British author Samantha Harvey has been awarded the 2024 Booker Prize for her novel Orbital, a profound exploration of humanity set aboard the International Space Station. This marks the first time a space-based novel has won the prestigious prize.
Orbital, at just 136 pages, is among the shortest books to earn the honor. It captures the introspections and emotional connections of six astronauts as they reflect on Earth’s fragility and humanity’s interconnectedness. The novel has been lauded for its poetic prose and philosophical depth, with the judges calling it “a book we need now and may need forever.”
Chair of the judging panel, artist Edmund de Waal, praised the work for transforming the view of Earth into “something deeply resonant.” Judge Sara Collins highlighted its ability to transport readers from Earth’s crises to a broader perspective.
Prior to the award, Orbital had already become the top-selling book on the shortlist and surpassed the combined sales of the last three Booker winners. Samantha Harvey, who was previously longlisted for her debut novel The Wilderness in 2009, teaches creative writing at Bath Spa University.
In addition to the £50,000 prize, Harvey’s win cements her status as a leading literary figure. When asked about her plans for the prize money, she humorously revealed, “I need to buy myself a new bike, and it’s going to be a good bike.”
Her achievement underscores the growing recognition of science and metaphysical themes in literature, making Orbital a landmark work for both the genre and the prize.
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