Orbital: A story of human longing shot through with references to the God it denies

The Booker Prize winner follows the lives of six astronauts orbiting earth. This short book with little dialogue or plot is peppered with references to God, says Joy Summers. What hope can Christians find in the deep questions that it asks about life and the universe?  

Each year I pick a title from the Booker Prize short-list to read. It’s a game I play; a private lottery to see if I coincidentally choose the winner. This year I chose Orbital by Samantha Harvey (Vintage). The novel, which went on to become the 2024 winner, has little plot, character development or dialogue, yet I was gripped by it.  

So why did it become so popular and what does it say about the world we inhabit?