Bad Sex in Fiction Awards: who are the contenders?

The shortlist for the least sought-after gong in publishing has been revealed – with musician Morrissey tipped to take home the prize.

The Literary Review has announced the contenders for the annual Bad Sex in Fiction Awards, celebrating "the most egregious passage of sexual description in a work of fiction".

Morrissey's debut novel, The List of the Lost, has been a firm favourite for the prize since it was published earlier this year. It gained frontrunner status with toe-curling references to a 'bulbous salutation' and a 'giggling snowball of copulation'.

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The singer's effort is "an astonishing bid" for the prize by a first time novelist, the Literary review told NME. "It's convoluted, overwrought and profoundly unsexy."

But the former frontman of The Smiths faces stiff competition from acclaimed novelists like Richard Bausch, Joshua Cohen and Erica Jong.

Nigerian author Ben Okri won last year's prize for this painful passage from his novel The Age of Magic: "When his hand brushed her nipple it tripped a switch and she came alight."

Extracts from some of this year's shortlisted novels:

List of the Lost – Morrissey

"At this, Eliza and Ezra rolled together into the one giggling snowball of full-figured copulation... the pained frenzy of his bulbous salutation extenuating his excitement."

Before, During, After - Richard Bausch

"When she took him, still a little flaccid, into her mouth, he moaned, 'Oh, lover'... It went on and it was good."

Fates and Furies – Lauren Groff

"He shut his eyes and thought of mangoes, split papayas, fruits tart and sweet and dripping with juice, and then it was off, and he groaned and his whole body turned sweet."

Book of Numbers - Joshua Cohen

"Under that sling, her breasts were like young fawns, sheep frolicking in hyssop – Psalms were about to pour out of me."

The winner will be announced on December 1 at the appropriately titled In and Out Club in London.