Samantha Harvey wins Booker Prize for space-station novel 'Orbital'

Samantha Harvey won the Booker Prize for her novel "Orbital," set on the International Space Station. The book reflects on Earth's beauty and fragility through the lives of six astronauts. This marks Harvey as the first British winner since 2020. The judges praised "Orbital" for its unique perspective and timely themes. Harvey's novel, one of the shortest Booker winners at 136 pages, was chosen from a diverse shortlist of six finalists, including works from Canada, the U.S., Australia, and the Netherlands. Harvey, who began writing during the COVID-19 lockdown, received a £50,000 prize. She plans to use part of the money for taxes, a new bike, and a trip to Japan. The award ceremony took place in London, where last year's winner presented her trophy.