The 2024 Booker Prize shortlist, announced on Monday, features five female authors out of six finalists, a record in the prize's 55-year history. The shortlisted novels encompass diverse themes, including a reimagining of Mark Twain's 'Huckleberry Finn,' a space-based narrative, a spy thriller, and a post-Holocaust queer love story. Percival Everett and Rachel Kushner, both previous Booker finalists, are among the contenders, with Everett's 'James' and Kushner's 'Creation Lake' being notable highlights. The other finalists are Samantha Harvey's 'Orbital,' Anne Michaels' 'Held,' Charlotte Wood's 'Stone Yard Devotional,' and Yael van der Wouden's 'The Safekeep.' The winner, who will receive £50,000, will be announced on November 12. Judges emphasized that the selections were based on merit, despite the notable gender representation shift.