In a historic move, veteran British author M. John Harrison, 81, became the oldest recipient ever to win the prestigious Booker Prize this year for his groundbreaking dystopian novel, 'The End of Everything'. The novel, which explores the collapse of society in the aftermath of a catastrophic event, marked a significant shift in the literary world, as it is Harrison's first foray into the Booker Prize and represents the first time a science fiction author has claimed the award. The ceremony took place at London's Old Billingsgate on November 9, 2026, with every judge casting their vote for Harrison, praising his dark humor, wild imagination, and glimmers of optimism that cut through the gloom. Harrison outshone other heavyweights like Douglas Stuart and Marlon James, previous winners, in a win that has blurred the lines between literary and genre fiction. Born in Rugby, Warwickshire in 1945, Harrison is a versatile writer known for his blend of speculative fiction with psychology and social critique. His writing style challenges readers to question everything and feel a little lost, and his work has earned him several awards, including the Boardman Tasker Prize, the Arthur C. Clarke Award, and the Goldsmiths Prize. 'The End of Everything', published by Serpent's Tail, is set on England's southeastern coast in the ruins of a future society, with Phillip Tennent, a scavenger living with his elderly aunt Marnie, at its center. The novel is a wild mix of dystopia, satire, speculative drama, and social critique, and has been praised for its brevity, with just 198 pages making up the shortest book on the Booker shortlist that year. Harrison's win marks a significant moment in the history of the Booker Prize, as it breaks new ground in terms of genre and age, and signals a shift towards greater recognition for science fiction in mainstream literature.