A Book A Week

Samantha Harvey's 2023 novel Orbital captured widespread acclaim upon its release, culminating in a Booker Prize win that solidified its reputation as a literary triumph. After months of anticipation, I finally moved it to the top of my TBR list and was immediately intrigued by its simple premise. With Orbital, Harvey ambitiously attempts to tackle profound questions about life, humanity, and our place in the cosmos.

The novel follows six astronauts aboard a spacecraft orbiting high above Earth. Hailing from different countries, they are united by their mission to advance scientific understanding, yet their shared humanity binds them in unexpected ways. Over 24 hours, they circle the planet 16 times, marveling at its beauty while grappling with the emotional gravity of the lives they’ve left behind. When news of a crewmate’s mother's death reaches them, it triggers a cascade of reflections about loss, connection, and the fragility of human existence. As they drift in the vast expanse of space, the astronauts are drawn back to Earth—not just as a home but as a fragile, irreplaceable entity.

In Christopher Nolan's Interstellar, there's a scene where the protagonist returns to his ship after spending hours on a planet where time moves much faster than on Earth. Though only a brief time has passed for him, decades have passed back home, and he's hit with the emotional weight of realizing that life has moved on without him. This poignant moment, both unsettling and thought-provoking, serves as a catalyst for deeper contemplation. It’s a feeling I anticipated as I began reading Orbital. Harvey crafts an intriguing premise, aiming to explore humanity's place in the vast cosmos. However, the concept behind the novel feels more impactful than the execution itself. Without a solid character or plot to anchor the reader, the story becomes a collection of abstract reflections on human frailty, punctuated by long descriptions of Earth below. While the writing had moments of brilliance, I could not fully connect with it. It’s a bold attempt at something profound, but in the end, it didn’t resonate with me.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 5)