Samantha Harvey, a British author, won the coveted Booker Prize on Tuesday for her science fiction book that chronicles the 24-hour orbit of six astronauts around the Earth.
Harvey’s “Orbital” is set aboard the International Space Station and follows two men and four women from Japan, Russia, the United States, Britain, and Italy as they observe and consider their home planet. The film touches on themes of sexuality, grief, and the climate problem.
The Booker, which comes with a 50,000 pound ($64,000) cash prize, has launched careers and courted controversy since its creation in 1969.
Past laureates include Margaret Atwood, Ian McEwan, Julian Barnes and Kazuo Ishiguro.
“I was not expecting that,” Harvey said upon learning of her win, the first by a woman since Atwood was recognised for “The Testaments” alongside Bernardine Evaristo’s “Girl, Woman, Other”, adding she was “overwhelmed”.
“Everyone who does speak for and not against the Earth; for and not against the dignity of other humans, other life; and all the humans who speak for and call for and work for peace,” Harvey said in her acceptance speech, was the recipient of the prize.
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