Orbital

Ever wondered what it feels like to see humanity from a distance, all at once? Experience a day in orbit aboard the International Space Station and gain a profound new perspective on life, connection, and our place in the cosmos, all in just a few minutes. Through the eyes of six international astronauts, you'll witness 16 sunrises and sunsets in a single 24-hour period. This summary unpacks their intimate thoughts, fears, and memories as they float above the world, revealing how this unique vantage point transforms their understanding of home, conflict, and what it truly means to be human.

Samantha Harvey is a critically acclaimed British author whose novel Orbital won the prestigious Booker Prize for Fiction, cementing her status as a master of literary prose. Drawing on her background in philosophy and creative writing, Harvey excels at exploring profound human experiences with lyrical intensity. For Orbital, she immersed herself in the world of space travel and astronaut testimony, translating the technical marvel of a day in orbit into a breathtaking and deeply philosophical meditation on existence, connection, and our place in the cosmos.