Booker snubs Amis, again

Martin Amis has been snubbed by the Booker Prize judges after his first novel for five years, Yellow Dog, was today left out of the 2003 shortlist.

Amis's last novel, the well-received Night Train, also failed to be nominated. His latest effort was four years in the writing and made the 23-book longlist, despite some scathing reviews.

Monica Ali, the Londoner hailed as one of Britain's best authors even before her debut novel, Brick Lane, was published, was today included the shortlist. The 35-year-old Oxford graduate, who won a £300,000 advance after showing her publisher the first six chapters of her novel, is as hotly tipped for greatness as White Teeth author Zadie Smith was three years ago.

The other novels on the shortlist are Margaret Atwood's Oryx And Crake, Damon Galgut's The Good Doctor, Zoe Heller's Notes On A Scandal, Clare Morrall's Astonishing Splashes Of Colour and D B C Pierre's Verdon God Little.

Two other writers failing to make the cut include bookies' favourites Mark Haddon and South African J M Coetzee - both were 6/1 with Ladbrokes to win the prize. Even before today's announcement there was surprise at the omission of Pat Barker, Rose Tremain, Peter Carey, J G Ballard and Jim Crace.

Announcing the shortlist this afternoon, judges' chairman Professor John Carey said: "This is giant killer's year. Three first novels and only one big name left."

The winner will be announced on 14 October in a ceremony live on BBC2.