Orbital by Samantha Harvey (2023): A Review

Title: Orbital

Author: Samantha Harvey

Publication Year: 2023

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pages: 224

Source: book

Genre: literary fiction, philosophical fiction

Awards: Winner of the Booker Prize; Winner of the Hawthornden Prize; Winner of the InWords Literary Award; Shortlisted for the Orwell Prize Political Fiction; Shortlisted for the Ursula K. Le Guin Prize

Orbital by Samantha Harvey takes place over a single day aboard the International Space Station, following six astronauts—four men and two women—from Japan, the United States, Britain, Italy, and Russia. As they orbit Earth, the narrative moves seamlessly between their daily routines and their internal reflections on humanity, faith, and the precariousness of life on our planet.

This is not a plot-driven or action-packed space adventure. If you are looking for suspense or the thrill of the unknown, you'll likely be disappointed. Harvey herself describes Orbital as a "space pastoral," emphasizing quiet observation and realism over dramatic science fiction. Calling it science fiction could be misleading—expect poetic reflection rather than blockbuster excitement.

Beyond the synopsis, this novel is an extended meditation on observation, memory, and the intricacies of human connection. The astronauts' perspectives shift from the wonders and fragility of Earth, to their memories and grief, to their ties with loved ones far below. Harvey paints the planet’s beauty with language, not brushstrokes, inviting readers to contemplate art, the environment, time, philosophy, and the very nature of existence. The narrative is richly descriptive and introspective, and while it may feel slow to some (hence not 5 stars), it offers profound insight for those willing to linger.

What resonated with me most was the depiction of one astronaut’s grief over her mother’s death. Harvey explores how mourning transcends setting—even in the solitude of space, grief is inescapable and deeply human. The novel captures the sense of facing loss without precedent, with no guide or ritual for how to process sorrow in such an isolated, extraordinary place. It’s a powerful reminder that our emotions remain with us, no matter how far we travel from home.