Adam Thompson's debut short story collection Born Into This shortlisted for three prestigious awards; published to acclaim in North America.

Adam Thompson’s short story collection Born Into This, published in February this year to rave reviews, and reprinted twice, has now been shortlisted for three prestigious awards.

Shortlisted for the Queensland Literary Awards University of Southern Queensland Steele Rudd Award for a Short Story Collection, Born Into This is also one of seven fiction titles shortlisted for the relaunched Age Book of the Year Award (the only collection of short stories) and one of six titles shortlisted for Readings New Australian Fiction Prize 2021.

Readings says:

Engaging and thought-provoking, this collection of short stories is set in Tasmania and filled with unforgettable characters. As an examination of masculinity, a showcase of life as a First Nations person in a specific time and place, and a reminder of what we are losing and have lost, both in the natural world and culturally, these tales are a triumph. While they might start off feeling self-contained, by the end the message is loud and clear – and it is certainly not one to be missed.

While the Queensland Literary Awards judges say of Born Into This:

Born Into This is brimming with feeling and purpose. It is a loving ode to the natural world, and a demand to bear witness to its destruction. It is a touching evocation of human connection, and a startling reminder of the cruelty we inflict on each other. A compelling debut collection made vibrant and original through Thompson’s lively voice.

At the same time Born Into This was recently published in North America by Two Dollar Radio to a rapt reception.

An American Booksellers Association Indie Next pick, the New York Times Book Review says:

A legacy of cultural destruction in Australia and the disappearance of the natural world loom over stories of Aboriginal rangers, untimely funerals and angry bees in this sharp fiction debut.

While Publisher’s Weekly says:

Thompson portrays a group of Aboriginal communities in Tasmania in his riveting debut collection... The author movingly describes their resilience, whether facing aggressive storms or the terror of colonization.

The Age Book of the Year Award is announced on 3 September, the Queensland Literary Awards on 9 September and the Readings New Australian Fiction Prize in October.