Orbital: ‘Awe-inspiring’ Max Porter (Bog, Paperback / softback, Engelsk) af Samantha Harvey

A team of astronauts aboard the International Space Station engage in collecting meteorological data, conducting scientific experiments, and pushing the boundaries of human endurance. Yet, their primary task is to observe.

Together, they gaze at their silent blue planet, orbiting it sixteen times a day. They watch as continents drift by, seasons change, and they witness glaciers, deserts, towering mountains, and vast oceans. Each day offers endless displays of breathtaking beauty. Despite their distance, they feel Earth’s constant pull.

News of a mother’s passing reaches them, stirring thoughts of home. They watch as a typhoon forms over an island, where loved ones reside, marveling at its power yet fearing its potential destruction. The fragility of human life permeates their conversations, fears, and dreams.

Though far from Earth, they have never felt more connected to it, or more protective of it. They begin to ponder: what is life without Earth? What is Earth without humanity?