I fail to see the problem, apart from the committee asking the author to rectify their error for them. So there are six finalists instead of five: Big deal. If the sixth book should never have been there in the first place it cannot win; if it wins it obviously should have been among the other finalists.

Now that it has become a media spectacle, of course, Stephens question is particularly pertinent, because that would influence a public vote, as he notes. Even if the awards recipient is chosen by committee, said committee is now somewhat on the spot: Whether they choose Shine or not they will be vulnerable to accusations their decision was guided by public reaction to the wholly avoidable scandal rather than the merits of the works considered. In terms of preserving the awards integrity, it seems that ship has sailed; as dubious honors go, it is now a great one in all the worst ways.