1998 in Australian literature


This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 1998.

Events

Major publications

Novels

Short story anthologies

Science fiction and fantasy

Crime & mystery

Children's and young adult fiction

Poetry

Drama

Non-fiction

Awards and honours

  • John Harber Phillips "for service to the law, the administration of justice, law reform and education as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, and for his contributions to literature, the visual arts and the community"
  • John R. Philip "for service to the science of hydrology, to scientific communication in promoting the interests of science for the community, and the Australian culture through architecture and literature"
  • Anne Fairbairn "for service to Australian literature as a poet and to international relations, particularly between Australia and the Middle East through translations of poetry and cultural exchanges"
  • A. W. Martin "for service in the field of Australian historiography as a teacher and scholar, and biographer and as foundation professor of the History Department at La Trobe University"
  • Elizabeth Burchill "for service to nursing, particularly as an historian, author and philanthropist"
  • Michael Noonan "for service to the arts as an author of numerous novels, works of non-fiction, television scripts and plays"

Fiction

International

AwardCategoryAuthorTitlePublisher
Commonwealth Writers' PrizeBest Novel, SE Asia and South Pacific regionPeter CareyJack MaggsUniversity of Queensland Press
Commonwealth Writers' PrizeBest First Novel, SE Asia and South Pacific regionEmma TomDeadsetRandom House
Commonwealth Writers' PrizeBest Overall NovelPeter CareyJack MaggsUniversity of Queensland Press

Poetry

AwardAuthorTitlePublisher
Adelaide Festival Awards for LiteraturePeter BoyleThe Blue Cloud of CryingHale and Ironmonger
The Age Book of the Year AwardJohn KinsellaThe Hunt and Other PoemsFremantle Press
Anne Elder AwardAmanda StewartI/T: Selected Poems 1980-1996Here and There Books
Anne Elder AwardJane WilliamsOutside Temple BoundariesFive Islands Press
Grace Leven Prize for PoetryNot awarded
Mary Gilmore AwardEmma LewThe Wild ReplyBlack Pepper Publishing
New South Wales Premier's Literary AwardsNot awarded
Victorian Premier's Literary AwardsCoral HullBroken LandFive Islands Press
Western Australian Premier's Book AwardsFay ZwickyThe Gatekeeper's WifeBrandl & Schlesinger
Western Australian Premier's Book AwardsJohn KinsellaThe HuntFremantle Arts Centre Press

Drama

AwardCategoryAuthorTitle
New South Wales Premier's Literary AwardsFilmScriptNot awarded
New South Wales Premier's Literary AwardsPlayNot awarded
Victorian Premier's Literary AwardsDramaDaniel KeeneEvery Minute, Every Hour, Every Day

Deaths

A list, ordered by date of death of deaths in 1998 of Australian literary figures, authors of written works or literature-related individuals follows, including year of birth.