24 MAY 2003, Page 33

Friendship without favours

From Mr Paul Kincaid Sir: Your reference to the Arthur C. Clarke Award (The Spectator's Notes, 17 May) has been drawn to my attention.

I was honoured that Christopher Priest chose to dedicate his novel The Separation to me, because we have been friends for a number of years. Although Priest did, indeed, win the award, the fact that the book was dedicated to me is more likely to have counted against it. The decision was not mine, but the responsibility of an impartial jury, which I have the pleasure of chairing. Moreover, I consider myself a friend of at least two other authors who made it on to the shortlist.

Paul Kincaid Administrator, Arthur C. Clarke Award, Kent