At just 138 pages, Orbital is a novella that blends poetic prose with profound philosophical reflections. It offers a contemplative exploration of life on Earth and beyond, all through the eyes of six astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The novel is a thought-provoking meditation on the fragility of human life, the beauty of our planet, and the complex connections that bind us to one another and the world we inhabit.
Life on Our Planet from Afar
The crew of six—four astronauts from different nations and two Russian cosmonauts—circle Earth 16 times in 24 hours, moving at speeds of over 17,000 miles per hour. From their vantage point in space, they observe glaciers, deserts, mountain peaks, and vast oceans, witnessing breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, and watching weather systems evolve in real-time.
Their mission involves scientific experiments: studying the effects of zero gravity on plants, monitoring muscle wastage in mice, and recording meteorological phenomena like a rapidly developing super-typhoon in the Pacific. Yet, beyond the technical duties, the astronauts are drawn into existential reflections: What is life without Earth? What is Earth without humanity?
Between the Mundane and the Sublime
Harvey seamlessly moves between the mundane details of life aboard the ISS—drinking recycled water, floating weightlessly in sleep, or exercising to prevent muscle atrophy—and the astronauts' awe for Earth’s fragile beauty. The writing captures the oscillation between the vastness of space and the intimacy of human experiences, as the crew members process news from home, grapple with loss, and reflect on their personal connections to Earth.
One poignant moment occurs as a typhoon gathers over the Philippines, its magnificence evoking both fear and reverence. The crew's observations underscore the vulnerability of Earth, highlighting how politics and human greed have exacerbated environmental destruction—melting glaciers, eroding coastlines, and blazing forests all bear the scars of human intervention.
Human Connection in Isolation
We follow the spaceship’s crew – 4 astronauts of different nationalities and 2 Russian cosmonauts – for a single day, during which their craft will circle the planet 16 times, passing through 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets over a wide range of trajectories, tenuously orbiting the earth during its nine-month mission in space. Collectively, this group is ‘a choreography of movements and functions’, each individual bringing something different to the party: Anton the spaceship’s heart, Pietro its mind, Roman its hands, Shaun its soul, Chie its conscience and Nell its breath.
The astronauts’ thoughts frequently return to their loved ones:
- Chie, inspired by her mother, a Nagasaki survivor, reflects on resilience.
- Anton grapples with his failing marriage, longing for mutual freedom while trying to protect his family.
- Nell, who barely sees her husband due to her work, thinks of their farm in Ireland.
These personal moments ground the narrative, making the characters relatable despite their extraordinary circumstances.
The Poetry of the Earth from Space
Harvey’s prose is lyrical, offering vivid descriptions of Earth as seen from space:
"At the brink of a continent, the light is fading. The sea is flat and copper with reflected sun, and the shadows of the clouds are long on the water. Asia comes and goes. Australia appears as a dark, featureless shape against this last breath of light, which has now turned platinum. Everything is dimming. The earth’s horizon, cracked open with light at so recent a dawn, is being erased."
These observations convey both the planet’s beauty and its ephemerality, inviting readers to see Earth anew.
Broader Themes and Resonance
Orbital is as much about the human condition as it is about space exploration. Harvey delves into universal questions about the meaning of life, the existence of God, and humanity’s impact on the environment. Written during the COVID lockdowns, the novel draws parallels between the astronauts' isolation in a confined space and the collective experience of a world grappling with separation and uncertainty.
A Unique Structure
The book's structure mirrors the rhythm of space travel: each chapter corresponds to one 90-minute orbit around Earth, with 16 orbits marking a single day. This cyclical narrative creates a sense of hypnotic repetition, echoing the astronauts’ meditative reflections and the routine of their work.
The typhoon observed from space becomes a metaphor for both the planet's power and vulnerability. The crew reflects on their inability to influence events below, highlighting humanity’s limited control over natural forces. Rather than providing a definitive "ending," Orbital closes on a meditative note, inviting readers to reflect on the intertwined fragility of human life and the planet itself. It is a quiet, contemplative conclusion that mirrors the vast and continuous rhythm of the Earth spinning below and the lives it sustains.
Why Read Orbital?
At once a prose poem and a philosophical meditation, Orbital combines the beauty of language with thought-provoking questions about our place in the universe. Harvey has created a work that’s as much about the possibilities of the novel as it is about the fragility of life.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy reflective, lyrical fiction that veers between the epic and the intimate. Orbital makes us look at our planet—and ourselves—with fresh eyes.
Interesting words and phrases I learned - ofiget, zdraste, korovka, dagashiya.
Do the people in space drink each others urine and breath each others air?
Read the book at a stretch from 11.10 pm to 1.37 am completing it in 2.27 hours. Expected time they say to read the book was 2.45 minutes, so I had a saving of 18 minutes.
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