Samantha Harvey’s Space Odyssey: From Anxiety to Booker Prize

Samantha Harvey, who recently won the Booker Prize for her novel Orbital, admits she never expected to write a book set in space. Yet, here she is, with a compelling tale of six astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Harvey, far from an adventurer, was drawn to the idea after stumbling upon her abandoned manuscript. She transformed her anxiety into a unique narrative, placing mundane tasks against the vastness of space. Each chapter follows one orbit of Earth, highlighting the beauty and fragility of our planet. Harvey, who lives in a 16th-century house without a smartphone, has always been fascinated by space. Her novel serves as a love letter to Earth, with a hint of melancholy over its fate. Insomnia played a significant role in her creative process, giving her a fresh perspective and a sense of urgency. The pandemic provided further inspiration, allowing her to escape to space virtually. Harvey’s work explores themes of hope and despair, leaving readers to ponder the future of our planet and humanity.