On the shelf

The new brat pack has been chosen. In what8217;s now a ten-yearly ritual Granta has announced the list of best young British writers. There are few surprises but two unpublished authors 8212; Monica Ali and Adam Thirlwell 8212; are unknown commodities.

1. Monica Ali, 35. Her novel Brick Lane, about a Bangladeshi family in Britain hmm, that sound so familiar! will be published in 2003.
2. Nicola Barker, 36.
3. Rachel Cusk, 35. If truth be told, her earlier novels disappointed.
4. Susan Elderkin, 34.
5. Peter Ho Davies, 36. He already commands great respect for his short stories and evocations of changing kinship.
6. Philip Hensher, 37. The post-9/11 focus on Afghanistan did help, but The Mulberry Empire would have charmed in any case.
7. A.L. Kennedy, 37. She was on the list in 1993, and she8217;s back again. Great, at least this is one feat Zadie Smith won8217;t be able to swing for at least another decade.
8. Hari Kunzru, 33. The Impressionist got more pre than post-publication publicity. But never mind, he managed to announce his talent.
9. Toby Litt, 34.
10. David Mitchell, 33. His second novel number9dream, an unsettling tale set in modern Japan, was unlucky to have missed out on the Booker, though it was nominated.
11. Andrew O8217;Hagan, 34. After dwelling on Scotland8217;s troubles, his second novel will inquire into fame.
12. David Peace, 35.
13. Dan Rhodes, 30. He first recounted 101 stories, each in 101 words. We are just waiting to check out how many words long Timoleon Vieta Come Home, his novel, will be.
14. Ben Rice, 30
15. Rachel Seiffert, 31. Her novel The Dark Room explored how ordinary folks dealt with guilt in war-time Germany and masterfully avoided any cliches.
16. Zadie Smith, 27. Well, well.
17. Adam Thirlwell, 25. Unpublished and on the list!
18. Alan Warner, 38.
19. Sarah Waters, 36. Fingersmith narrowly missed out on the Booker last year.
20. Robert McLiam Wilson, 38.