Orbital examines the intense emotional and psychological landscapes of astronauts in the microgravity confines of a spacecraft. Set within the structured monotony of space missions, the novel delves into the transformative effects that life in space has on its characters. As such, it illuminates the fragility of human connection, purpose, and memory. It examines how the absence of Earth and the endless void around them shifts their relationships with each other and the concept of home.
The core of the story revolves around Nell, Anton, Roman, Shaun, Pietro, and Chie as each brings their distinct background and worldview to the isolated environment of space. Through vignettes of personal histories, we learn about Anton's drive to honor his father’s dreams of space exploration and Roman's connection to the cosmonauts before him. Moreover, Chie's processing of her mother’s death while in orbit and Shaun frequently debating the existence of God with Nell. The plot advances as the crew confronts their emotional vulnerability, which is intensified by the sterile environment. Tension builds as Chie spirals into grief when confronting the loss of her mother and trying to find solace in space.
In the novel's climax, a manned lunar mission surpasses their orbit, which symbolizes humanity’s unrelenting quest for progress. This event forces the crew to reckon with their obsolescence and the inescapable reality of death. It closes with a focus on the circular motion of their lives as they remain locked in the cycle of orbit. Meanwhile, the space station crew are asleep in their modules. Pietro receives an unread message about a typhoon’s destruction while Shaun gets a light-hearted video from his daughter. Roman instinctively tracks their orbit over Earth reflecting on his time in space.
This story demonstrates the idea of "home" and how it is perceived differently in space. These astronauts are physically distant from Earth and become emotionally distant from the lives they left behind. The spacecraft becomes a microcosm for Earth, where the crew members serve as stand-ins for all humanity. Their connections—fraying marriages, distant children, and the loss of parents—are intensified by the constant view of Earth. While humanity pushes the boundaries of space exploration, the characters are forced to contend with the limits of human relationships, time, and life.
Its reflection on progress—both personal and collective—ties into the astronauts' roles as symbols of human achievement. However, Harvey questions whether progress is truly a forward motion or simply another form of orbit. This can be seen when a lunar mission overtakes the station, which relegates the astronauts to "yesterday's news."
