British writer Samantha Harvey won the Booker Prize for fiction on November 12, 2024, at Old Billingsgate, a historic venue in central London, for Orbital, a novel set on the International Space Station. Described as a “space pastoral,” the book captures six astronauts orbiting Earth, each experiencing the planet’s captivating transformation as they witness 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets within a single day. The book explores themes of Earth’s fragility and human impact on the environment. Harvey, who began writing the novel during the COVID-19 pandemic, conducted research by reading astronaut accounts and observing live footage from the space station. The Booker Prize, a prestigious award open to English-language novels published in the U.K. or Ireland, recognizes literary excellence and has propelled numerous authors to international fame.

Harvey emphasized the novel’s subtle focus on climate change, highlighting the profound realization that what is done to Earth ultimately affects humanity. Expert opinions have applauded Orbital for its “crystalline” prose and brevity, as Edmund de Waal, chair of the Booker judging panel, called it a “miraculous” piece of writing that rewards a thoughtful and deliberate reading experience. The author dedicated the £50,000 prize to advocates for the Earth and peace. Recent technological advancements in space observation have intensified global awareness of environmental issues, aligning with the novel’s contemplative perspective. Harvey, the first British winner of the Booker Prize since 2020, expressed her excitement at the recognition, noting plans to allocate the prize money toward personal expenses, including a new bicycle and travel to Japan.