Queer Authors Recognised by 2025 Sunday Times Literary Awards

At least two out and proud queer authors — Alistair Mackay and Siya Khumalo — along with their queer-themed novels, have been longlisted for the prestigious 2025 Sunday Times Literary Awards.

The Sunday Times Literary Awards are South Africa’s most prestigious annual celebration of local literature, spotlighting the best in published fiction and non-fiction.

Alistair Mackay’s ‘The Child’

Mackay has been recognised for his second novel, The Child. The story follows a young man who returns to Cape Town with his husband, Adrian, after experiencing a mental breakdown and losing his job at a New York advertising agency. Set in 2018, the novel unfolds against the backdrop of Cape Town’s devastating water crisis.

The couple plans to adopt a child and start a family, but as the adoption process begins, the narrator is forced to confront the childhood traumas he has long suppressed.

Mackay told MambaOnline:

“I am absolutely over the moon to have been longlisted for such a prestigious award. There are some brilliant writers on the list this year and I feel honoured to be among them.

“I don’t think a young me would have believed that my novel about a queer man trying to find his voice would get this kind of recognition — and it’s wonderful to see other queer stories on the list too. Congratulations to all of the authors!”

Siya Khumalo’s Bold Sci-Fi Debut

Khumalo earned his place on the longlist with his debut sci-fi novel, The Queer Book of Revelation. The story centres on John, who works for a regime known as The Federation, which enforces emotional suppression and AI control. His life takes a dramatic turn when he is tasked with infiltrating a colony resisting AI influence.

There, he meets Joshua, and their forbidden connection triggers a crisis of loyalty. Things become even more complicated when time travellers from the future approach John, urging him to help thwart a looming technological tyranny.

Khumalo shared his thoughts with MambaOnline:

“When I was younger, I scoured everything I read for queer coding and subtext; I followed side characters I thought could help me understand myself. I didn’t have a Heartstopper…

“Queer literature today is saying to others like us: you don’t have to relate through a metaphor anymore. You can be the protagonist. Your love isn’t a tragedy; your body isn’t a controversy. You get to be messy, magical, and mundane. You get to take up space.

“Queer books say this while censorship and bans are countered by long lists with queer books. I’m proud that my book and Alistair’s book and other queer characters are in the long list.”

A Win for Queer Representation

The recognition of The Child and The Queer Book of Revelation is not only a milestone for the authors but also a meaningful moment for LGBTQ+ representation in South African literature.

Their inclusion on the longlist highlights the growing visibility and celebration of queer voices in the country’s literary landscape.

See all the longlisted books here.