The National Book Council is hereby releasing the National Book Prize 2018 Shortlist for books published in 2017. The Adjudication Board communicated the choice of finalists yesterday during a formal meeting at the NBC premises. The selection process started on 11 May with a total of 172 entries, out of which 40 have been shortlisted – 25 for the National Book Prize and 15 for the Terramaxka Prize. Two of the shortlisted novels are debut novels by well-known local poets: Ir-rota daret dawra (kważi) sħiħa by Nadia Mifsud and Tħabbat Xtaqtek by Gioele Galea.
The Adjudication Board will now be selecting the winners of the Book Prize for each separate category in both adult literature (National Book Prize) and children’s literature (Terramaxka Prize). The winners of the Terramaxka Prize will be announced on Tuesday 6 November at the official opening of the Malta Book Festival 2018 (Sir Temi Zammit Hall, MCC, Valletta). The winners of the National Book Prize will be announced on 30 November during the award-giving ceremony, which will be held at Auberge de Castille under the patronage of the Prime Minister.
National Book Prize 2018: shortlist
Novels in Maltese and English
| Title of book | Author/Editor | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Ir-rota daret dawra (kważi) sħiħa | Nadia Mifsud | Merlin Publishers |
| Kapitali | Wayne Flask | Merlin Publishers |
| Rokit | Loranne Vella | Merlin Publishers |
| Love in the time of the Inquisition | Lou Drofenik | Horizons |
| It-Tawmaturgu: il-ħmura ta' filgħaxija | Mark Anthony Fenech | Horizons |
| L-Iżvijati | Walid Nabhan | Klabb Kotba Maltin |
| Tħabbat xtaqtek: djarju mill-eremitaġġ | Gioele Galea | Horizons |
| It-Taàr: Distopja, l-ewwel ktieb | John A. Bonello | Serafin Books |
Poetry in Maltese and English
| Title of book | Author/Editor | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Ġenesi: Poeżiji 2007-2016 | Achille Mizzi | Horizons |
| Xewqat tal-passa: Poeżiji 2008-2016 | John P. Portelli | Horizons |
| Erbgħin jum | Antoine Cassar | EDE Books |
General Research
| Title of book | Author/Editor | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Woven Splendour: The Tapestries of the Conventual Church of the Knights of Malta | Cyntia de Giorgio | Midsea Books |
| Birds of the Maltese Islands (Nature Guide Series) | Natalino Fenech | BDL |
| Gozo and the Grand Tour | Thomas Freller | Midsea Books |
| Kaxxa infernali: dizzjunarju tal-logħob tan-nar b'iktar minn 1200 terminu | Carlston Grima | Klabb Kotba Maltin |
| Spiritual Direction with the Divine Milieu: Insights of Pierre Teilhard du Chardin | Mary Anne Sultana | |
| Curtain Up! | Paul Xuereb | Midsea Books |
Biographical and Historiographic Research
| Title of book | Author/Editor | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| L-istorja tal-Partit Laburista | Francis Galea | SKS Publishers |
| Ritratti ta' tfuliti | Reno Muscat | Faraxa Publishers |
| ''Kollni kemm jien għalikom'': Il-ħajja mqanqla ta' Mikiel Gonzi u żminjietna (1885-1984) | Louis Cilia | Klabb Kotba Maltin |
| A visual guide to the fortifications of Malta | Stephen C. Spiteri | BDL |
| Minn fomm il-poplu by Guido Lanfranco | Guido Lanfranco | Klabb Kotba Maltin |
| Il-Maltin: għemilhom, drawwiethom, ġrajjiethom: L-evwwel volum | Steve Borg | Klabb Kotba Maltin |
| Sal-quċċata tal-Everest | Marco Cremona and Glen Calleja | Merlin Publishers |
| Birżebbuġa...storja u kultura | Conrad D'Amato and Matthew Balzan | Għaqda Storja u Kultura Birżebbuġa |
Terramaxka 2018: books published in 2017
Original works: books for children (ages 0-7)
| Title of book | Author/Editor | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Imeldina u l-uċuħ | Sandra Hili Vassallo | Merlin Publishers |
| Ġanni jżur Londra | Sherise Zammit | Merlin Publishers |
| Is-sinjura Klaws | Clare Azzopardi | Merlin Publishers |
| Mamà, allura din imħabba? | Moira Scicluna Zahra and Mark Scicluna | Merlin Publishers |
| Dar ġdida għal Ġużi | Clare Azzopardi and Rachel Portelli | Merlin Publishers |
| Super Nina | Clare Azzopardi and Rachel Portelli | Merlin Publishers |
| We're the New Superheroes | Sabrina Mulligan | Faraxa Publishers |
Original works: books for children (ages 8-12)
| Title of book | Author/Editor | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Jissokta l-Każ tal-Aħwa ta' Saver u Ludmilla de Molizz | Clare Azzopardi | Merlin Publishers |
| Il-vjaġġaturi taż-żmien | Simone Spiteri | Merlin Publishers |
| Il-misteru tal-għoġol tad-deheb | Ruth Frendo | Pro Motion |
Original works: books for adoloscents (ages 13-16)
| Title of book | Author/Editor | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Jarmuk | Stephen Lughermo | Horizons |
| F'Xatt id-Destin | Ivan De Battista | BDL |
Books translated into Maltese (ages 0-7)
| Title of book | Author/Editor | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Kukkużejt | Rachel Portelli | Merlin Publishers |
| Babù: il-ħuta-buffu | Clare Azzopardi | Merlin Publishers |
| Magni taż-żmien | Claudia Gauci | Merlin Publishers |
Books translated into Maltese (ages 8-12)
| Title of book | Author/Editor | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Il-Kulleġġ għall-Prinċipijiet Perfetti | Noel Tanti | Merlin Publishers |
