British author Samantha Harvey has been awarded the 2024 Booker Prize for her novel Orbital. The prize, given for a piece of fiction, was chosen unanimously out of 156 books published in the UK and Ireland.

Harvey's book follows six astronauts looking down on earth from the International Space Station. The astronauts conduct experiments and discuss the significance of human life on earth.  The award comes with a £50,000 (€60,000) prize and trophy, given at a ceremony in London.

The last female winners to be selected for the prize was five years ago when Margaret Atwood for Girl, Woman, Other and Bernadine Evaristo for The Testaments shared the prize that year.

‘Sometimes you encounter a book and cannot work out how this miraculous event has happened’

We're delighted to announce that the winner of the #BookerPrize2024 is Orbital by Samantha Harvey. 🌌✨

Discover the book: https://t.co/Jx491BCyuj pic.twitter.com/R888OZEPE9

— The Booker Prizes (@TheBookerPrizes) November 12, 2024

The chief executive of the Booker Prize foundation Gaby Wood said that, "Orbital wins the prize in a year of geopolitical crisis, likely to be the warmest year in recorded history."

She continues saying,"A book about a planet 'shaped by the sheer amazing force of human want', about an 'unbounded place' with no wall or barrier visible from space, with all politics 'an assault on its gentleness', it is hopeful, timely and timeless."

Among the long listed authors was Irish author Colin Barrett, who was noted for the prize with his debut novel Wild Houses.

Harvey accepted the award saying she dedicates the prize to,“all the people who speak for and not against the Earth and work for and not against peace.”