His Dark Materials author Philip Pullman to judge story contest

Best-selling British fantasy author Philip Pullman is set to judge a new China-themed short-story competition launched ahead of this year's Liverpool Literary Festival.

The China Stories competition will see school and university students submit 500-word short stories that must be written in English and have a Chinese theme. Pullman, author of the best-selling fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials, will judge submissions in several categories and present winning writers with their prizes at a ceremony as part of Liverpool Literary Festival in October.

The winning authors will have their work published in a special anthology and take part in a writing session with the Royal Society of Literature. Second and third-placed authors will receive vouchers of up to 50 pounds ($71).