The Book Case - Episode Summary: "Samantha Harvey Goes Orbital"

Release Date: January 23, 2025
Hosts: Kate and Charlie Gibson

Introduction

In the January 23, 2025 episode of The Book Case, hosts Kate and Charlie Gibson engage in a captivating conversation with Samantha Harvey, the acclaimed author of the Booker Prize-winning novel "Orbital." This episode delves deep into Harvey's unique approach to writing a novel set in space without having ever been there, exploring the intricate balance between the majestic and the mundane in her storytelling.

Celebrating "Orbital" – The Booker Prize Triumph

The episode opens with Charlie announcing the prestigious accolade awarded to Samantha Harvey for her novel "Orbital," which clinched the Booker Prize for 2024. Charlie remarks:

"This is a novel almost like nothing else I've ever read. Kate."
[01:22]

Kate expands on the uniqueness of "Orbital," describing it as a "space pastoral" that combines grand, poetic language with the profound loneliness of space:

"It's a slice of life, of astronauts orbiting the earth with grand, beautiful language. But it also emphasizes the loneliness of space, how strange space is."
[01:56]

Samantha Harvey’s Artistic Vision and Research

Harvey discusses her inspiration and meticulous research process, highlighting her aim to portray space not just as a physical environment but as a realm of emotional and philosophical depth. She emphasizes her commitment to literary realism within a science-based setting:

"The idea of this book was that it was science based, but that it was realism. It was about literary realism and the experience that we do have as a species of living in space."
[07:29]

Despite never having traveled to space, Harvey immersed herself in astronaut accounts, NASA and ESA archives, and extensive visual research to create an authentic portrayal:

"I read a lot of books by astronauts and I read a lot of accounts on the NASA and ESA websites and a lot of old archived material from both the ISS and Mir space station."
[09:54]

Balancing the Majestic with the Mundane

A central theme in "Orbital" is the juxtaposition of the awe-inspiring views of Earth from space with the everyday, mundane tasks astronauts perform. Harvey articulates how this contrast adds depth to the narrative:

"The juxtaposition of vacuuming and, you know, the Arctic just casually gliding beneath you."
[23:04]

Kate praises this balance, noting the series of paradoxes Harvey weaves into the astronauts' lives—majestic yet mundane, lonely yet awe-filled:

"The number of paradoxes... they're on top of each other and they're incredibly lonely. They live between awe and panic."
[25:16]

Harvey explains that these paradoxes stem from the unique environment of space, where astronauts navigate both the limitless vistas and the confined living spaces:

"It's both sort of majestic and domestic at the same time. It's extraordinary. And it's very mundane, and I really find that fascinating for a writer."
[24:52]

Exploring Faith and Human Experience

The conversation also touches upon how the experience of viewing Earth from space impacts astronauts' faith and worldview. While Harvey hasn't personally experienced space, her research reflects diverse astronaut perspectives:

"I have read different accounts that astronauts have given about faith, and it seems really individual. Some go there and acquire faith, some maintain a faith, or it becomes strengthened or more nuanced."
[26:57]

In "Orbital," Harvey subtly explores these themes through her characters, illustrating how shared experiences can lead to divergent spiritual conclusions:

"Nell being a Christian and Sean being agnostic, and how they arrive at their respective views based on exactly the same experience of looking out at the cosmos."
[27:55]

The Emotional Journey of Winning the Booker Prize

Harvey shares her heartfelt reaction to winning the Booker Prize, describing the moment as a profound shock and a significant shift from her self-perception as an underdog:

"I was so utterly convinced that it wasn't going to be me that I think I just went into shock when my name was called."
[28:42]

She reflects on the dual nature of the achievement, likening it to being "hit by a bus" due to the overwhelming mix of emotions it brings:

"It takes away a lot of pressures and it brings some new pressures. It is a bit like being hit by a bus as well."
[31:02]

Despite the accolades, Harvey remains grounded, expressing gratitude and a determination to continue writing authentically:

"I feel sure enough about my own writing and my own artistic integrity to not feel too much pressure. But let's see."
[31:10]

Rapid Fire with Samantha Harvey

Towards the episode’s conclusion, Kate and Charlie engage in a rapid-fire segment, unveiling personal insights into Harvey’s preferences and inspirations:

1. Would you take a trip into space?
   "No."
   [32:04]

2. Is there a book that makes it onto your syllabus again and again?
   "Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf."
   [32:14]

   "It's such a masterpiece. It feels incredibly modern despite being 100 years old."
   [32:18]

3. What was the best book you read as research?
   "Diary of an Apprentice Astronaut by Samantha Cristoforetti."
   [32:47]

4. Favorite feedback from an astronaut who read your book?
   "She felt that I had at times managed to put into words something that she had felt and sometimes put into words something that she hadn't quite registered she'd felt."
   [33:19]

5. Do you read your work aloud when editing?
   "No, I don't. I make my students do this and make them read aloud, and I don't do it myself."
   [33:45]

   "I know that it's the right thing to do, but something about it is so cringe worthy to me that I just cannot do it."
   [34:03]

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with heartfelt congratulations to Samantha Harvey on her Booker Prize victory and a final endorsement of her work. Kate highlights "Orbital" as a "Rapunzel-like accomplishment," celebrating Harvey's hard-earned success and her ability to craft an ambitious, beautifully written novel:

"This book conveys the awe and the majesty of space and we were hooked."
[31:41]

Charlie adds a final nod to Harvey's contribution, likening the accolade to navigating new heights in her writing career:

"This beautiful gleam of the Booker that is always there, which is very lovely."
[31:07]

Overall, this episode of The Book Case offers an in-depth exploration of Samantha Harvey's "Orbital," shedding light on the creative process behind an award-winning narrative that masterfully intertwines the vastness of space with the intricacies of human experience.

Notable Quotes:

• "It's a slice of life, of astronauts orbiting the earth with grand, beautiful language."
  – Kate Gibson [01:56]

• "The juxtaposition of vacuuming and, you know, the Arctic just casually gliding beneath you."
  – Samantha Harvey [23:04]

• "If that makes you feel optimistic and to feel, oh, you know, as a species, we're okay, we have this beautiful planet, everything will be okay, then take that message."
  – Samantha Harvey [15:45]

• "Nell being a Christian and Sean being agnostic, and how they arrive at their respective views based on exactly the same experience of looking out at the cosmos."
  – Samantha Harvey [27:55]

About The Book Case:

The Book Case with Kate and Charlie Gibson, produced by ABC Audio and Good Morning America, is a weekly podcast that encourages listeners to explore books beyond their usual genres. Through insightful interviews with best-selling authors, tastemakers, and independent bookstore owners, the hosts navigate the vast literary world to rekindle the audience's love for reading.

Note: Advertisements and non-content segments have been excluded to focus on the episode's substantive discussions.