Nick Cave is amongst the nominees for the Literary Review's 2009 Bad Sex In Fiction Award.

The annuals event, now in its 17th year, celebrates and mocks "redundant passages of sexual description" in novels.

Cave's nomination is for his second book 'The Death of Bunny Munro' which follows the debased exploits of an alcoholic and serial cheat whose wife commits suicide.

A rep for Nick Cave told The Guardian: "Frankly we would have been offended if he wasn't shortlisted."

The brooding Australian is amongst 10 authors vying for the dubious honour.

(by Scott Colothan)