The six books that make up the 2024 Stella Prize shortlist are urgent, necessary and vital.

These six outstanding books cover a broad range of subjects – from chronic pain, mental health and self-discovery, to climate change and the meat industry.

The 2024 shortlist offers readers six different visions of the world, each told from a unique point of view and characterised by its exquisite and generous use of language.

Beejay Silcox says of the 2024 Stella Prize shortlist: “All of life and death is here in these pages: illness, madness, love, sex, slaughter, parenthood, sovereignty, climate, Country. But none of the books on this shortlist tell readers what to think. They do not hector, lecture or preach. Rather, they open spaces for doubt and self-examination; for disagreement and camaraderie; for rage, absurdity and exultation; for the grotesque and the gorgeous. They invite us in. And they trust us to make up our own minds. This is the quality that distinguished them in the judging room: their mighty generosity.”

The full list in alphabetical order by author surname:

The Swift Dark Tide by Katia Ariel
Body Friend by Katherine Brabon
Feast by Emily O’Grady
Hospital by Sanya Rushdi (Translated by Arunava Sinha)
Abandon Every Hope: Essays for the Dead by Hayley Singer
Praiseworthy by Alexis Wright

Each of the six shortlisted authors received $4,000 thanks to the Stella Forever Fund.

The 2024 Stella Prize winner will be announced on Thursday 2 May at State Library Victoria and online via our YouTube channel.

The 2024 Stella Prize judges are Beejay Silcox (Chair), Eleanor Jackson, Cheryl Leavy, Bram Presser and Dr Yves Rees.