Stuart Clark's The Sun Kings and Ian Stewart's Why Beauty is Truth have both been shortlisted for this year's Royal Society Prize for Science Books.

Also shortlisted are A Life Decoded by J. Craig Venter, Coral by Steve Jones, Gut Feelings by Gerd Gigerenzer and Six Degrees by Mark Lynas.

The judges praised The Sun Kings as 'A real page turner which will open your eyes to the number of scientific discoveries throughout history that might have been lost. The real majesty and power of the sun shine through and, if you've never given a second thought to your nearest star, you will now.'

Why Beauty is Truth was praised as 'An illuminating story about the development and history of mathematics. Why Beauty is Truth cleverly uses the art of storytelling to compel the reader into taking a leap of faith into a world of numbers and the all-pervasive ideas of symmetry.'

The winner will be announced at a ceremony at the Royal Society on Monday 16 June 2008 and awarded £10,000.