Carey could win third Booker

AUSTRALIAN novelist Peter Carey could become the first author to win the Man Booker Prize three times after it was announced he was on this year's shortlist.

He is joined on the list by bookie's favourite Tom McCarthy who is 2/1 to win the prize with his novel C.

The other shortlisted authors are Emma Donoghue, Damon Galgut, Howard Jacobson and Andrea Levy.

Former poet laureate and judge Andrew Motion said: "It's been a great privilege and an exciting challenge for us to reduce our longlist of 13 to this shortlist of six outstandingly good novels.

"In doing so, we feel sure we've chosen books which demonstrate a rich variety of styles and themes while in every case providing deep individual pleasures."

The winner will be announced on Tuesday, October 12.

The odds are against Carey carrying off the prize for a third time, according to bookmakers William Hill.

He is 5/1 to win behind Emma Donoghue and Damon Galgut who are both 3/1 second favourites.

William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe said: "There has been a considerable media buzz around all of the books on the shortlist, and literary punters have staked more money in total on Tom McCarthy to win than any of the other authors, so he is a worthy favourite."

The winner will receive a cheque for STG50,000 ($A83,801) and worldwide recognition.

Last year's winning novel, Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, has sold more than half a million copies.

Each of the six shortlisted authors, including the winner, receives STG2500 ($A4,190) and a designer bound edition of their shortlisted book.

The shortlist Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2010 was whittled down from 138 titles. They are:

Peter Carey - Parrot And Olivier In America

Emma Donoghue - Room

Damon Galgut - In A Strange Room

Howard Jacobson - The Finkler Question

Andrea Levy - The Long Song

Tom McCarthy - C