Finalists of Saba Literary Award 2021 Revealed

The list of finalists of the Saba Literary Prize 2021 was announced on June 28.

This year the jury revealed the best books and authors in 9 nominations:

• The Best Novel
• The Best Poetry Collection
• The Best Prose Collection
• The Best Play
• Best Literary Criticism
• Best Literary Debut
• Best Essays and Documentary Prose
• The Best Georgian Translation of a Foreign Work
• Special Contribution to the Development of Literature.

This year this competition is held for the 19th time. The organizers say the jury reviewed 260 books during this year’s competition and revealed the list of finalists in 7 nominations. The names of the finalists for the “Best Georgian Translation of a Foreign Work” nomination will be announced at the end of July, while the winner of the nomination “Special Contribution to the Development of Literature” will be announced at a traditional award ceremony.

1. Best Literary Debut of the Year
   Irine Tabagua, “Telepa Sheep” (Intellect)
   Nana Abuladze, “Akumi” (Intellect)
   Kakhaber Melitauri, “Journey Between the Flakes” (Nodar Dumbadze Publishing House and Literary Agency)
   Nikoloz Tsiskarishvili, “Firefighter” (Palitra L)
   Natia Abramishvili, Primo Levi’s “Periodic Table” (Diogenes)
2. Best Literary Criticism of the Year
   Nana Trapaidze, “Literature on Literature” (Batumi State University Publishing House)
   Nino Dianosashvili, “Crazy Madness or Mad Craziness ?! Lysamania in the tragedies of Euripides: “Bakki Women”, “Heracles”, “Orestes” (Logos)
   Giorgi Kakabadze, “What I Want to Say!” (Pegasus)
   Levan Bregadze, “Postmodernism in Georgian Literature” (Artanuji)
3. Best Play of the Year:
   Lasha Bugadze, Antimedea (Artanuji)
   Paata Tsikolia, “Medea s01e06” (saba.com.ge)
4. Best Essays and Documentary Prose of the Year:
   Archil Kikodze, Norwegian Diary (Sulakauri Publishing House)
   Bidzina Makashvili, “Funny Music in a Sad Era or Blues on the Edge of the Mtkvari” (Sulakauri Publishing House)
   Mariam Khutsurauli, “Salt to Taste” (Palitra L)
   Gigi Khornauli, “Life of Vazha-Pshavela” (Mtsignobari)
   Giorgi Lobzhanidze, “From My Windows” (Artanuji)
   Gela Charkviani, “ENGLISH – How I Learned and How I Teached” (Artanuji)
   Khaso Khangoshvili, “Kists (100 Stories)” (Artanuji)
5. Best Prose Collection of the Year:
   Rusudan Rukhadze, “The Weight of Love” (Intellect)
   Giorgi Sosiashvili, “Four Stories” (Gori University Publishing House)
   Aleko Shughladze, “Labyrinth for Manuel” (Palitra L)
6. Best Poetry Collection of the Year:
   Nugzar Zazanashvili, “Go Go Go Go Go” (Intellect)
   Tea Topuria, “Why do not Dogs Meet in Heaven?” (Saba.com.ge)
   Besik Kharanauli, “Eh, Besarion” (Intellect)
   Eka Kevanishvili, “Transport of the Poor Will Stop Nowhere” (Intellect)
   Natia Giorgadze, “Sound Train” (Intellect)
   Bela Chekurishvili, “Nana’s Horse” (Intellect)
7. Best Novel of the Year:
   Tamta Melashvili, “Shashvi Shashvi Makvali” (Sulakauri Publishing House)
   Ekaterine Togonidze, “Shin-Shen” (Sulakauri Publishing House)
   Iva Fezuashvili, “Bunker” (Intellect)
   Shota Iatashvili, “Beginner” (Palitra L)

Saba Literary Competition was founded by TBC and poet Rati Amaglobeli in 2002 to reveal and award the best local authors and works.

By Ana Dumbadze