Orbital - Booker Prize

[Vertigo]

So has anyone read Orbital by Samantha Harvey?

It has just been awarded the Booker prize and is the first Booker prize book set in space! It follows a single day (and 16 orbits) aboard the ISS around the Earth but, to be clear, Harvey has stated it is not science fiction and is not about the ISS but, rather, about Earth.

I looked at this a little while ago and decided that, as Harvey had no experience of space or of writing SF and the subject matter didn't really appeal to me, I'd give it a miss. But now I'm questioning that decision, especially as Harvey herself almost quit writing for exactly the same reasons I doubted it; because she had no experience of space and felt a distinct case of imposter syndrome, thinking that no one would be interested in reading such a book by someone with so little experience of the setting. So now, with the award, I am intrigued. I notice that @The Judge has read and struggled with one of her books but this one is only a little over 200 pages so maybe I should consider giving it a whirl.

 

[The Judge]

There's an article about her in The Telegraph today, with the journalist saying the Booker should have gone to Percival Everett. I can't comment on that point, not having read his work, but I can say I would only read Orbital if someone paid me! (And it would have to be a lot of money.)

Apparently the novel is "light on plot" but poetic, in a very lush style, with lots of adjectives -- the article quotes this description of Earth:

"a hunk of tourmaline, no a cantaloupe, an eye, lilac orange almost mauve white magenta bruised textured shellac-ed splendour."​

​

and apparently "the novel goes on like this, orbit after orbit" while very little actually happens.

I hadn't clicked that I'd read anything of hers, and if you hadn't @'d me I'd have remained in ignorance! Having delved back I can understand why I'd expunged her name from my memory. I thought her novel The Western Wind was dire (but, of course, it was praised to the heavens by the literati because of its structure). Apparently, she spent considerable time on research about the ISS, watching hours of footage and reading astronauts' journals, but If it's on a par with her research into medieval history and the Catholic religion she did for TWW, then frankly it's worthless.

The journalist made one comment that resonated with my feelings about TWW:

"To call it a majestic failure would be too strong, but there's something hollow beneath the style."​

Yep, I'd say she's all style and no substance.

 

[Vertigo]

There's an article about her in The Telegraph today, with the journalist saying the Booker should have gone to Percival Everett. I can't comment on that point, not having read his work, but I can say I would only read Orbital if someone paid me! (And it would have to be a lot of money.)

Apparently the novel is "light on plot" but poetic, in a very lush style, with lots of adjectives -- the article quotes this description of Earth:

"a hunk of tourmaline, no a cantaloupe, an eye, lilac orange almost mauve white magenta bruised textured shellac-ed splendour."​

​

and apparently "the novel goes on like this, orbit after orbit" while very little actually happens.

I hadn't clicked that I'd read anything of hers, and if you hadn't @'d me I'd have remained in ignorance! Having delved back I can understand why I'd expunged her name from my memory. I thought her novel The Western Wind was dire (but, of course, it was praised to the heavens by the literati because of its structure). Apparently, she spent considerable time on research about the ISS, watching hours of footage and reading astronauts' journals, but If it's on a par with her research into medieval history and the Catholic religion she did for TWW, then frankly it's worthless.

The journalist made one comment that resonated with my feelings about TWW:

"To call it a majestic failure would be too strong, but there's something hollow beneath the style."​

Yep, I'd say she's all style and no substance.

That's useful to know. I suspect my initial impression was well founded and I'm better spending my pennies on something I'm more likely to appreciate! Thanks!

 

[Toby Frost]

Are there paragraphs and quotation marks for speech? Narrow-minded plebs like me get confused if the basic rules of English grammar aren't obeyed.

 

[Vertigo]

Are there paragraphs and quotation marks for speech? Narrow-minded plebs like me get confused if the basic rules of English grammar aren't obeyed.

I'm contemplating risking embarking on another Jose Saramago book which does exactly that. I usually find I can get into the swing of that style of writing fairly quickly.

Just doing a quick sample read on Amazon, there appear to be paragraphs but a distinct lack of dialogue and the few bits there are point to possibly lacking those grammatical assistants: Or - the teacher said - is it just a painting about nothing?

 

[Christine Wheelwright]

In the past, the Booker Prize has alerted me to some fine novelists, like Hilary Mantel, Graham Swift, Yann Martel and Ian McEwan. However, I do worry that it has become a little too 'artsy' in recent years, valuing style over substance. A banana with duct tape across it (This Banana Was Duct-Taped to a Wall. It Sold for $120,000.) is all very interesting as a discussion point, but you wouldn't want it taped to the wall in your own living room. Also, there is something of an 'emperor's new clothes' effect; nobody wants to be considered a philistine by disliking something that others praise as artistic. Hence the art is built from its own momentum rather than from any merit. SF has its own examples (3-Body Problem....enuff said).

 

[Vertigo]

Also, there is something of an 'emperor's new clothes' effect; nobody wants to be considered a philistine by disliking something that others praise as artistic. Hence the art is built from its own momentum rather than from any merit. SF has its own examples (3-Body Problem....enuff said).

Absolutely this but I disagree with your particular example. I read them before they were really trendy and loved them and still do. For me the real Emperors clothes series, especially considering their asking prices, are ones like Murderbot and the Angry Planet ones.

 

[Christine Wheelwright]

Absolutely this but I disagree with your particular example. I read them before they were really trendy and loved them and still do. For me the real Emperors clothes series, especially considering their asking prices, are ones like Murderbot and the Angry Planet ones.

