British author Samantha Harvey, shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2024 with her novel 'Orbital,' was photographed on the red carpet upon her arrival at the Booker Prize Award announcement ceremony held at the Old Billingsgate in London on November 12, 2024. – AFP
Samantha Harvey, a British writer, clinched the prestigious Booker Prize on Tuesday for her science fiction novel that follows six astronauts orbiting Earth over a 24-hour period. Set aboard the International Space Station, 'Orbital' chronicles the experiences of two men and four women from Japan, Russia, the United States, Britain, and Italy as they observe and contemplate their home planet, delving into themes of grief, desire, and the climate crisis. The Booker Prize, accompanied by a 50,000-pound ($64,000) cash award, has been a career launchpad and a source of controversy since its inception in 1969. Notable past winners include Margaret Atwood, Ian McEwan, Julian Barnes, and Kazuo Ishiguro.
Upon hearing of her win, Harvey expressed surprise, stating, 'I was not expecting that,' and added that she was 'overwhelmed.' This marks the first time a woman has won the prize since Atwood's recognition for 'The Testaments' alongside Bernardine Evaristo's 'Girl, Woman, Other.' In her acceptance speech, Harvey dedicated the award to 'everyone who speaks for and not against the Earth; for and not against the dignity of other humans, other life; and all the humans who speak for and call for and work for peace.'
At just 136 pages, 'Orbital' is the second-shortest novel to win the award and the first to be set in space, according to the Booker Prize Foundation. This is Harvey's fifth novel, coming 15 years after her debut novel 'The Wilderness' was longlisted for the Booker. Edmund de Waal, chair of the judges, noted that 'everyone and no one is the subject' of Harvey's novel, as six astronauts aboard the International Space Station circle the Earth, observing weather patterns and the fragility of borders and time zones. 'With her language of lyricism and acuity, Harvey makes our world strange and new for us,' he added.
A record five women were in contention for the prize, which was announced at a ceremony in London. The other finalists included Rachel Kushner for 'Creation Lake,' Anne Michaels for 'Held,' Yael van der Wouden for 'The Safekeep,' and Charlotte Wood for 'Stone Yard Devotional.' Percival Everett's 'James' completed the shortlist. The Booker Prize is renowned for identifying emerging talents who may not be widely recognized by the general public. The prize is open to works of fiction by writers of any nationality, written in English and published in the UK or Ireland between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024.
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