The PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Short Story Collection is awarded by the PEN America (formerly PEN American Center) "to exceptionally talented fiction writers whose debut work — a first novel or collection of short stories ... represent distinguished literary achievement and suggests great promise." The winner is selected by a panel of PEN Members made up of three writers or editors. The PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize was originally named the PEN/Robert Bingham Fellowship for Writers. The prize awards the debut writer a cash award of US$25,000.
The PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize was established in memory of Robert W. Bingham, who died in 1999 at the age of 33, to commemorate his support of young writers, his love of literature, and his contribution to literary fiction.
The award is one of many PEN awards sponsored by International PEN affiliates in over 145 PEN centres around the world. The PEN American Center awards have been characterized as being among the "major" American literary prizes.
Award winners
+PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize winners and finalistsYearAuthorTitleResultRef.2002Winner Sam the Cat and Other StoriesWinner Winner2004 Everything Is IlluminatedWinnerThe King's EvilWinner Winner2006 We're in TroubleWinner2007Winner2008 Winner2009 KnockemstiffWinner2010 TinkersWinner2011 StiltsvilleWinner Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool SelfWinnerKapitoilRunner-up2012 ZazenWinnerBen LernerLeaving the Atocha StationRunner-up 2013WinnerWiley CashShortlistedJac JemcMy Only WifeShortlistedLucia PerilloHappiness Is a Chemical in the BrainShortlistedClaire Vaye WatkinsBattlebornShortlisted2014 Godforsaken IdahoWinnerA Constellation of Vital PhenomenaShortlistedBrief Encounters with the EnemyShortlistedEverybody's IrishShortlistedThe People in the TreesShortlistedLouise AronsonA History of the Present IllnessLonglistedJim GavinMiddle MenLonglistedAlan GrostephanBogotá LonglistedChristopher HackerThe MorelsLonglistedPaul RomeWe All Sleep in the Same RoomLonglisted2015 Winner2016 In the Country: StoriesWinnerMr. and Mrs. DoctorFinalistFinalist Mayumi and the Sea of HappinessFinalistThe SympathizerFinalist2017Insurrections: StoriesWinnerWe Show What We Have Learned FinalistFinalistHomegoingFinalistHurt People Finalist2018 Sour HeartWinnerSonoraFinalistBlack Jesus and Other Superheroes: Stories FinalistHistory of Wolves FinalistHer Body and Other Parties: StoriesFinalist2019 Bring Out the DogWinnerWhite Dancing ElephantsFinalistFinalistSome TrickFinalistHalf GodsFinalist2020 Last of Her NameWinner2021 Further News of Defeat: StoresWinnerAlligator & Other StoriesFinalistMiriam CohenAdults and Other Children: StoriesFinalistYou Will Never Be ForgottenFinalistShruti SwamyA House Is a Body: StoriesFinalist2022Yoon Choi SkinshipWinnerEat the Mouth That Feeds YouFinalistMilk Blood HeatFinalistObjects of Desire: StoriesFinalistGive My Love to the Savages: StoriesFinalist2023Night of the Living RezWinnerSeeking Fortune ElsewhereFinalistFinalistFinalistManywhere: StoriesFinalist 2024 Aaliyah Bilal Temple Folk Finalist Stacie Shannon Denetsosie The Missing Morningstar and Other Stories Finalist Kate Doyle I Meant It Once: Stories Finalist Kenan OrhanI Am My CountryFinalistGen Del RayeBoundless Deep, and Other StoriesLonglisted Kristen Gentry Mama Said: Stories Longlisted Mai Nardone Welcome Me to the Kingdom Longlisted Ada Zhang The Sorrows of Others Longlisted Cleo Qian LET'S GO LET'S GO LET'S GO Withdrawn Ghassan Zeineddine Dearborn Withdrawn 2025Amy StuberSad GrownupsWinnerMegan HowellSoftieFinalistAnnell LópezI'll Give You a ReasonFinalistIheoma NwachukwuJapa and Other StoriesFinalistMarguerite ShefferFinalist
References
External links PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Short Story Collection