Tom Hunter and his very first Clarke winner

“The first time I ever heard of the Clarke Award was standing in a WH Smith picking up a paperback of [Jeff Noon’s]

Vurt which announced it as the winner on the back jacket. I remember being hugely impressed by the sound of the award and imagined it as a giant red (or maybe silver) carpet affair lit by neon in what was to me then a very distant and imaginary version of London. Years later here I am, and I still have that battered paperback copy, signed by Jeff now of course. If my involvement with the award began anywhere, I think it was right there.”