Samantha Harvey, author of the Booker Prize shortlisted novel Orbital, sets her narrative aboard an International Space Station-like vessel. She delves into the contrasts astronauts face, balancing the awe of space with daily life’s mundanity. Harvey discusses how distance offers new insights on climate change and humanity's vulnerability against nature. She emphasizes the emotional depth of astronauts, urging a deeper connection to their journeys and the importance of environmental stewardship.
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Quick takeaways
Samantha Harvey's novel captures the daily lives of astronauts, highlighting the beauty and challenges of life on the International Space Station.
The narrative interweaves personal astronaut experiences with global themes like climate change, emphasizing humanity's responsibility for Earth's vulnerabilities.
Deep dives
Exploring Life on a Space Station
The narrative focuses on a fictional 24-hour period aboard a space station, which mirrors the reality of life in low Earth orbit. It follows the daily experiences of four astronauts and two cosmonauts as they navigate the unique contrasts of their environment, balancing both the extraordinary and the mundane aspects of their lives. This approach emphasizes that a space station, often seen as a distant and alien place, serves as a domestic environment where daily routines unfold. The setting allows for an exploration of how human beings adapt to and find meaning in both the confinement of space and the vastness beyond.
The Intersection of Space and Climate Awareness
The book interweaves personal narrative with global themes, particularly highlighting the astronauts' observations of natural disasters such as a powerful typhoon forming on Earth. This event serves as a metaphor for the escalating consequences of climate change, illustrating the astronauts' sense of helplessness in the face of such colossal environmental challenges. The juxtaposition of witnessing beauty from space and the stark reality of Earth's vulnerabilities emphasizes the urgency of addressing climate issues. This narrative thread encourages readers to contemplate the relationship between human actions and their impact on the planet, suggesting that awareness from a distance can inspire reflection and action.
Crafting Space Realism Through Research
The author undertook extensive research to authentically portray life aboard a space station, drawing from NASA archives and astronaut journals. This research not only informed the intricate details of daily life in space but also highlighted the contradictions faced by astronauts, from the isolation of their environment to the beauty of viewing Earth from above. The balance between fact and fiction was essential; the author aimed to humanize astronauts as individuals with emotions rather than just scientific specimens. This blending of reality with creative narrative invites readers to consider the personal experiences and psychological dimensions of those who venture beyond our planet.
Samantha Harvey's Booker Prize shortlisted novel Orbital is set inside an International Space Station-like vessel circling 250 miles above Earth. It looks at a day-in-the-life of the crew, investigating the contrasts they experience during the 16 orbits they make around the planet, crossing continents, oceans and the line separating night and day.
On the latest episode of Nature hits the books, Samantha joins us to discuss why the ISS is a rich setting for fiction, the challenges of putting yourself in the shoes of an astronaut, and how distance can give new perspectives on global issues like climate change.