Introduction and About the Booker Prize

- The Booker Prize is a prestigious award, established in 1969 in the UK.

- It is awarded annually to the best sustained work of fiction.

- Initially, it was given to writers from Commonwealth nations but is now open to writers worldwide, irrespective of their origin.

- It mandates that the fiction work be written in English and published in the UK or Ireland.

 

Samantha Harvey and Orbital - The Winner of Booker Prize 2024

- British author Samantha Harvey recently bagged the Booker Prize 2024 for her novel titled 'Orbital'.

- Harvey is the first woman to win this award since 2019 when it went to Margaret Atwood.

 

About 'Orbital'

- 'Orbital' is a unique novel, marking its place as the first 'space' book to ever win the Booker Prize.

- It traverses the theme of observing Earth through the experiences of six astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS), witnessing 16 sunrises and sunsets daily.

- Despite being the second-shortest novel in the Booker Prize history, it has won high acclaim, with the shortest being 'Offshore' by Penelope Fitzgerald, comprising only 132 pages.

 

Significance and Uniqueness of the Award

- Samantha Harvey's win captures the essence of literature's evolution, as her space-themed novel distorts traditional boundaries.

- The win also emphasizes the inclusivity of the prize, with 'Orbital’s' unique theme departing from customary terrestrial-centred narratives.