My Dear, I Wanted to Tell You, by Louisa Young, read by Dan Stevens (Winner)

Moving between Ypres, London and Paris, My Dear I Wanted to Tell You is a deeply affecting, moving and brilliant novel of love and war, and how they affect those left behind as well as those who fight. While Riley Purefoy and Peter Locke fight for their country, their survival and their sanity in the trenches of Flanders, Nadine Waveney, Julia Locke and Rose Locke do what they can at home. A superbly evocative audio read by Dan Stevens.

My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece, by Annabel Pitcher, read by

David Tennant

Ten-year-old Jamie has just moved to the Lake District with his Dad and his teenage sister, Jasmine. Five years ago his sister’s twin, Rose, was blown up by a terrorist bomb and his family fell apart. When he sees an advert for a TV talent show, he feels certain that this will change everything and bring them all back together.

The Player of Games, by Iain M. Banks, read by Peter Kenny

The Culture – a human/machine symbiotic society – has thrown up many great Game Players, and one of the greatest is Gurgeh. Jernau Morat Gurgeh. The Player of Games. Master of every board, computer and strategy. Bored with success, Gurgeh travels to the Empire of Azad, cruel and incredibly wealthy, to try their fabulous game … a game so complex, so like life itself, that the winner becomes emperor. Mocked, blackmailed, almost murdered, Gurgeh accepts the game, and with it the challenge of his life – and very possibly his death.

Before I Go To Sleep, by SJ Watson, read by Susannah Harker

‘As I sleep, my mind will erase everything I did today. I will wake up tomorrow as I did this morning. Thinking I’m still a child. Thinking I have a whole lifetime of choice ahead of me …’

Memories define us.

So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep?

Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love – all forgotten overnight.

And the one person you trust may only be telling you half the story.

Welcome to Christine’s life.

Any Human Heart, by William Boyd, read by Simon Vance

Logan Mountstuart’s life is extraordinary – travelling, mixing with movers and shakers, becoming a spy and an art-dealer. But in his private life he makes the same mistakes as the rest of us. This is his story and a journey into the human heart. Actor Mike Grady brings the tale to life with careful pace and rich voice work.

Snowdrops, By A.D. Miller, read byKevin Howarth

A riveting psychological drama that unfolds over one Moscow winter, as an Englishman’s moral compass is spun by the seductive opportunities revealed in a new Russia. Experienced actor Kevin Howarth worked closely with the author to create a vivid experience of the story laced with Russian accents.

About the Galaxy National Book Awards

The gala ceremony, recorded at the Mandarin Oriental was hosted by comedian (and author of Tickling the English in 2010) Dara O Briain and actress Helen Baxendale. The Awards showcase the best of British publishing and celebrate titles that boast both wide popular appeal and critical acclaim. Produced by Cactus TV, the Awards are to be broadcast over six weeks of national TV programming, BOOKED – Stars of the Galaxy National Book Awards will air on 13th November and run until 18th December on More4. Each show will include features on each of the winners and in-depth interviews with the season’s biggest celebrity authors, including Katie Price, Rob Brydon and Jason Manford.

From Saturday 5th November, the public are invited to vote online for the Galaxy Book of the Year, the nominees of which comprise winners of all eleven categories. Last year’s winner of the overall accolade, One Day, by David Nicholls recorded over 300% sales growth during December 2010, going on to become the biggest selling paperback of 2011 along with a Hollywood film release. Who will triumph this year?

Vote for your favourite book here and win £100 in National Book Tokens!

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