Three UK authors, two Americans and a Canadian are finalists for the Man Booker Prize for fiction.
The shortlist announced Thursday includes two first novels: U.K. poet Robin Robertson's verse novel "The Long Take" and "Everything Under" by British writer Daisy Johnson. At 27, Johnson is the youngest-ever Booker finalist.
The American finalists are Rachel Kushner's prison story "The Mars Room" and Richard Powers' tree-inspired tale "The Overstory." "Washington Black," the saga of an escaped slave by Canada's Esi Edugyan, and Troubles-set story "Milkman" by Northern Ireland writer Anna Burns round out the list.
Favourites including Canada's Michael Ondaatje didn't make the cut from the 13-novel longlist.
The winner of the 50,000 pound (USD 66,000) prize will be announced on Oct. 16 during a black-tie dinner at London's Guildhall.