Samantha Harvey Wins Booker Prize for Her Space-Themed Novel 'Orbital'

British author Samantha Harvey has won the prestigious 2024 Booker Prize for her novel Orbital, which delves into the life of astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) on a single day. Harvey’s compelling narrative, set during the COVID-19 lockdowns, earned her this literary accolade. This victory adds to her growing reputation as a talented writer, marking her fifth novel.

The Success of ‘Orbital’

Orbital, which was the top-selling book among the six finalists for the 2024 Booker Prize, has seen overwhelming success in terms of sales. The novel has outsold the combined sales of the past three Booker Prize winners. Readers have embraced Harvey's unique portrayal of Earth’s beauty from space, making the book a standout in the literary world.

Judges Praise Harvey’s Writing Style

The judges of the Booker Prize, now in its 55th year, lauded Harvey’s writing for its “intensity of attention to the precious and precarious world.” The novel's vivid depictions and lyrical prose were highlighted for their emotional depth and insight into the fragile nature of life, seen through the eyes of astronauts in orbit.

A New Perspective on Earth from Space

Set in a 24-hour period, Orbital follows the astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the ISS as they circle the globe, witnessing sixteen sunrises and sunsets. The novel’s length, only 136 pages, captures the isolation and beauty of space, while also reflecting Harvey’s own experience of confinement during the pandemic.

Writing Inspired by the Pandemic

Harvey wrote Orbital while in lockdown, drawing inspiration from watching footage of Earth from space. She related her characters’ confinement on the ISS to her own lockdown experience, finding a shared sense of being "trapped in a tin can."

Critical Acclaim for Harvey’s Mastery

Edmund de Waal, chair of the 2024 Booker Prize judges, described Orbital as a novel where “everyone and no one is the subject,” praising Harvey’s ability to make the world feel both strange and new. The novel’s lyricism and acute observations captured the imaginations of readers and judges alike.

Harvey’s Prize and Future Plans

In addition to receiving widespread acclaim, Samantha Harvey walks away with a £50,000 prize for her Booker win. Speaking to the BBC, Harvey shared that she plans to use the prize money to buy a new bike, a personal treat for herself after the success of Orbital.