The novel captures a single day in space with poetic observations of Earth and the astronauts’ emotional isolation. It blends scientific facts with moving human stories, highlighting both the beauty and fragility of our planet.
Andrea Montgomery describes the novel as a meditative journey following six astronauts aboard the International Space Station during a single day. The story eschews complex plots for a contemplative focus on the astronauts’ experiences, their reflections on Earth below, and the emotional weight of being far from loved ones. The descriptions of Earth from space are vivid and awe-inspiring, while the unfolding typhoon on the planet below adds a poignant sense of urgency and connection to life on Earth. Andrea appreciates how the novel blends scientific insights with intimate human moments, emphasizing the astronauts’ isolation and the critical importance of Earth’s environmental future.
Quick quotes
Orbital feels more like a work of non-fiction than a novel.
We are reminded of how infinitesimally small we are within that planet and on the most superficial level, of how insignificant our births, lives, and deaths are.
We also come to understand how critical we are to the future survival of our planet.