Giller Prize 2015: Complete list of winners

André Alexis’s Fifteen Dogs claimed the 2015 Giller Prize for Fiction, marking a triumphant moment for a novel that defied easy categorization. Part philosophical inquiry, part imaginative fable, Alexis’s work tells the story of fifteen dogs who are granted human consciousness by two feuding gods, then set loose in Toronto to navigate existence with their newly acquired intellect. It’s the kind of premise that could easily veer into gimmickry, but Alexis wielded it with such grace and purpose that the Canada’s Giller Prize jury recognized it as essential reading. The award, which has long championed innovative Canadian fiction, seemed a natural fit for a book that dares readers to think differently about language, consciousness, and what it means to be human.

The 2015 Giller Prize win represented a significant moment in Alexis’s career trajectory, bringing broader recognition to an author who had been quietly crafting distinctive literary work for years. Known for his wit, philosophical depth, and willingness to experiment with narrative form, Alexis proved that genre-blending fiction could resonate deeply with a prestigious jury of literary peers. This victory underscored the Giller Prize’s commitment to recognizing ambitious, formally inventive work alongside more traditional literary narratives—a balance that keeps the award relevant and eagerly anticipated each year among Canadian book lovers and the publishing world alike.

Fiction

• Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis