Samantha Harvey wins 2024 Booker Prize for groundbreaking space novel Orbital

Samantha Harvey has won the 2024 Booker Prize for her novel *Orbital*, becoming the first woman to win since 2019. The award was announced at a ceremony in London, where she received £50,000. *Orbital* is notable for being the first Booker-winning book set in space. It follows a diverse crew aboard the International Space Station as they confront existential questions while orbiting Earth. The novel has broken several records, including being the best-selling book on the Booker shortlist and the second-shortest to win the prize. Harvey's win highlights the presence of strong female voices in literature, with five women on this year's shortlist.