Samantha Harvey wins 2024 Booker Prize for Orbital in London ceremony

Samantha Harvey has won the 2024 Booker Prize for her novel *Orbital*, becoming the first woman to win since 2019. The award was presented at a ceremony in London on November 12 by last year's winner, Paul Lynch. *Orbital* is the biggest-selling title on this year's shortlist, surpassing the combined sales of the last three winners. The novel, which follows six astronauts over 24 hours aboard the International Space Station, is 136 pages long, making it the second-shortest Booker winner. Harvey wrote *Orbital* during lockdowns, inspired by footage of Earth from space. The judges emphasized that the award was based on literary merit, not social or political themes, and denied any bias in the selection process.