Booker Prize Review: A Journey Beyond Earth in Samantha Harvey’s ‘Orbital’

In her novel Orbital, Samantha Harvey crafts an extraordinary narrative that transports readers to the outer edges of Earth’s orbit. Through the eyes of six astronauts—Anton, Pietro, Roman, Shaun, Chie, and Nell—Harvey presents a wondrous and haunting vision of our planet from the vastness of space. Floating above Earth, the astronauts experience the world as a breathtaking "suspended jewel," yet their distant view stirs both admiration and anxiety. They are at once captivated by Earth’s beauty and alarmed by humanity’s imprints on it, from sprawling cities to polluted oceans.

Witnessing Humanity from Afar

The novel unfolds over the course of a single day, capturing the astronauts’ routine life in space. They observe meteorological phenomena, conduct scientific experiments, and share the confined quarters of their spacecraft. Although isolated from Earth, they are bound by earthly needs—to eat, sleep, work, and exercise. They find themselves living with an emotional intensity intensified by their unusual setting. Despite the wonders of space, the most powerful emotion that rises within them is longing—for Earth, for their loved ones, and for the familiar touchstones of human life.

When astronaut Chie learns of her mother’s death, she remembers her as a woman shaped by the traumas of history, from the horrors of atomic warfare to the marvels of the moon landing. Chie’s grief, magnified by the distance and sterile conditions of space, poignantly underscores the deep-rooted human need for connection and home.

A New Perspective on the Planet

From above, Earth appears vulnerable, its landscapes fragile against the dark infinity of space. The astronauts witness natural forces at work, including a typhoon heading toward the Philippines. They observe this impending disaster as though they are fortune-tellers, aware of the future yet helpless to alter it. Their view amplifies the irony of human ambition—while humanity has mastered fire and technology, it remains unable to control nature or avoid self-destruction. Through Harvey’s words, Earth’s beauty stands in contrast to the devastation caused by human greed: polluted oceans, deforested lands, and ever-growing mounds of plastic waste.

In the stillness of space, the astronauts reflect on humanity’s conflicts and the seeming futility of world peace. The novel suggests that, while people might dream of unity, our actions often reveal a “savage” instinct to dominate and destroy. Harvey captures this paradox with a vivid realism, reminding readers that although human civilization has reached great heights, it has also created irreparable damage.

Humanity vs. Technology in Space

Orbital explores not just the wonders of space but the challenges of sustaining human life there. Harvey poses an essential question about the value of human presence in space: Should robots replace astronauts, given the dangers and costs of sending people into orbit? Machines could perform tasks without the need for oxygen, food, or protection, yet the novel makes a compelling case for the irreplaceable human experience. #What is the point of exploring the cosmos if there is no heart to feel its mysteries, no eyes to be awestruck by Earth’s beauty, and no sense of fear and wonder that drives us to seek the unknown?

A Dazzling, Reflective Narrative

Harvey’s writing blends the astronauts' perspectives, conveying their thoughts and voices in a shared, seamless narrative. Readers get a sense of the isolation and unity felt by these six individuals, each personality merging into a collective consciousness as they float miles above Earth. By immersing readers in the beauty of Earth from space, Harvey achieves a mesmerizing effect. From the comfort of the ground, readers experience a sense of “half-belief,” torn between marveling at Earth’s splendor and realizing its vulnerability.

A Profound Reminder of Earth’s Fragility

Orbital is a reminder of Earth’s transience and our role in its future. The astronauts see our planet as both an object of grandeur and a fragile ecosystem susceptible to natural forces that could erase human achievements. Through her lyrical prose, Harvey captures the delicate balance between the grandeur of human ambition and the humbling reality of our finite existence. In this sense, Orbital is more than a story about space; it is a meditation on humanity’s place within the vast tapestry of the universe.

Samantha Harvey’s Orbital is a richly evocative novel that invites readers to witness the beauty and fragility of our world from a unique vantage point. Through its exploration of humanity, nature, and the relentless drive to explore, it leaves a lasting impression that resonates deeply with the present-day struggles and aspirations of our species. Orbital is a Booker Prize finalist that stands as a testament to both the heights of human achievement and the depths of our enduring vulnerability.