Lezersrecensie
An interesting read that gives a lot to think about
English author Samantha Harvey (1975) was nominated or won awards with her books, also with ‘Orbital’ which won the ‘The Booker Prize’, ‘Hawthornden Prize’ and ‘The InWords Literary Award’ in 2024.
In the mid-orbit of Earth floats the ISS with seventeen thousand miles per hour, inside are four astronauts and two cosmonauts. The crew - Anton, Chie, Pietro, Nell, Roman and Shaun - are observing the surface of Earth, doing investigations and experiments in zero gravity, and installing or repairing parts outside and inside. The crew has to work together, their urine gets collected and recycled, all waste gets combined and packed inside a resupply container, they enjoy the phenomena of nature, and they joke about the political separation between Russia and the rest of the world that is done inside the ISS. During the stay they share dreams, memories, stories, and food. Some long for home, others to stay there forever, and others for both.
Samantha Harvey tells the story of one day, 24 hours, and that is 16 orbits around the Earth. Each orbit Harvey lets one or more crew members be central, sometimes all of them are together, but each get mostly the same amount of story. Harvey writes in such a beautiful way that the scenery is visible in the mind, but also writes in clear plain language mostly about politics, climate, and only adds science when needed without going scientific. Harvey makes the characters have their own personality with memories, stories from their life on Earth, and how they act and behave onboard. It is nicely done how Harvey weaves in politics and not judging it so keeps it open to be judged. Along with the observations Harvey makes clear how the Earth suffers from rapid decrease of trees, e.g. with mountains losing snow and deserts expanding. Harvey may tell a lot, but never it becomes boring.
Although the book only has 136 pages, it is not a story that asks to be read fast. Some orbits have a lot of information in politics, climate, science, and how the Earth changes. An interesting read that gives a lot to think about and almost makes you wish to be an astronaut yourself.
In the mid-orbit of Earth floats the ISS with seventeen thousand miles per hour, inside are four astronauts and two cosmonauts. The crew - Anton, Chie, Pietro, Nell, Roman and Shaun - are observing the surface of Earth, doing investigations and experiments in zero gravity, and installing or repairing parts outside and inside. The crew has to work together, their urine gets collected and recycled, all waste gets combined and packed inside a resupply container, they enjoy the phenomena of nature, and they joke about the political separation between Russia and the rest of the world that is done inside the ISS. During the stay they share dreams, memories, stories, and food. Some long for home, others to stay there forever, and others for both.
Samantha Harvey tells the story of one day, 24 hours, and that is 16 orbits around the Earth. Each orbit Harvey lets one or more crew members be central, sometimes all of them are together, but each get mostly the same amount of story. Harvey writes in such a beautiful way that the scenery is visible in the mind, but also writes in clear plain language mostly about politics, climate, and only adds science when needed without going scientific. Harvey makes the characters have their own personality with memories, stories from their life on Earth, and how they act and behave onboard. It is nicely done how Harvey weaves in politics and not judging it so keeps it open to be judged. Along with the observations Harvey makes clear how the Earth suffers from rapid decrease of trees, e.g. with mountains losing snow and deserts expanding. Harvey may tell a lot, but never it becomes boring.
Although the book only has 136 pages, it is not a story that asks to be read fast. Some orbits have a lot of information in politics, climate, science, and how the Earth changes. An interesting read that gives a lot to think about and almost makes you wish to be an astronaut yourself.
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