Samantha Harvey's Orbital was published in late 2023 by Atlantic Monthly Press. Harvey's novel follows six men and women who are travelling across space and time. Although these astronauts at the center of the novel come from vastly different backgrounds and countries, they share one thing with each other: a common mission. Together, they are tasked with conducting research and recording what is going on (and surrounding) Earth. Readers get a glimpse into what life in space is like, as Harvey recounts the characters' spacewalks, their jobs, trying to navigate relationships with friends, family, and politicians while tens of thousands of miles a day, and trying to take in the uniqueness of their position and the beauty of everything around them. It is a novel about what it means to be human and the outsized impact politics and politicians have on everyone's lives.
When it was published, Orbital received exceptionally positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. In fact, the novel was longlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize, which is given to the best novels of the year. In their glowing review of the novel, The New York Times called Orbital "ravishingly beautiful."
