Last year's winner Zadie Smith's book is to be made into a TV programme

She said Ware had produced a book "as beautiful as any published this year", and challenged readers to "think again about what literature is and where it is going at the start of the 21st Century".

Work from Miranda Carter, David Edmonds and John Eidinow, Glen David Gold and Rachel Seiffert narrowly missed out.

Ware said he was honoured by the title.

He said: "It's been deeply flattering all along to even have been grouped with such distinguished company as the other authors.

"As a cartoonist, one isn't used to actually being taken seriously and treated with such respect."

Reward

The Guardian First Book Award aims to recognise and reward new writing across fiction and non-fiction.

Judges included novelist Jonathan Coe, Ahdaf Soueif and The Fast Show creator Charlie Higson.

Readers at Borders Books shops in London, Oxford, Brighton and Glasgow helped choose the shortlist.

Last year, Zadie Smith scooped the top prize for her novel White Teeth.

The best-selling novel is to be made into a TV series next year.

Commissioned by Channel 4, the adaptation will consist of four parts and will go into production in February to be screened in autumn 2002.