Hannah Telfer, managing director at Vintage, praised the book's success and the celebration of Harvey's win within the literary community.

Samantha Harvey's novel, Orbital, which tells the story of six astronauts on the International Space Station over a single day, won the £50,000 Booker Prize on November 12, 2024.

Following its Booker Prize win, Orbital has reached the top of the UK bestseller chart, becoming the first Booker-winning novel to achieve this in the same week as the announcement.

Sales at Waterstones surged nearly 3,000% from Tuesday to Wednesday after the win, with day one sales exceeding double those of recent Booker winners.

During its release week, Orbital sold 20,040 copies in the UK, according to Nielsen BookData.

Since its release in November 2023, the novel has sold a total of 54,212 copies across all editions.

Independent bookstores have reported high demand for the novel, with many noting its availability in paperback as a key factor for attracting readers who prefer not to purchase hardbacks.

Tom Rowley, owner of Backstory in London, emphasized the book's manageable length of 136 pages, making it accessible for readers with busy lifestyles.

Alex Forbes, owner of Fourbears Books, pointed out that the book's unique perspective on humanity and life from space appeals to both literary and genre fiction readers.

Additionally, Orbital has been longlisted for the inaugural Climate Fiction Prize, valued at £10,000, with the shortlist set to be announced on March 19, 2025.

Bea Carvalho, head of books at Waterstones, noted that sales trends suggest Orbital may become the bestselling Booker Prize winner in the chain's history.