Auraist: picking the best-written books of the month

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Prizelists

Auraist's best-written books of the century to date
As chosen by our contributors and the best literary Substackers
1
Auraist's best-written books of 2024
As chosen by our contributors and the best literary Substackers
3
US debut fiction: the best-written novels of the year and century
Read the opening pages of our picks below
The National Book Awards (US): the best-written work on the fiction shortlist
Plus the best-written previous winner
1
Nonfiction of the year: the best-written book on the Baillie Gifford Prize shortlist
Plus this century's best-written winner of the prize
The Booker Prize 2024: the best-written books on the shortlist
Plus the best-written previous winner of the century
The Goldsmiths Prize for innovative fiction: the best-written work on this year's shortlist
And the best-written previous winner
The best-written science book of the century
Read the opening pages of our pick below
8
The best-written imaginative novel of the year
Read the opening pages of our pick from the Ursula K. Le Guin Prize shortlist ^ Plus our first pick from the recent releases in nonfiction
 • 
Sean McNulty
5
The most beautifully scuffed prose of the decade. Maybe.
Read the opening pages of the Miles Franklin award-winner below ^ Plus Parts 32 and 33 of The Demon Inside David Lynch
 • 
Picking the best-written books
 and 
Sean McNulty
The best-written thriller of the year
Read the opening pages of our pick below ^ Plus Part 25 of The Demon Inside David Lynch
 • 
Picking the best-written books
 and 
Sean McNulty
1
The best-written horror novel of the year
Read the opening pages from our pick below ^ Plus Part 19 of The Demon Inside David Lynch
 • 
Picking the best-written books
 and 
Sean McNulty
© 2025 Sean McNulty
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