The New Statesman | UK politics and culture
Booker prize winner Samantha Harvey: "political choices are sculpting the surface of the earth"
Nov 18, 2024
Samantha Harvey, the 2024 Booker Prize winner for her novel "Orbital," explores how our political choices impact the Earth and beyond. She critiques Elon Musk's vision for an individualistic future as problematic. Harvey discusses the significance of the International Space Station's de-orbiting, marking a shift in international cooperation. The discussion dives deep into humanity's role in environmental issues and the influence of literature, reflecting on how political narratives shape personal identities and societal values.
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Quick takeaways
- Samantha Harvey's novel illustrates how compressed time in space can deepen emotional impact and highlight coexistence among astronauts, rather than conflict.
- The discussion emphasizes how political choices and consumer habits significantly influence the environment, underlining humanity's interconnectedness and responsibility towards Earth.
Deep dives
The Evolution of a Novel's Structure
The novel explores the concept of time through a unique structure that captures a single day in the lives of six astronauts orbiting Earth. Initially conceived to span a month, the story shifted to a one-day format as the author recognized the significance of compressing time to reflect the astronauts' experiences in space. This change not only streamlined the narrative but also deepened the emotional impact, allowing the author to encapsulate the mundane yet extraordinary aspects of life in orbit. By redefining the time frame, the novel becomes a more elegant exploration of human experiences in an extraordinary environment, focusing on coexistence rather than conflict.
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