Overview
- A seven‑member jury reviewed 205 eligible novels and on Tuesday cut a 20‑book longlist to six finalists now competing for the Deutscher Buchpreis.
- The shortlisted books are Shida Bazyar (Die Lücken), Franziska Gänsler (Orca), Valeria Gordeev (Die Zikade entschlüpft ihrer goldglänzenden Hülle), Elias Hirschl (Schleifen), Peggy Mädler (Selbstregulierung des Herzens) and Dana Vowinckel (Anton und Alma).
- The jury praised the list for its linguistic inventiveness and range of themes, and coverage notes the shortlist includes five women, one man and a single debut by Valeria Gordeev.
- The selection has been accompanied by controversy over juror Maha El Hissy’s appointment, which critics have challenged while the Börsenverein has publicly defended her role.
- Separately, public broadcasters and trade outlets reported a fraud scheme that sent fake media‑invitation emails to authors; MDR filed a police complaint and prosecutors are investigating while the prize winner will be announced on 5 October in Frankfurt.