Samantha Harvey wins Booker Prize for space-themed novel Orbital

Samantha Harvey has won the Booker Prize for her novel "Orbital," making it the first space-themed book to receive the award. This marks the first win for a female author since 2019. The novel follows six astronauts on the International Space Station over 24 hours. "Orbital" has sold 29,000 copies this year, making it the top seller on the shortlist. Harvey plans to use her £50,000 prize for a new bike and a trip to Japan. She wrote the book during the COVID-19 lockdowns, inspired by Earth footage. The judging panel praised "Orbital" for its lyrical language and imaginative storytelling. Harvey's win is seen as a significant recognition of her work, which has previously gone largely unnoticed despite her diverse writing career.