“Orbital” by Samantha Harvey

This novella, just 136 pages long, is far removed from Samantha Harvey’s earlier much praised novels but in it’s own right has been very well received and justifiably so. She is an excellent writer and this story about six space travellers orbiting 250 miles above the earth, in an International space station, does not disappoint. Indeed it enhances her reputation; her last novel, “The Western Wind”, published in 2018, is one of our best sellers – year after year.

“Orbital” is a day in the life of these six astronauts/cosmonauts who experience sixteen orbits forming 16 chapters where the world beneath is described eloquently, in all it’s spleandour. During these navigations when morning arrives every 90 minutes, we learn a lot about the six, four men and two women. Two Russians cosmonauts, [Roman and Anton]. Chie a Japanese, Shaun an American, an Italian [Pietro] and Nell the Brit. All have their back stories unfolded before us the reader.

Their daily tasks and responsibilities, routines seem mundane, repetitive but that routine is essential for the smooth running of the station where the facilities are segregated “Russian Cosmonauts” and a separate one for the other four Astronauts. However, the six cohabit well, they have to but they each have their private space. This book has a gentle storyline – the essence of the narrative is the encirclement of the earth and the splendours the crew can marvel at. All is not beautiful as they witness an approaching typhoon inevitably moving towards populated land mass, a risk to lives known and unknown.

Apart from the spartan location of the space station what sets this book apart are Samantha Harvey’s descriptive powers. This novella is not a quick read as the language should be savoured, the descriptions sensed and enjoyed. There will be rarely a page where the reader does not stop or slow down to appreciate the author’s skill and dexterity with the English language.