Nikesh Shukla is a writer of fiction and television and host of the Subaltern podcast. His debut novel, Coconut Unlimited was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award 2010 and longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize 2011. Meatspace is his second novel.
Bellies (2023) Nicola Dinan "Bellies is a sumptuous, powerful novel, about the self, about food, about relationships but ultimately about finding yourself in a complicated world."
Rosewater (2023) Liv Little "Rosewater is a confident debut, brimming with ideas and bursting with heart . . . I am in awe."
The Things That We Lost (2023) Jyoti Patel "An assured debut from a vital new voice. About family, grief and belonging, Patel weaves an intricate story that will stay with you."
there are more things (2022) Yara Rodrigues Fowler "An empowering, lyrical and radical book about friendship, protest movements, community and the power of standing up for what you believe in. Yara once again rips up what we consider to be a novel and pushes the form forward in an exciting and readable way."
How to Kidnap the Rich (2021) Rahul Raina "Brutally funny and fast-paced, this debut from Rahul Raina proves he is a star in the making."
Kololo Hill (2021) Neema Shah "An impressive, confident debut about family and survival, against the backdrop of a history that is not written about often enough."
Diary of a Film (2021) Niven Govinden "A wonderful mediation on why we tell stories, and who gets to tell those stories - and the grief of your masterpiece belonging only to its audience once it's finished. Sentence by sentence, one of the most beautiful novels I've read all year."
A River Called Time (2021) Courttia Newland "A master storyteller returns with this piece of astonishing speculative fiction, interrogating social inequality, the complexities of truth and the very essence of what it is to be human, all in Newland's precise and powerful prose."
Open Water (2021) Caleb Azumah Nelson "Open Water is a beautifully, delicately written novel about love, for self and others, about being seen, about vulnerability and mental health. Sentence by sentence, it oozes longing and grace. Caleb is a star in the making."
Mrs Death Misses Death (2021) Salena Godden "A rhythmic and powerful poetic meditation on death, life and love and the hidden mysteries of the universe; both playful and sombre, hilarious and human."
Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line (2020) Deepa Anappara "Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line is a moving and confident novel about the preciousness of life. The storytelling is distinctive and immersive."
This Green and Pleasant Land (2019) Ayisha Malik "In her strongest novel to date, Ayisha Malik finds the humour and humanity in the interplay between faith and family. Epic."
Girl, Woman, Other (2019) Bernardine Evaristo "Once again, Bernardine Evaristo reminds us she is one of Britain’s best writers, an iconic and unique voice, filled with warmth, subtly and humanity. Girl, Woman, Other is an exceptional work, presenting an alternative history of Britain and a dissection of modern Britain that is witty, exhilarating and wise."
Muscle (2019) Alan Trotter "A dazzling, muscular debut that is as gritty as it is absurd. Muscle manages to surprise at every turn."
I Still Dream (2018) J P Smythe "This is a visionary novel about what it is to be human. It is a startling look at intelligence, empathy and grief in the face of technology. Smythe has written his masterpiece."
