1987 in Australian literature

This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1987.

Events

Glenda Adams won the 1987 Miles Franklin Award for Dancing on Coral

Major publications

Novels Glenda Adams — Dancing on Coral Murray Bail — Holden's Performance Sumner Locke Elliott — Waiting for Childhood Barbara Hanrahan — Kewpie Doll Nicholas Hasluck — Truant State David Ireland — Bloodfather Nicholas Jose — Paper Nautilus Thomas Keneally — The Playmaker Olga Masters — Amy's Children Colleen McCullough — The Ladies of Missalonghi Boyd Oxlade — Death in Brunswick Nancy Phelan — Home is the Sailor Eric Willmot — Pemulwuy, the Rainbow Warrior

Short stories Jessica Anderson — Stories from the Warm Zone Thea Astley — It's Raining in Mango Julie Lewis — The Walls of Jericho: Stories John Sligo — Final Things Patrick White — Three Uneasy Pieces

Children's and young adult fiction John Marsden — So Much to Tell You

Science fiction and fantasy

Greg Egan – "Neighbourhood Watch" Isobelle Carmody — Obernewtyn George Turner — The Sea and Summer

Crime and mystery Jon Cleary — Dragons at the Party Peter Corris — The January Zone Jennifer Rowe — Grim Pickings

Poetry Judith Beveridge — The Domesticity of Giraffes Dorothy Hewett — Alice in Wormland Les Murray— The Daylight Moon Elizabeth Riddell — Occasions of Birds and Other Poems

Drama Dorothy Hewett — Me and the Man in the Moon David Malouf — Blood Relations Wendy Richardson — Windy Gully David Williamson — Emerald City

Non-fiction Brian Matthews — Louisa Sally Morgan — My Place

Awards and honours Rosemary Dobson , for "service to literature, particularly in the field of poetry" David Malouf , for "service to literature" Peter Cowan (writer) , for "service to Australian literature" Ruth Park , for "service to literature" Rica Erickson , for "service to the arts, particularly as an author and illustrator

Lifetime achievement Award Author Christopher Brennan Award Not awarded Patrick White Award William Hart-Smith

Literary Award Author Title Publisher The Age Book of the Year Award Jessica Anderson Stories from the Warm Zone Penguin ALS Gold Medal Alan Wearne The Nightmarkets Penguin Colin Roderick Award Nancy Phelan Home is the Sailor and the Best of Intentions Hyland House

Fiction International

Award Category Author Title Publisher Commonwealth Writers' Prize Best Novel, SE Asia and South Pacific region Blanche d'Alpuget Winter in Jerusalem Heinemann

National

Award Author Title Publisher Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature Not awarded The Age Book of the Year Award Jessica Anderson Stories from the Warm Zone Penguin The Australian/Vogel Literary Award Jim Sakkas Ilias Allen and Unwin Miles Franklin Award Glenda Adams Dancing on Coral Viking Press New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Glenda Adams Dancing on Coral Viking Press Victorian Premier's Literary Awards Janine Burke Second Sight Greenhouse Publications Western Australian Premier's Book Awards Joan London Sister Ships Fremantle Arts Centre Press

Children and Young Adult Award Category Author Title Publisher Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature Children's Not awarded Children's Book of the Year Award Older Readers Simon French All We Know Angus and Robertson Picture Book Junko Morimoto, translated by Isao Morimoto Kojuro and the Bears Random House New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Young People's Literature Nan Hunt and Betina Ogden A Rabbit Named Harris William Collins

Science fiction and fantasy Award Category Author Title Publisher Australian SF Achievement Award Best Australian Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel Keith Taylor Bard III: The Wild Sea Berkley Publishing Best Australian Science Fiction or Fantasy Short Fiction Terry Dowling "The Man Who Lost Red" MirrorDanse Books

Poetry

Award Author Title Publisher Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature Not awarded Anne Elder Award Sarah Day A Hunger to be Less Serious Angus & Robertson Grace Leven Prize for Poetry Elizabeth Riddell Occasions of Birds and Other Poems Brindabella Press Mary Gilmore Award Jan Owen Boy with Telescope Angus & Robertson New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Philip Hodgins Blood and Bone Angus & Robertson Victorian Premier's Literary Awards Lily Brett The Auschwitz Poems Scribe

Drama

Award Category Author TitleNew South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Film Script David Parker Malcolm Television Script Helen Garner Two Friends Play David Malouf Blood Relations Victorian Premier's Literary Awards Drama Ben Lewin A Matter of Convenience

Non-fiction Award Author Title Publisher Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature Not awarded The Age Book of the Year Award Robert Hughes The Fatal Shore Knopf New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Patrick O'Farrell The Irish In Australia University of New South Wales Press Victorian Premier's Literary Awards Hugh Stretton Political Essays

Deaths A list, ordered by date of death (and, if the date is either unspecified or repeated, ordered alphabetically by surname) of deaths in 1987 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of birth.

3 March — Cyril Pearl, Australian journalist, editor, author, social historian, wit and television personality (born 1904) 18 April — Kenneth Cook, Australian journalist, television documentary maker and novelist (born 1929) 8 May — Marjorie Barnard, Australia novelist and short story writer, critic, historian and librarian (born 1897) 24 May — Robert D. Fitzgerald, poet (born 1902) 3 July — Grace Perry, poet, playwright, and founder and editor of the South Head Press (born 1927) 17 December — Lucy Walker, romance novelist (born 1907)

See also

1987 in Australia 1987 in literature 1987 in poetry List of years in literature List of years in Australian literature

References