Murakami Withdraws from The Alternative Nobel Prize in Literature

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From BookRiot:

Japanese author Haruki Murakami has asked to withdraw his nomination as one of the four finalists for The New Academy Prize in Literature, also known as the alternative Nobel Prize in Literature.

According to The New Academy’s press release, Murakami is deeply honored by the nomination; however, he wishes to withdraw to focus on his writing and avoid the distraction that the media attention will bring.

The jury of The New Academy will continue its work to appoint a winner from the remaining three finalists–Maryse Condé, Neil Gaiman, and Kim Thúy, who all have expressed their enthusiasm over being nominated.

. . . .

The New Academy is a Swedish non-profit organization founded in the spring of 2018 in response to the Swedish Academy postponing the 2018 Nobel Prize in Literature because of the many scandals that erupted earlier this year. The New Academy is not affiliated with either the Swedish Academy or the Nobel Foundation.

Link to the rest at BookRiot

PG wonders if it was wise for The New Academy Prize in Literature to announce that one of its prize nominees had declined to participate in the prize business.

Had anyone asked PG whether a startup prize company should issue a press release announcing that someone famous had refused in advance to receive a prize, PG would probably have suggested that the PR team find another subject.

Why might Murakami have taken this step?

Answers could include:

  • The flight from Tokyo to Stockholm has to be a killer.
  • On the date of the prize ceremony, December 10, the beaches of Thailand might be more appealing than the shores of the Baltic.
  • Can a literary prize that is funding a “Gala Dinner and Prize Ceremony” with a Kickstarter campaign be all that prestigious?

Or Murakami might have visited the New Academy’s website:

The New Academy is a non-profit organization, politically and financially independent. It consists of a wide range of knowledgeable individuals. The New Academy works within the time frame of the Swedish Academy and in five different committees.

. . . .

The New Academy will be dissolved in December.

While the lure of “five different committees” comprised of “knowledgeable individuals” is powerful, PG hereby respectfully declines to be nominated for a quasi-Nobel Prize for Champerty, Maintenance and Barratry.

9 thoughts on “Murakami Withdraws from The Alternative Nobel Prize in Literature”

  1. The word “Alternative” says it all. Do you want to get an Alternative Nobel Prize? Not the real thing? Hmm… Adjective matters LOL.

  2. In the fine print it’s a BYOB event. (Bring Your Own Bottle 😉 )

    Sounds too much like one of those book signing things that expect the writer to waste their time (and far too often their money) on.

    “Had anyone asked PG whether a startup prize company should issue a press release announcing that someone famous had refused in advance to receive a prize, PG would probably have suggested that the PR team find another subject.”

    As to why they they did, I’m betting that their kickstarter isn’t bringing in the money they hoped for/needed, so anything that puts them back in the public eye they think/hope might help. (Even someone saying: ‘Go away kid – you’re bothering me.’ – I hope I’m not the only one here that remembers W. C. Fields – gee, now I’m hoping I remembered the right name! 😛 )

  3. Myself, I would not use the name of a disgraced “prize” in my new competition. Note that the Dragon does not reference (in their own materials) the Hugo.

    (BTW, PG, thanks for the new words. I knew “barratry” but was not familiar with “champerty” or the alternative “maintenance.”)

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