Space is Boring
Book Review: Orbital by Samantha Harvey
“And in time we come to see that not only are we on the sidelines of the universe but that it’s of a universe of sidelines, that there is no centre, just a giddy mass of waltzing things, and that perhaps the entirety of our understanding consists of an elaborate and ever-evolving knowledge of our own extraneousness, a bashing away of mankind’s ego by the instruments of scientific enquiry until it is, that ego, a shattered edifice that lets light through.”
― Samantha Harvey, Orbital
Genre: Science Fiction
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Samantha Harvey’s Orbital, winner of the 2024 Booker Prize, is a profound exploration of humanity set aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Over 16 chapters, each representing one orbit around the Earth in a 24 hour period, the novel delves into the lives of six astronauts from different nations—Shaun (USA), Pietro (Italy), Anton and Roman (Russia), Chie (Japan), and Nell (Great Britain)—as they navigate the complexities of existence in microgravity, detailing the nuances of daily life in space, from the challenges of eating and sleeping to the emotional weight of isolation.
Harvey’s prose is exquisite, weaving intricate imagery with philosophical reflections. Readers are invited into the inner worlds of the characters, exploring themes of interconnectedness, the fragility of life, and the search for meaning as they orbit their home planet. However, I found this style, as beautiful as it may be, a bit boring at times and found myself disengaged for pages at a time—and this is a very short book.
Orbital is a contemplative work that transcends its setting, prompting readers to reflect on Earth’s beauty and humanity’s place within the universe. As Harvey herself notes, the novel is “more about Earth than space,” encouraging a re-evaluation of our relationship with our planet and each other.
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"A giddy mass of waltzing things" 😍