South African author Lauren Beukes has won the Arthur C Clarke Award for Zoo City for the best science fiction novel of the year published in the United Kingdom.

Beukes, also the author of Moxyland, was announced winner on Wednesday at a ceremony held in partnership with the Sci-Fi-London Film Festival, and was awarded a cheque for £2011 and an engraved bookend.

The 25th anniversary of the Arthur C Clarke Award saw five other candidates shortlisted from 54 submissions.

The Dervish House — Ian McDonald

— Ian McDonald Monsters of Men — Patrick Ness

— Patrick Ness Generosity — Richard Powers

— Richard Powers Declare — Tim Powers

— Tim Powers Lightborn — Tricia Sullivan

Other winners of the award include China Mieville who won three times, the last being in 2010 for his novel The City & The City, as well as Ian McDonald.

Past nominees have included Iain M Banks, Kazuo Ishiguro and Greg Bear.