Samantha Harvey wins 2024 Booker Prize for novel exploring humanity's ties to Earth

Samantha Harvey has won the 2024 Booker Prize for her novel *Orbital*, which explores the lives of astronauts on the International Space Station. The book, under 140 pages, addresses climate change through the astronauts' observations of Earth. Harvey describes *Orbital* as a reflection on humanity's relationship with the planet, highlighting the irony of needing Earth while often taking it for granted. She notes that the novel implicitly addresses political themes related to climate change. In her personal life, Harvey has struggled with insomnia, finding solace in writing. She has deep Irish connections, as her grandfather bought land in Donegal, believing it would be safe from nuclear war.