Orbital

Samantha Harvey's Booker Prize-winning novel, "Orbital," offers a profound and intimate exploration of human existence viewed from the ultimate distance. Set aboard the International Space Station, the narrative follows a team of astronauts as they circle Earth sixteen times a day. Their mission involves scientific research, but their most significant activity becomes observation – witnessing the stunning, fragile beauty of their home planet below. From this unique vantage point, the astronauts are confronted with the vastness of the cosmos and the delicate intricacy of life on Earth. News from below, including personal loss and global events like typhoons, anchors their cosmic journey to the very human experiences they've left behind. The novel delves into their conversations, fears, and dreams, questioning the essence of life without Earth and Earth without humanity, ultimately fostering an intense sense of protectiveness and connection to the world they observe from afar.