Philip Pullman is getting a big, fat check.

From the Guardian:

The citation for the award calls him "a master storyteller in a number of genres, from historical novels and fantasy to social realism and highly amusing parodies ..."

"Through his strong characters he stands firmly on the side of young people, ruthlessly questioning authority and proclaiming humanism and the power of love whilst maintaining an optimistic belief in the child even in the darkest of situations."