Piper Author Heinrich Steinfest Wins Prize

Heinrich Steinfest, Austrian mystery writer and one of the star authors at German publisher Piper Verlag, has won the Heimito von Doderer Literature Prize. The prestigious prize, which was inaugurated in 1996 on the 100^th anniversary of Austrian writer von Doderer's birth,  is awarded every two years to an outstanding individual or body of literary work in the German language that shows a strong sensibility for language and originality. Occasional prizes are also awarded when merited to best debut novels or for special occasions. The prize, worth EUR 20,000, will be given out at a ceremony on Oct. 24 in the Cologne City Hall.

Steinfest was born in Australia but emigrated when he was two to Austria with his parents, who had come from Austria originally. He is perhaps most celebrated for his character, Detective Cheng. His best-selling books include Gewitter über Pluto (Storm Over Pluto) and Batmans Schönheit (Batman's Beauty).