PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize


The PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Short Story Collection is awarded by the PEN America "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.
WWW pen.org/pen-bingham-prize

Award winners

YearAuthorTitleResultRef.
2002'Winner
2002Sam the Cat and Other StoriesWinner
2002'Winner
2004Everything Is IlluminatedWinner
2004The King's EvilWinner
2004'Winner
2006We're in TroubleWinner
2007'Winner
2008'Winner
2009KnockemstiffWinner
2010TinkersWinner
2011StiltsvilleWinner
2011Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool SelfWinner
2011KapitoilRunner-up
2012ZazenWinner
2012Ben LernerLeaving the Atocha StationRunner-up
2013'Winner
2013Wiley Cash'Shortlisted
2013Jac JemcMy Only WifeShortlisted
2013Lucia PerilloHappiness Is a Chemical in the BrainShortlisted
2013Claire Vaye WatkinsBattlebornShortlisted
2014Godforsaken IdahoWinner
2014A Constellation of Vital PhenomenaShortlisted
2014Brief Encounters ''with the EnemyShortlisted
2014Everybody's IrishShortlisted
2014The People in the TreesShortlisted
2014Louise AronsonA History of the Present IllnessLonglisted
2014Jim GavinMiddle MenLonglisted
2014Alan GrostephanBogotáLonglisted
2014Christopher HackerThe MorelsLonglisted
2014Paul RomeWe All Sleep in the Same RoomLonglisted
2015'Winner
2016In the Country: StoriesWinner
2016Mr. and Mrs. DoctorFinalist
2016'Finalist
2016Mayumi and the Sea of HappinessFinalist
2016The SympathizerFinalist
2017Insurrections: StoriesWinner
2017We Show What We Have LearnedFinalist
2017'Finalist
2017HomegoingFinalist
2017Hurt PeopleFinalist
2018Sour HeartWinner
2018SonoraFinalist
2018Black Jesus and Other Superheroes: StoriesFinalist
2018History of WolvesFinalist
2018Her Body and Other Parties: StoriesFinalist
2019Bring Out the DogWinner
2019White Dancing ElephantsFinalist
2019'Finalist
2019Some TrickFinalist
2019Half GodsFinalist
2020Last of Her NameWinner
2021Further News of Defeat: StoresWinner
2021Alligator & Other StoriesFinalist
2021Miriam CohenAdults and Other Children: StoriesFinalist
2021You Will Never Be ForgottenFinalist
2021Shruti SwamyA House Is a Body: StoriesFinalist
2022Yoon ChoiSkinshipWinner
2022Eat the Mouth That Feeds YouFinalist
2022Milk Blood HeatFinalist
2022Objects of Desire: StoriesFinalist
2022Give My Love to the Savages: StoriesFinalist
2023Night of the Living RezWinner
2023Seeking Fortune ElsewhereFinalist
2023'Finalist
2023'Finalist
2023Manywhere: StoriesFinalist
2024Aaliyah BilalTemple FolkFinalist
2024Stacie Shannon DenetsosieThe Missing Morningstar and Other StoriesFinalist
2024Kate DoyleI Meant It Once: StoriesFinalist
2024Kenan OrhanI Am My CountryFinalist
2024Gen Del RayeBoundless Deep, and Other StoriesLonglisted
2024Kristen GentryMama Said: StoriesLonglisted
2024Mai NardoneWelcome Me to the KingdomLonglisted
2024Ada ZhangThe Sorrows of OthersLonglisted
2024Cleo QianLET'S GO LET'S GO LET'S GOWithdrawn
2024Ghassan ZeineddineDearbornWithdrawn
2025Amy StuberSad GrownupsWinner
2025Megan HowellSoftieFinalist
2025Annell LópezI'll Give You a ReasonFinalist
2025Iheoma NwachukwuJapa and Other Stories''Finalist
2025Marguerite Sheffer'Finalist