Orbital
Recorded edition: Grove/Atlantic, Incorporated · 2023 · ISBN 0802161545 · Edition source
Explore the recorded awards, edition information and related books below.
First publication: 2023. Publication dates and pagination vary by edition.
Who would enjoy this book?
Readers who enjoy reflective, language-led fiction and writing about the natural world.
How difficult is it to read?
The plot is relatively slight; the reading experience centres on close attention to language and observation.
Themes
Book-club discussion
Suggested questions based on the book’s premise and form.
- How does viewing Earth from orbit change the characters’ sense of belonging?
- What does a single day allow the novel to observe about human life?
What is this book about?
Orbital follows six people aboard the International Space Station over the course of a single day. As the station circles Earth, their work and observations bring oceans, weather systems and continents into view. Distance does not sever their ties to home: family news and concern for people below remain part of their lives.
Samantha Harvey uses this setting to consider human dependence on the planet and the vulnerability of life upon it. The emphasis is on attention, language and changing perspectives rather than a conventional adventure plot. Published in 2023, the novel won the 2024 Booker Prize.
Its brief time span contains both the practical routine of space travel and reflection on humanity’s place on Earth.
Award recognition
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