LONDON — The prestigious Booker Prize for fiction has been awarded to British author Samantha Harvey for her captivating novel “Orbital,” which takes readers on a journey aboard the International Space Station.

This enchanting narrative, described by Harvey as a “space pastoral,” follows the lives of six astronauts as they navigate life while orbiting the Earth. Harvey started working on the book during the lockdowns prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, infusing her writing with a sense of wonder and exploration.

Having previously published four novels and a memoir that delves into her struggles with insomnia, Harvey has made a significant mark in the literary world. Her achievement is especially notable as she becomes the first British author to win the Booker Prize since 2020, triumphing over a diverse pool of finalists hailing from Canada, the United States, Australia, and the Netherlands.

The winner was selected from a robust total of 156 novels submitted by various publishers, showcasing the competitive nature of this esteemed literary award. With a prize of £50,000 (approximately $64,000), Harvey’s accomplishment highlights her impressive talent and dedication to storytelling.