Samantha Harvey: Orbital

Nov 12, 2025
52 mins

Episode Description

Samantha Harvey discusses her 2024 Booker Prize-winning novel, Orbital – a profound meditation on deep space, our environment, the meaning of life and the nature of humanity itself.

Taking place over a single day – with sixteen sunrises and sixteen sunsets – Orbital tells the story of six astronauts as they observe the planet Earth from the vantage point of the International Space Station. The fragility of human life fills their conversations, their fears, their dreams. They are there to do vital work, but slowly they begin to wonder: what is life without Earth? What is Earth without humanity?

Hosted by Kate Mildenhall.

Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival.

Support MWF: https://mwf.com.au/donate/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See all episodes

Never lose your place, on any device

Create a free account to sync, back up, and get personal recommendations.