Man Booker finalists announced

LONDON, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Six authors from three continents were named to the short list Tuesday for the Man Booker Prize literary award, the committee announced in London.

"It's been a great privilege and an exciting challenge for us to reduce our long list of 13 to this short list of six outstandingly good novels," Andrew Motion, chairman of the judging committee, said in a release. "In doing so, we feel sure we've chosen books which demonstrate a rich variety of styles and themes -- while in every case providing deep individual pleasures."

The nominees are:

-- Peter Carey, Australia, "Parrot and Olivier in America," a two-time Man Booker award winner.

-- Emma Donoghue, Ireland, "Room," at 40, the youngest author on the list.

-- Damon Galgut, South Africa, "In a Strange Room," who was on the short list in 2003.

-- Howard Jacobson, Britain, "The Finkler," making his first appearance on the short list after being on the long list twice

-- Andrea Levy, Britain, "The Long Song."

-- Tom McCarthy, Britain, "C."

The winner, who receives a cash prize of nearly $77,000, will be announced Oct. 12.