I thought that example might raise some eyebrows. Anyway, it seems we agree on the basic argument; sometimes books are considered popular because many people have read them. But, equally, many people read the books because they are considered popular. The classic chicken and egg, closed loop feedback system.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I read Prophet song - last year’s winner - an Irish dystopia (how could I refuse) and it was awesome

 

[Toby Frost]

lilac orange almost mauve white magenta bruised textured shellac-ed splendour

Fast and bulbous!

Sorry.

 

[Stephen Palmer]

Interesting that in the above example she mentions two variations on purple.

 

[Vertigo]

Interesting that in the above example she mentions two variations on purple.

Yeah, I'm not sure how many sentences like that I could read before throwing it out the window. Metaphorically as I read ebooks - actually one downside to ebooks; it's not nearly as satisfying to just delete a file!

 

[Swank]

So has anyone read Orbital by Samantha Harvey?

It has just been awarded the Booker prize and is the first Booker prize book set in space! It follows a single day (and 16 orbits) aboard the ISS around the Earth but, to be clear, Harvey has stated it is not science fiction and is not about the ISS but, rather, about Earth.

I looked at this a little while ago and decided that, as Harvey had no experience of space or of writing SF and the subject matter didn't really appeal to me, I'd give it a miss. But now I'm questioning that decision, especially as Harvey herself almost quit writing for exactly the same reasons I doubted it; because she had no experience of space and felt a distinct case of imposter syndrome, thinking that no one would be interested in reading such a book by someone with so little experience of the setting. So now, with the award, I am intrigued. I notice that @The Judge has read and struggled with one of her books but this one is only a little over 200 pages so maybe I should consider giving it a whirl.

So you wouldn't read Neuromancer because Gibson didn't know about computers, and you wouldn't read Contact because Sagan had never written fiction before?

 

[Vertigo]

So you wouldn't read Neuromancer because Gibson didn't know about computers, and you wouldn't read Contact because Sagan had never written fiction before?

That is absolutely not what I said! Just that her own confessed lack of knowledge raised flags. And if Gibson had written a book about, say, hacking computers set in the current day rather than the future then, yes, I would hesitate to read it based on his lack of knowledge of the subject. And I also went on to say "...and the subject matter didn't really appeal to me." Also the whole point of my posting was that with those flags raised I was still considering reading it but was looking for input from others here to assist my decision. Sort of one of the main points of a forum like this, no?

Also I did not make any comment on her experience of writing; I really don't see what that has to do with anything that I did say. However since you brought it up; Contact was an exceptional book in that it was quite good despite Sagan's dry textbook way of writing. I'm sorry if that offends but Sagan was a great scientist but not such a good writer.

 

[Serendipity]

Hm... I'm going differ in my opinion from many here. I think Samantha Harvey has got the impact of being confined to a tin can (i.e. space station) correct for people who suffer from claustrophobia. The 'lens' through which you see things changes. In this case, you pick out more details, whether it be colours or some minute detail.

 

[Vertigo]

Hm... I'm going differ in my opinion from many here. I think Samantha Harvey has got the impact of being confined to a tin can (i.e. space station) correct for people who suffer from claustrophobia. The 'lens' through which you see things changes. In this case, you pick out more details, whether it be colours or some minute detail.

Have you read the book? That's what I was hoping for but so far I don't think any of the posts are from anyone who's read it.

 

[Swank]

That is absolutely not what I said!

You said:

I looked at this a little while ago and decided that, as Harvey had no experience of space or of writing SF

 

[Vertigo]

Big difference in no experience of writing and no experience of writing a particular genre. And, as I said these were just flags; no one was conclusive but together they made me doubt I would enjoy the book.

There are far too many books written that purchasing would be impossible if the prospective buyer doesn't make some decisions as to which is likely to be a book they'd like. There have been quite a few well known writers whose first/only foray into SF has disappointed me, such as Cormac McCarthy, and yet, I still looked for opinions here to see if they might change my mind. I didn't realise that I would then be picked up for making such decisions. Do you never make decisions on which books you think you would like to read or are your criterion, having not read a book or the author, completely without flaws?

And you completely ignored the follow on to my phrase you quoted (a classic technique of disinformation) which was "and the subject matter didn't really appeal to me." Or maybe I Should make a judgement on that either.

And I can't believe I'm being grilled like this for such a statement!

 

[Swank]

Big difference in no experience of writing and no experience of writing a particular genre. And, as I said these were just flags; no one was conclusive but together they made me doubt I would enjoy the book.

There are far too many books written that purchasing would be impossible if the prospective buyer doesn't make some decisions as to which is likely to be a book they'd like. There have been quite a few well known writers whose first/only foray into SF has disappointed me, such as Cormac McCarthy, and yet, I still looked for opinions here to see if they might change my mind. I didn't realise that I would then be picked up for making such decisions. Do you never make decisions on which books you think you would like to read or are your criterion, having not read a book or the author, completely without flaws?

I'm sorry you feel picked on. I was asking you a question based on what you said, and then you denied saying it. At no point did I criticize you.

 

[Christine Wheelwright]

Have you read the book? That's what I was hoping for but so far I don't think any of the posts are from anyone who's read it.

What we really need is someone to 'take one for the team' and actually read the thing. I'm not volunteering btw (I read the first chapter online and that was more than enough for me).