UK writer Samantha Harvey wins 2024 Booker with space novel

British author Samantha Harvey has won the prestigious Booker Prize for her short novel, "Orbital," which follows six astronauts as they reflect on Earth from the International Space Station. 

Set over the course of a single day, "Orbital" features astronauts from Japan, Russia, the United States, Britain, and Italy, who engage in deep contemplation about their home planet, addressing themes of mourning, desire, and the climate crisis.

The Booker Prize, which includes a cash award of £50,000 (approximately $64,000), has been influential in launching literary careers since its inception in 1969 and has often sparked controversy. Notable past winners include Margaret Atwood, Ian McEwan, Julian Barnes, and Kazuo Ishiguro.

Upon receiving the award, Harvey expressed her surprise, marking the first win for a woman since Atwood was honored in 2019 for "The Testaments," alongside Bernardine Evaristo for "Girl, Woman, Other." In her acceptance speech, Harvey dedicated the prize to "everyone who speaks for and not against the Earth; for and not against the dignity of other humans and life; and all those who advocate for peace."

"Orbital," at just 136 pages, is the second-shortest novel to win the Booker Prize and the first to be set in space, according to the Booker Prize Foundation. This is Harvey's fifth novel, following her debut, "The Wilderness," which was longlisted for the award 15 years ago. Edmund de Waal, chair of the judges, described "Orbital" as "a book about a wounded world," with a focus on "everyone and no one." He praised Harvey's lyrical language for making our world seem both strange and new.

In an interview after being longlisted, Harvey referred to her work as a "space pastoral." She aimed to explore humanity's presence in low Earth orbit over the last quarter-century—not as science fiction, but as realism. "Could I evoke the beauty of that vantage point with the care of a nature writer? Could I write about amazement? Could I create a sort of space pastoral? These were the challenges I set for myself," she explained.

This year's shortlist was historic, featuring a record five women nominees. Alongside Harvey, the other contenders included Rachel Kushner for "Creation Lake," Anne Michaels for "Held," Yael van der Wouden for "The Safekeep," and Charlotte Wood for "Stone Yard Devotional." Percival Everett rounded out the shortlist with his novel "James." Everett and Kushner were considered the frontrunners for the prize.

The Booker Prize aims to showcase exceptional fiction by writers of any nationality, provided their works are written in English and published in the UK or Ireland between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024.