Read the PEN/Bingham Finalists for Best Debut Fiction

The PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize honors an exceptionally talented fiction writer whose debut work—a novel or collection of short stories—represents distinguished literary achievement and suggests great promise. The winner receives a cash award of $25,000, a stipend intended to permit a significant degree of leisure in which to pursue a second work of literary fiction. 

The winner will be announced Monday, June 8th at the PEN Literary Awards Ceremony, followed by a reception at The New School’s Theresa Lang Center, 55 W. 13th Street, at 8pm (open to the public, tickets available here).

“Retrospective” by Molly Antopol

From The Un-Americans

Ruby (an excerpt) by Cynthia Bond

“Frago” by Phil Klay

From Redeployment

“Mountain of Swords, Sea of Fire” by Jack Livings

From The Dog

Love Me Back (an excerpt) by Merrit Tierce