Sunday Times Short Story Prize Shortlist

Lesbian writer Ali Smith is a finalist for the £30,000 Sunday Times short story prize, the world's richest award for a single work of short fiction. Judge Joanna Trollope called Smith's tale "The Beholder," about a depressed woman who develops inexplicable symptoms, "a very moving one. And it is really, really beautifully written."

• Junot Diaz, "Miss Lora"

• Mark Haddon, "The Gun"

• Sarah Hall, "Evie"

• Cynan Jones, "The Dig"

• Toby Litt, "Call It 'The Bug' Because I Have No Time to Think of a Better Title" 

• Ali Smith, "The Beholder" 

The winner will be announced at the Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival next month.