Berg was awarded the prize and a check for CHF30,000 (nearly $31,000) on Sunday at the BuchBasel book festivalExternal link in the north-western city of Basel.
Jury member Christine Richard lauded the novel for its sharp social criticism.
In her book, the author, who was born in the German city of Weimar and now lives in Switzerland, accompanies four young people through a socially divided Great Britain in which artificial intelligence has taken control.
Berg has “succeeded in writing a novel that is formally avant-garde and that captivates the readers in its innermost content,” the jury said in its decision.
The four other authors shortlisted will each receive CHF3,000 Swiss francs. The are Simone Lappert, who was nominated for “Der Sprung”, Tabea Steiner for “Balg”, Alain Claude Sulzer for “Unhaltbare Zustände” and Ivna Žic for “Die Nachkommende”.
German-language books in focus
The Swiss Book Prize 2008 was initiated by the Basel Literature Association and the Swiss Booksellers and Publishers Association (SBVV). Swiss authors or authors living in Switzerland with German-language literary and essayistic works can apply for the Swiss Book Prize.
A total of 71 novels and essays from 45 publishers were reviewed by the jury this year.
The Swiss Book Prize is considered the most important literary award in Switzerland alongside the Grand Prix Literature, which is awarded by the Federal Office of Culture.
While all language regions of Switzerland are considered for the Grand Prix, only German-language works can be awarded the Book Prize.
More
More
Peter Stamm wins 2018 Swiss Book Prize
This content was published on
Swiss author Peter Stamm has won the 2018 Swiss Book Prize for his latest novel “Die sanfte Gleichgültigkeit der Welt”.
Have you heard something about Swiss diplomacy that you’d like us to fact check?
Not all information circulating about Switzerland’s foreign relations is accurate or well understood. Tell us what you'd like us to fact check or clarify.
Credit Suisse Nazi ties ‘ran deeper than thought’: media report
This content was published on
Credit Suisse is alleged to have withheld details of its historic links with World War II-era Nazi clients, says the Wall Street Journal.
Swiss man faces life imprisonment after Australia drugs arrest
This content was published on
Swiss man, 21, accused of attempting to smuggle 25 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of CHF4.5 million into Australia.
Swiss insurer Helvetia says 500 jobs affected by cost-cutting
This content was published on
Some 500 jobs, including 200 to 250 in Switzerland, are affected by the new operational efficiency measures recently announced by insurer Helvetia.
This content was published on
Significantly fewer new cars were sold in Switzerland in 2024 than the previous year as demand for electric cars and plug-in hybrids declined.
Three Swiss brands among world’s 100 most valuable firms
This content was published on
Three Swiss firms made it into the 2024 top 100 most valuable companies in the world, despite Roche, Nestlé and Novartis falling down the rankings.
This content was published on
The 2019 Nobel Prize for Literature went to Austrian writer Peter Handke. One hundred years ago it was Swiss poet Carl Spitteler who won the award.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.