Out Of Africa: Nnedi Okorafor’s “Death Of The Author” Shortlisted For 2026 Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award

Goldsboro Books has unveiled the shortlist for its Glass Bell Award 2026, with Nigerian-American writer Nnedi Okorafor‘s novel Death of the Author in contention for the award.

Okorafor is up against five other authors on this year’s shortlist: Florence Knapp, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Beth Lewis, Virginia Evans, and Patrick Ryan.

“As is the case every year, narrowing this year’s long list down to just six books was no easy task. Every novel on the long list deserved its place, but these six continued to stand out each time we returned to them. They are wonderfully different in style, scope and subject, yet all share the qualities that the Glass Bell Award was created to celebrate: unforgettable characters, confident storytelling and voices that linger long after the book is finished. We’re incredibly proud to champion such an outstanding shortlist and look forward to revealing this year’s winner”, noted the Jury, commenting on the shortlist.

Okorafor is a professor of practice with the Interplanetary Initiative in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Arizona State University. She is the author of award-winning Africanfuturism and Africanjujuism titles, including dozens of novels, novellas and comics for children and adults. Her dual Nigerian and American heritage is the foundation and inspiration for much of her work. Some of her most well-known works include Who Fears Death, LaGuardia, Remote Control and Wakanda Forever. Her novella trilogy Binti is currently in development with Hulu as a TV series, in addition to film projects, books and a graphic novel.

Okorafor’s work has garnered myriad prestigious awards including a World Fantasy Award, Nebula Award, Hugo Award, Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book, Locus Award, an Eisner Award and a Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa.

Her novel Death of the Author follows Zelu, a disabled Nigerian-American writer who, after being fired and rejected by yet another publisher, channels her frustration into Rusted Robots, a science-fiction novel about warring AI factions on a post-apocalyptic Earth, a book-within-a-book that unexpectedly transforms her life and career.

Since its January 2025 release via William Morrow, the novel has been treated to significant critical acclaim. It has been named a TIME Magazine 100 Must-Read Book of 2025, and won the NAACP Image Award.

Now in its tenth year, the Glass Award recognises novels that combine compelling storytelling, unforgettable characters and a truly distinctive voice, regardless of genre. This year’s winner will take home £2,000 in prize money along with a handmade, engraved glass bell, with the decision made entirely in-house by the Goldsboro Books team. 

The winner of the 2026 Glass Bell Award will be announced on Thursday 1st October.