The winner of this year's Harpers & Queen/Orange Prize for Fiction short story competition, Sam Binnie, is 23 years old and works for Penguin. Although she has written all her life, this is the first time she has submitted her work for a competition. Read the story here; it's rather gorgeous:

http://books.guardian.co.uk/orange2005/story/0,15850,1502686,00.html

It is lovely, but her age gives her away: life ends at 45?

Also, kind of a shame she works for Penguin, which can't help it all seeming like a very small club that you have to be part of. Or, at least, it helps..

I did find that bit discouraging.

Do you think it's a coincidence that H&Q, a fashion mag, picked a story about an item of clothing?

Incidentally, I found the repetition of the dress, the dress, the dress really tedious (could just be my fractious mood)and think it would be work better as a short film.

Also, even though I agree that Angelina Jolie is attractive, I can't quite see why H&Q think she's the most beautiful woman in the world. I guess that's as subjective as voting this the best story.

Adele.





<Added>

PS thanks all the same for posting the link, Anna. It's good to know what kind of work wins prizes.

Too twee for me. (But I guess I'm not the ideal reader.)

Joe

Just because the character's life in the story ends at 40, doesn't mean a 23 can only see life going until then. 23 isn't the same as 6. Also, the winner was not employed by Penguin at the time of entry.

Also, the theme for the contest was "the Dress". Hence why the judges chose one that was themed "the Dress". You can read all three stories on Labyrinth. www.mosselabyrinth.co.uk

How old are you?

The age of a woman doesn't mean a thing. The best tunes are played on the oldest fiddles.


[Edited by david bruce at 12:27:00 on 16 June 2005
Reason: keep it friendly please!]

When I first read this 'short story' I didn't like it and felt that if this were the best example then something was amiss with the judges or with short story writers of today.

It seems to me to lack all that I would look for in a short story. As a piece of magazine writing it might well be described as original and well-written but a short story...? No, I don't think so.

Len

Don't know if it's true of this year, but the first Orange Short Story comp. asked for a photo with your entry. I thought that was a real giveaway of H&Q's angle on the whole business, and refused to enter on principle.

Emma