New Delhi, July 28 Immortals of Meluha by Amish Tripathi, Ruskin Bond’s Mr Oliver’s Diary and Upamanyu Chatterjee’s Way to Go are amongst the 30 books shortlisted for the Vodafone-Crossword Book Awards for 2010.

A panel of writers and publishers in the capital announced the list of winners on July 27.

The books, diverse in sensibilities, showcase the emerging spirit of creative innovation, the new economic awareness and the rich tradition of Indian spiritual and cultural legacy that makes contemporary Indian literature distinct from its counterparts in the West, said Chandrasekhar Navalkar, CEO of Crossword Bookstore.

The five titles in the fiction category are -- Swarasati Park by Anjali Joseph, The Quarantine Papers by Kalpish Ratna, Jimmy, the Terrorist by Omair Ahmad, The Crimson Throne by Sudhir Kakar and Way to Go.

The non fiction list, a blend of books on finance, science and biographies, consists of Fault Lines: How Hidden Fractures Still Threaten the World Economy by Raghuraman G. Rajan, Known Turf by Annie Zaidi, Memories of Rolling Stone by Vina Mazumdar, the Tell-Tale Brain Unlocking the Mystery of Human Nature by V.S. Ramachandran and The Lone River: On the Trail of the Swarasati by Michel Danino.

Ruskin Bond’s Mr Oliver's Diary tops the list of children’s books nominations with The Book of Guardians: The Fang of Summoning by Giti Chandra, Shayadri Adventures (two titles) by Deepak Dalal, Koni: The Story of a Champion and At Least a Fish by Anushka Ravishankar is also running for the prize slot.

The translations shortlist, a pan-Indian showcase, includes The Golden Gandhi: Statue from America- Early Story by Subimal Misra, Mansarovar by Ashokamitran, That is Not Dawn by Yashpal, Litanies of a Dutch Battery by N.S. Madhavan and The House with Five Courtyards by Govind Mishra.

The awards carry a purse of Rs.3 lakh.

A new category -- Popular Award -- with 10 fiction and non-fiction titles shortlisted on the strength of their monthly sale in 2010 has been introduced for the first time this year. The list includes bestsellers like The Immortals of Meluha, Chanakya’s Chant, Johnny Gone Down, Dork and You Can Sell.

“The winner of this category will be chosen by popular votes,” Navalkar said. The winner will be given Rs.1 lakh.

“Voting will open online on August 1 and close by the end of August,” Navalkar said. The awards will be presented in Mumbai on September 2.

One of the most prestigious literary prizes in India, the Vodafone Crossword Book Award was instituted in 1998.