Julian Barnes Arthur & George 2-1

Mr. Barnes is one of Britain’s most acclaimed novelists, and has made the Booker shortlist twice before, but never won. As a well-crafted retelling of a famous incident from English literary history, “Arthur & George” is a natural establishment choice for the prize.

Kazuo Ishiguro Never Let Me Go 6-1

Mr. Ishiguro has been short listed three times before, winning in 1989 for “The Remains of the Day.” “Never Let Me Go” is the most powerful novel on the shortlist; its excellent reviews and provocative theme make it a deserving candidate.

John Banville The Sea 8-1

This is Mr. Banville’s second time on the Booker shortlist, and “The Sea” is an excellent specimen of his mandarin prose style, certain to please his select group of devoted fans. But the book’s cold elegance and unlikeable main character would make it a less than popular choice for the prize.

Zadie Smith On Beauty 7-1

Ms. Smith’s new book may be uneven, but it is full of life, humor, and acute social ob servation, making it perhaps the most likeable novel on the shortlist. But some observers felt she hurt her chances when she denounced her native England, in New York magazine, as a “disgusting place” full of “general stupidity, madness, vulgarity, stupid TV shows, aspirational arseholes, money everywhere.”

Sebastian Barry A Long Long Way 6-1

Maybe it’s the big themes – the role of Ireland in the British Empire, the suffering of soldiers in World War I – that make “A Long Long Way” seem a likely winner. But Mr. Barry’s blunt approach to historical fiction, and his sentimental style, make it doubtful that this book will edge out the critical favorites.

Ali Smith The Accidental 11-1

Ms. Smith’s novel won acclaim in the U.K. for what some critics considered its stylistic originality and exuberant voice. But two precociously cute teenage narrators and a heartwarming message about the importance of doing what makes you happy are more crowd pleasing than groundbreaking.