"Orbital" by Samantha Harvey Recognized for Its Unique Storytelling at Booker Prize 2024

Samantha Harvey: First Female Booker Prize Winner Since 2019

The Booker Prize, established in 1969 and originally called the Booker-McConnell Prize, is one of the world's most prestigious literary awards. Known for recognizing and promoting outstanding works of fiction, the prize has significantly shaped literary discussions and brought diverse voices to the forefront. It honors great books and celebrates the talented authors behind them.

With its long tradition, the Booker Prize inspires and influences the global literary community and is considered the world's most significant award for a single work of fiction, the Booker Prize is open to authors worldwide who write in English and publish their books in the UK or Ireland. Samantha Harvey, a Philosophy and English graduate from York, was awarded £50,000 and a trophy for her novel Orbital at the 2024 Booker Prize ceremony, held at Old  Billingsgate in London. The award was presented by Paul Lynch, the 2023 Booker Prize winner.

Harvey is the first woman to win the Booker Prize since 2019. Her novel, set over a single day aboard the International Space Station features six astronauts and cosmonauts. Orbital is notable for being the highest-selling book on the shortlist in the UK, with sales surpassing the combined sales of the past three Booker Prize winners. It is also the first winning novel set in space and the second-shortest, at just 136 pages. The chair of the judging panel, Edmund de Waal, described Orbital as "a book about a wounded world" and praised its beauty and ambition, which led to the panel's unanimous decision to award Harvey the prize. Harvey has described her novel as a "space pastoral," focusing on the beauty of space and the human occupation of low Earth orbit over the past twenty-five years, adopting a realistic rather than a science fiction approach.

Professor Keith Allen, Head of the University's Department of Philosophy, expressed pride in Harvey's achievement, noting that this prestigious award is a continuation of her successful literary career. Her win highlights her innovative take on storytelling and marks a significant milestone for female authors, as she is the first woman to win since 2019. This achievement underscores the Booker Prize's commitment to celebrating diverse and groundbreaking literary works.

Editor's Note:

The Booker Prize, celebrated for over half a century, recognizes excellence in the literary world. Samantha Harvey's win with Orbital marks a historic moment, not only because she is the first woman to win the prize since 2019, but also because her novel presents a unique and innovative narrative set in space. Harvey's achievement underscores the Booker Prize's dedication to recognizing and promoting diverse voices and groundbreaking fiction.

Skoobuzz applauds Samantha for her unparalleled success and for reminding us of the transformative power of literature in shaping our world.