Samantha Harvey's Orbital wins 2024 Booker Prize in surprise outcome

Samantha Harvey's novel *Orbital* has won the 2024 Booker Prize, surprising many who expected Percival Everett's *James* to take the award. Harvey's book, a poetic story about astronauts on the International Space Station, is just 136 pages long. The award ceremony took place in London, where Harvey dedicated her win to those who work for the Earth. She expressed her disbelief at winning, having previously been longlisted for her 2009 novel about Alzheimer's. This year's shortlist included five women and one man, marking a diverse selection. It was the 10th Booker Prize since the eligibility criteria expanded to include all English-language authors published in the UK and Ireland.