Samantha Harvey’s novel Orbits follows six space travelers, but Harvey’s hero is actually the blue planet they orbit. This won her the Booker Prize in 2024.Readers of Günther Anders are here reminded of one of the philosopher’s central ideas.
Six people, 24 hours, 16 orbits. They cannot avoid each other 400 kilometers above sea level. The two women and four men are crammed together in a space station.The model: obviously the ISS, which, operated by 16 countries, has been inhabited by astronauts for almost a quarter of a century.And the cosmonauts, as they are still called today in Russia. Two astronauts, two astronauts and two cosmonauts make up the very international staff of samantha Harvey’s fifth novel, now winner of the Booker Prize.
It could have been a chamber show, proving that hell, even far from earth, is still other people – or so Rom Com said. Six people from all over the world in space, this could have turned into a thriller psychological or, depending on what and if something had arrived from the outside, in an alien horror. The 49-year-old Englishwoman’s book is none of these things.In the slim book there are almost no conflicts between its six protagonists, who research the effects of life in space on laboratory mice, but also on themselves.
You will also search in vain for a classic plot. What the reader learns about the six astronauts arises less from dialog or interactions between those who take part in this shared destiny than from biographical introspections and flashbacks, presented in the voice of an omniscient narrator. For good reason: actually these six are, even as one of them mourns his dead mother in Japan, another feels a suspicious lump on his neck and a third realizes that as soon as his feet feel solid ground again , he and his wife will separate while a fourth wonders who took the photo her husband sent her into space from Ireland, only superficially among the novel’s heroes.
Too realize this you don’t have to read until the penultimate orbit completed by the space station and which serves as Harvey’s chapter. But it says there: “Before coming here, they had the feeling that there was another part of the world, something far away, almost impractical to reach”. Far from it: “Now you see the continents merging into each other like overgrown gardens – Asia and Australia are not separate, but connected by islands creating a path between them; Similarly, Russia and Alaska rub noses together, with barely a puddle of water between them. Europe passes into Asia with great fanfare. Continents and countries follow each other and the earth seems – not small,but nevertheless incessantly connected,an epic poem in flowing verse.”
The world in the mirror
At the end of “Orbits” there is an acknowledgment from the author to NASA and its European counterpart, ESA, “for the wealth of information provided”. We would like to know in more detail how Harvey prepared to write his book. Where does the knowledge for knausgarde-style lists of all the tasks that need to be done in the space station come from? On the fact that muscles, including cardiac muscles, of mammals, including humans, atrophy in the absence of gravity. Or the fact that some astronauts fit with elastic bands while they sleep, “hanging like bats in thier quarters” – and others don’t.
Meanwhile, a reader of Günther anders might wonder something entirely different: whether Harvey knew his “Reflections on Space Flight,” collected in the 1970 book “The View from the Moon.” Anders wrote that the decisive event of spaceflight “is not in reaching the distant regions of space, but in the fact that the Earth has the possibility for the first time to see itself, to meet in a way that only the world has ever had before A person who reflected in a mirror could have met.”
Orbits by Samantha Harvey is a global novel in the truest sense of the word. His hero is the globe itself and everything that happens here. Even from above, from the most privileged outlook possible, Harvey’s astronauts play only secondary roles. They can warn of a powerful typhoon hitting the Philippines. They can’t influence it, they can only hope that the fishermen they met during their diving holiday are okay. And though the world as a whole is reflected in their small community, a world whose earthly disconnection proves a limitation of their perspective from above, they too are subject to man-made distortions.
The fact that cosmonauts have to use a different toilet than their American, European or Japanese counterparts – “I only go pee for the nation, Shaun sometimes says” – is a clever reference to the fact that its not just the cracks in the cosmonauts’ ISS lining could soon make true international space travel seem like a thing of the past. Harvey’s novel suggests what might happen after a lunar mission that could soon become a Mars expedition: a departure from Earth orbit, the end of the global.
Samantha Harvey: orbits. Translated from English by Julia Wolf. dtv, 224 pages, 22 euros.
How did Samantha harvey prepare for writing about the diverse backgrounds of her characters in “Orbits”?
Interview with Samantha Harvey, Booker prize Winner and author of “Orbits”
Time.news Editor (TNE): welcome, Samantha, and congratulations on winning the Booker Prize for your novel “Orbits.” It’s an unbelievable feat, especially with such a unique premise. Can you start by telling us what inspired you to write a story set in space with such a focus on the human experience?
Samantha Harvey (SH): Thank you! I’ve always been fascinated by the interplay between humanity and our surroundings, and what better backdrop than space? “Orbits” explores how isolation affects us, even when we’re surrounded by others. The idea was to reflect on our connections and experiences—how we relate to ourselves,each other,and,in this case,our planet.
TNE: The setting aboard a space station is certainly intriguing. Your characters experience profound introspection rather than conflict. As an author, what drew you to this non-conventional narrative style?
SH: I wanted to challenge conventional storytelling. Frequently enough, we expect conflict and drama, but I felt that in the confined space of a space station, the real story lies within. By using an omniscient narrator, I could delve into each astronaut’s past, their fears, and their hopes—highlighting the complexities of their inner lives. It’s about the weight of existence in an extraordinary setting rather than the external pressures of thrillers or horror.
TNE: That’s a fascinating approach. Since there’s a focus on personal struggles, how do you think this reflects our reality, particularly in today’s world where many people often feel isolated despite being surrounded by others?
SH: Exactly! I believe that the feelings of loneliness and alienation can persist no matter the physical proximity to others. With technology connecting us more than ever, we still grapple with real emotional distances. By placing my characters in the vastness of space, I aimed to magnify those experiences, almost like a mirror reflecting our own lives back to us.
TNE: Your characters come from diverse backgrounds, representing astronauts from various countries. How did you approach the challenge of intertwining their diverse narratives without falling into clichés?
SH: I conducted extensive research on space and the experiences of real astronauts from different cultural contexts. I wanted to ensure authenticity in their voices and backgrounds. By focusing on their personal stories—grief, ambition, doubts—I avoided stereotypes and instead highlighted universal themes of humanity’s fragility and resilience.
TNE: Günther Anders’ philosophical ideas are mentioned as an influence in your work. Could you elaborate on how his thoughts intersect with the themes in “Orbits”?
SH: Anders explored the feelings of insignificance and disconnection in the face of modernity and technology. In “Orbits,” the astronauts’ experiences echo this dissonance—how they struggle to find meaning in their vast existence beyond Earth.It’s about considering what it means to be human in a universe that frequently enough feels indifferent. His beliefs felt like a natural undercurrent to the narrative.
TNE: With such a focus on introspection, how do you think readers will connect with the characters? What do you hope they take away from their journey?
SH: I hope readers find solace and reflection in the characters’ experiences. By exposing their vulnerabilities, I want readers to feel less alone in their struggles. The goal is to ignite a conversation about our essential humanity,urging us to think deeply about our relationships—with ourselves,nature,and others—even in a world that can feel so detached.
TNE: It’s a lovely message, Samantha. Lastly, now that you’ve reached this incredible milestone, what’s next for you? Do you have any new projects on the horizon?
SH: I’m currently exploring new themes that continue to reflect on the human condition. While “Orbits” is rooted in space, my next venture might take a different direction, perhaps back to the earth but through a different lens. I’m excited to see where my imagination leads me next!
TNE: We’re looking forward to seeing where your journey takes you! Thank you for joining us today, samantha, and congratulations once again on your well-deserved win.
SH: Thank you! It was a pleasure to discuss “Orbits” with you.
