Who is M John Harrison, the oldest Booker Prize winner who has voiced his support for Palestine?

M John Harrison is the oldest recipient of the prestigious Booker Prize, having been awarded for his dystopian novel The End of Everything at the age of 81. Born in 1945, Harrison is a British author who has spent six decades working across science fiction, fantasy, and literary fiction. He has previously held the title of oldest winner when he won the Booker Prize alongside Margaret Atwood in 2019.

Harrison's writing often challenges conventional genre boundaries and explores philosophical questions about identity and reality.

The End of Everything, Harrison's 13th novel, is a short story set on the Kent coast in a near-future Britain. The narrative follows Phillip Tennent, a beachcomber, and his elderly aunt Marnie, as they navigate the aftermath of an unexplained catastrophe involving shapeshifting entities known as the iGhetti. The novel, published by Serpent's Tail, explores themes of societal collapse and the struggle to comprehend an incomprehensible disaster.

Harrison's political activism extends beyond his literary achievements. In 2009, he signed an open letter calling for a boycott of Israel in response to its military offensive in Gaza. The author has also been a literary critic for various publications, including The Guardian, The Telegraph, The New York Times, and the Times Literary Supplement.

The End of Everything was chosen as the Booker Prize winner from a shortlist of six titles, beating out 163 other eligible books. The novel's short length (198 pages) and Harrison's relative inexperience with the Booker Prize did not hinder his victory. The judges praised the book for its ability to challenge readers while finding moments of humor and optimistic perspectives amidst its grim theme.

As the oldest winner in the prize's history, Harrison has gained instant international recognition and is expected to see a significant boost in sales for his work.