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Author Samantha Harvey

Samantha Harvey

Winner of the Booker Prize 2024 for Orbital. Samantha Harvey lives in the UK and is a tutor on the MA course in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University

She has been longlisted for the Booker Prize twice, for The Wilderness in 2009 and shortlisted for Orbital in 2024. Harvey is also the author of the novels All is Song, Dear Thief and The Western Wind, and a work of non-fiction, The Shapeless Unease: A Year of Not Sleeping. She has been shortlisted for the James Tait Black Award, the Women’s Prize, the Guardian First Book Award and the Walter Scott Prize. The Wilderness was awarded the Betty Trask Prize. In November 2024, Orbital won the Booker Prize.

Six astronauts observe Earth’s splendour while navigating bereavement, loneliness and mission fatigue. Compact yet beautifully expansive, this is a love letter to our planet

The 2024 judges on Orbital

Samantha Harvey's winning moment, in pictures

Samantha Harvey's winning moment at the Booker Prize 2024 ceremony

Samantha Harvey’s winning moment at the Booker Prize 2024 ceremony

© Neo Gilder

Samantha Harvey's winning moment at the Booker Prize 2024 ceremony

Samantha Harvey’s winning moment at the Booker Prize 2024 ceremony

© Neo Gilder

Samantha Harvey with Paul Lynch at the Booker Prize 2024 ceremony

2024 and 2023 winners Samantha Harvey and Paul Lynch at the Booker Prize 2024 ceremony

© Neo Gilder

BBC News presenter Katie Razzall with Samantha Harvey

BBC News presenter Katie Razzall with winning author Samantha Harvey at the Booker Prize 2024 ceremony

© Neo Gilder

Samantha Harvey, Winner of the Booker Prize 2024

Samantha Harvey, winner of the Booker Prize 2024

© Neo Gilder

A Q&A with Samantha Harvey

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Read more on Samantha Harvey

Orbital by Samantha Harvey

An extract from Orbital by Samantha Harvey

Six astronauts rotate in the International Space Station. They are there to do vital work, but slowly they begin to wonder: what is life without Earth? What is Earth without humanity?

Orbital
Orbital by Samantha Harvey

Orbital

Winner of The Booker Prize 2024

Published by
Jonathan Cape
Orbital is the winner of the Booker Prize 2024. Six astronauts rotate in the International Space Station. They are there to do vital work, but slowly they begin to wonder: what is life without Earth? What is Earth without humanity?

Other nominated books

The Wilderness
Samantha Harvey asks a question. What will Jake be able salvage from the wreckage of his mind: beauty, perhaps, the memory of love, or nothing at all?