Oh Man

Edward Docx. Catherine O'Flynn. Tan Twan Eng. Never heard of them? Well they're among the authors on this year's 13-strong Man Booker longlist, called "giant-felling" by Waterstone's. Ian McEwan is one of the familiar names to make the cut, and a tenuous Indian connection is upheld by Indra Sinha (who must at last be feeling vindicated in leaving advertising) and debutante Nikita Lalwani. And let's not forget Mohsin Hamid, who's on the list as well.

(Here's Kiran Desai on the effects of winning the Booker last year: "...the greatest impact on my life is feeling I might be more eccentric in my work in the future...")