Samantha Harvey's 'Orbital' Wins 2024 Booker Prize

Samantha Harvey's novel 'Orbital' has won the 2024 Booker Prize, marking the first instance of a space-set book receiving this accolade. The 136-page 'space pastoral' depicts a day on the International Space Station, where six astronauts witness 16 sunrises and sunsets, reflecting on Earth's beauty and fragility. Conceived during COVID-19 lockdowns, the novel is praised for its lyrical language and profound reflections on humanity's relationship with Earth, making Harvey the first British winner since 2020 and the first woman since 2019. The book has outsold the past three Booker winners combined, attributed to its compelling narrative and timely themes. Harvey, who nearly abandoned the novel, dedicated her win to those advocating for peace and environmental stewardship.