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British author M John Harrison has won the 2026 Booker Prize for his novel The End of Everything, which explores contemporary concerns surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) and portrays a dystopian future Britain.
The 81-year-old writer received the prestigious award at a ceremony in London on Monday (November 9). He was awarded £50,000 (approximately $67,000), becoming the oldest-ever winner in the history of the Booker Prize.
The novel, Harrison’s 13th, centres on Philip Tennant and his aunt Marnie, who suffers from dementia. Set in a near-future coastal region of England, the story revolves around the mysterious appearance of objects known as “Igeti”, which can imitate human behaviour, raising questions about the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence.
The novel also depicts a strange post-apocalyptic Europe following an unexplained catastrophe. It touches on Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic and the growing influence of technology on everyday life.
Mary Beard, chair of the Booker Prize judging panel, said the novel stood out from the other shortlisted works for its exceptional writing and breadth of subject matter. She noted that it uses a futuristic narrative to explore contemporary politics and crises.
Harrison beat five other shortlisted authors, including Marlon James, Douglas Stuart, Elizabeth Strout, Luke Kennard and Rebecca Perry, to claim the award. The shortlist was selected from an initial field of 163 novels.
Speaking about his work, Harrison said its themes and satirical elements were drawn from contemporary events. He sought to explore how people continue with their lives as attempts to understand the world turn into successive crises.
Born in Rugby, England, in 1945, Harrison is a renowned writer of science fiction. His notable works include the Viriconium series and Light.
Artificial intelligence also featured prominently in discussions surrounding this year’s Booker Prize judging process. Beard said the publishing industry could not avoid debating the future role of AI in writing and publishing.
Last year, British-Hungarian author David Szalay won the Booker Prize for his novel Flesh.