Novella as Prose Poem

Orbital 

by Samantha Harvey

This novella surpasses the standard for books of its kind thanks to its remarkable start and superb writing. However, there are issues that caused me to view the book less favorably overall. These included a lack of narrative coherence and what seemed to be repetition that slowed down the story. Some have called this novel a meditation, but it might be more accurate to read it as a meditation on an experiment in space orbiting the Earth.

"Orbital," the Booker Prize-winning novel by Samantha Harvey, is a brilliant and reflective prose poem that forgoes conventional narrative in favor of a deep and personal examination of perspective, humanity, and our delicate planet. The novel, which takes place on the International Space Station (ISS) and spans a single day, follows six astronauts as they make sixteen orbits around the Earth, their memories and thoughts blending with the amazing scene below.
The undisputed star of this celestial show is Harvey's prose. She creates a lyrical and accurate stream-of-consciousness narrative in a style that has been compared to Virginia Woolf. The rich, evocative language perfectly conveys the breathtaking beauty of Earth—the "blue marble" in all its dynamic, swirling splendor—as seen from space. The familiar shapes of continents and oceans acquire a new and profound significance, and sunrises and sunsets become transient, frequent miracles.

The novel focuses more on the inner landscapes of its characters than it does on a compelling plot. Through their fragmented thoughts, we glean insights into their pasts, their families, and their motivations for venturing into the void. An Italian astronaut reflects on a promise made to a fisherman, a Russian cosmonaut carries the weight of a family legacy, and an American astronaut grapples with a recent loss. These individual stories, however, are not the central focus but rather threads in a larger tapestry of human experience, all viewed from the unique and isolating vantage point of orbit.

One point of contention is the purposeful absence of a traditional plot. "Orbital" might be a frustratingly static experience for those who are looking for a story with a clear rising action, climax, and resolution. The characters also experience a sense of transience, with their unique identities occasionally blending into a collective consciousness that speaks for all of humanity.

To criticize "Orbital" for what it is not, however, would be to miss the point of what it so brilliantly accomplishes. It is a philosophical meditation on our place in the cosmos and a novel of ideas. The artificiality of borders, the interconnectedness of all life, and the overwhelming beauty and precarity of our world are some of the profound themes Harvey explores through the astronauts' unique perspective. As the astronauts observe the real-world consequences of climate change from their divine vantage point, the environmental undertones are subtly potent.

"Orbital" is a book that simultaneously rewards and challenges patience. It is an invitation to slow down, to observe, and to contemplate. It is a deeply moving and ultimately hopeful work that reminds us of the extraordinary privilege of our existence on this "pale blue dot." Samantha Harvey's "Orbital" is a genuinely remarkable read for readers who value fine prose and are receptive to a more avant-garde and philosophical style of narrative.