Former Booker Prize winner Salman Rushdie will take on books by a postman and a London waitress for this year?s Whitbread Book Award, judges announced yesterday. Rushdie, best-known for upsetting the Muslim world with what it regarded as his blasphemous novel The Satanic Verses, was shortlisted in Whitbread?s Novel Award category for his latest book Shalimar The Clown.

The novel, which looks at the origins of violence in Kashmir, was hailed by the judges who said Indian-born Briton Rushdie?s ?panoramic imagination and great storytelling gifts sweep you away?. Nick Hornby, whose previous comedic novels such as Fever Pitch have been made into successful films, is also shortlisted for the same award for A Long Way Down, about a group of people pondering suicide. Ali Smith?s the accidental and Chris Wilson?s The Ballad of Lee Cotton are the other novels chosen for the best novel prize from an original entry of 112.

Amongst those shortlisted in the other four categories ? Best First Novel, Biography, Poetry, and Children?s Book ? is a waitress working in London, judges said. Rachel Zadok, who grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa, got her literary break when the novel she entered in a competition for new authors run by Channel 4?s ?Richard and Judy?show was one of five shortlisted from 46,000 entries. Although she didn?t win, she was offered a publishing contract for her book Gem Squash Tokoloshe. Meanwhile one-time postman and van driver Alexander Masters is amongst those shortlisted in the biography category for his life story of Stuart Shorter, a homeless man he met while working at a day centre in Cambridge. The overall winner of the 25,000 pound prize, one of Britain?s top literary awards chosen from the winners of each category, will be announced in London on January 24.