literary Award".
88. ""2008 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize"". Literary Awards.
89. "ABC Fiction Award announces 2008 winner Accessed: 2008-06-28".
90. "Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature – Past Literary Award Winners".
91. Steger, Jason. (2008-08-22). "US travel memoir wins Age Book of the Year Award".
92. ""Austlit – Australian/Vogel Award 2006-2008"". Austlit.
93. ""Barbara Jefferis Award"". Australian Society of Authors.
94. (2008-06-20). "Miles Franklin Award winner 2008 – Steven Carroll". Radio National.
95. ""Prime Minister's Literary Awards – Shortlist and winners: 2021-2008"". Creative Australia.
96. ""Lost Dog wins NSW literary gong"". AAP Bulletin Wire 2, 19 May 2008.
97. ""Queensland Premier's Literary Awards - Previous Winners"". Queensland Government.
98. "Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction - 2008 Winner".
99. ""Australian Literary Awards: Western Australian Premier's"". University Libraries, University of Washington.
100. ""CBCA – Winners 2008"". CBCA.
101. ""LibraryThing: Davitt Awards 2008"". LibraryThing.
102. "2008 Ned Kelly Award Winners".
103. [http://www.writers.asn.au/uploads/file/pdf/FAW2008AwardsResults.pdf 2008 National Literary Awards Results] {{webarchive. link. (13 October 2009)
104. "Austlit – Grace Leven Poetry prize (2008-2012)". Austlit.
105. "Mary Gilmore Award".
106. ""Patrick White Playwrights' Award – Past Winners"". Sydney Theatre Company.
107. ""National Biography Award – Past Winners"". State Library of NSW.
108. "Nancy Phelan (1913-2008)". Austlit.
109. "Alan Collins (1928-2008)". Austlit.
110. "John Button (1933-2008)". The University of Queensland.
111. "Pamela Bone (1940-2008)". Austlit.
112. "John Hooker (1932-2008)". Austlit.
113. "Justina Williams (1916-2008)". The University of Queensland.
114. "Patricia Rolfe (1920-2008)". Austlit.
115. "Eleanor Spence (1928-2008)". The University of Queensland.
116. "Jacob G. Rosenberg (1922-2008)". The University of Queensland.
117. "Ivan Southall (1921-2008)". The University of Queensland.
118. "Dorothy Porter (1954-2008)". The University of Queensland.