Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Broadway Books (2014), Edition: Reprint, 387 pages
Description
Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he's alive--and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first. But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills--and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit--he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?… (more)
Media reviews
The Martian is technically a “hard science fiction” book – a subgenre of science fiction so firmly rooted in science that the story wouldn’t work without it. And certainly, Weir’s first work is science-heavy; he even mentioned in an interview that the book was an exercise in whether he
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could make a fictional narrative out of the scientific premise of the novel. The answer, obviously, is “yes,” and The Martian is an intriguing exercise in the way that science itself can create plot. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member rosalita
This book, the story of an astronaut on a manned mission to Mars who gets left for dead when his crewmates evacuate in a crisis, has a lot of the elements that made me think I didn't like science fiction for so long. Primarily, it has techno-babble. Lots and lots of techno-babble. And chemistry.
So of course I hated it, right? Wrong! The Martian is one of the best books I've read this year, with a protagonist who is witty and smart and arctic chill under pressure. And he gets lots of practice being cool and unflappable, as crisis after crisis threaten to end his Mars castaway gig quicker than a barefoot jackrabbit on a hot greasy griddle in August. Even after Watney is able to make contact with NASA to let them know he isn't dead yet, he faces a real puzzle: how can he survive four years until the rescue mission can reach him, with food that will only last for about a year?
How Watney and NASA tackle that problem, and the other half-dozen that threaten to fulfill Watney's missed destiny as the late great Martian, kept me turning pages right to the end. Andy Weir tells the story with breezy blasts of profane humor that will almost have you believing that being stranded on Mars wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
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And math ("I'll spare you the math," narrator Mark Watney says at one point, after having already devoted three long paragraphs to math, and just before devoting the rest of the chapter to ... you guessed it, math ). And acronyms galore, from MDV and MAV to EVA and AREC.So of course I hated it, right? Wrong! The Martian is one of the best books I've read this year, with a protagonist who is witty and smart and arctic chill under pressure. And he gets lots of practice being cool and unflappable, as crisis after crisis threaten to end his Mars castaway gig quicker than a barefoot jackrabbit on a hot greasy griddle in August. Even after Watney is able to make contact with NASA to let them know he isn't dead yet, he faces a real puzzle: how can he survive four years until the rescue mission can reach him, with food that will only last for about a year?
How Watney and NASA tackle that problem, and the other half-dozen that threaten to fulfill Watney's missed destiny as the late great Martian, kept me turning pages right to the end. Andy Weir tells the story with breezy blasts of profane humor that will almost have you believing that being stranded on Mars wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
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LibraryThing member misericordia
Reading Day 055
This enjoyable book is 400 pages. It took me approximately 4 hours to read. I going to call that 1 AndyWeir. I am now going to use that unit as the measure of any given book I choose to read. So if a book half as enjoyable as "The Martian" and is 400 pages and takes 4 hours to read
***
If at this point you feel this review is cracked, misguided and or a pain, don't read the book. If you have found a flaw in the math or are intrigued and wonder where this will go next, then read "The Martian".
I would like to say this book is Science Fiction not Science Fantasy. A distinction which for the vast majority of the Science Fiction genre is mote. If this is important distinction to you and you know who you are, read "The Martian"
This enjoyable book is 400 pages. It took me approximately 4 hours to read. I going to call that 1 AndyWeir. I am now going to use that unit as the measure of any given book I choose to read. So if a book half as enjoyable as "The Martian" and is 400 pages and takes 4 hours to read
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that is 1/2 AndyWeir. But if a book is 200 page and takes 2 hours to get 1/2 as much enjoyment that is 1/8th of a AndyWeir. Instead of trying to read 75 books in a year I am going to try and read 10 AndyWiers. ***
If at this point you feel this review is cracked, misguided and or a pain, don't read the book. If you have found a flaw in the math or are intrigued and wonder where this will go next, then read "The Martian".
I would like to say this book is Science Fiction not Science Fantasy. A distinction which for the vast majority of the Science Fiction genre is mote. If this is important distinction to you and you know who you are, read "The Martian"
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LibraryThing member Storeetllr
Oh, my! What a wild ride this novel is!
I borrowed it (as an ebook) from the library almost 3 weeks ago but didn't start it right away, and then I forgot I had it until 3 days before it was due back. I thought about not bothering to read it ~ it just wasn't "calling" to me, seemed too "hard
This is scifi that is so realistic that it was almost as if it were a true story. I learned a whole heck of a lot about physics, thermodynamics, chemistry, mechanics, astrophysics, rocket science (haha), relatively painlessly and all within a thrilling story about an astronaut who, through a series of unforeseeable mishaps, ended up stranded on Mars after his fellow astronauts had to abort the mission quickly due to an unexpected but deadly sandstorm. I loved the characters, loved the dialogue (including the internal dialogue of Mark Watney, the stranded astronaut, whose specialties were botony and mechanics), loved the worldbuilding, even loved the hard science (though I admit my eyes glazed just a bit whenever mathematical calculations were discussed, which was fortunately not all that often).
Here are a couple of my favorite lines from the novel spoken by Watney:
"Hell yeah, I'm a botanist! Fear my botany powers!"
"Yes of course duct tape works in a near-vacuum. Duct tape works anywhere. Duct tape is magic and should be worshipped."
Bottom line: Very very highly recommended, for everyone, even those who don't like "hard-science" scifi or scifi of any type.
I borrowed it (as an ebook) from the library almost 3 weeks ago but didn't start it right away, and then I forgot I had it until 3 days before it was due back. I thought about not bothering to read it ~ it just wasn't "calling" to me, seemed too "hard
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science-ish," if you know what I mean ~ but I recalled that msn59 and jnwelch and drneutron loved it, and I figured I should at least crack it open and read the first chapter to see if I wanted to try and renew it or just forget about it. So, around 5 p.m. yesterday, I read the first line: "I'm pretty much fucked," and, at 2:30 a.m. when I "closed" the book to go to sleep, I was 91% through it. The next day, after running a few errands, I got right back to it and read to the end. And what a spectacular ending it was too! In fact, I tried really hard not to cry (because for a change I had put on some eye makeup to go out and didn't want it to smear), but couldn't help it, the tears just had to come. This is scifi that is so realistic that it was almost as if it were a true story. I learned a whole heck of a lot about physics, thermodynamics, chemistry, mechanics, astrophysics, rocket science (haha), relatively painlessly and all within a thrilling story about an astronaut who, through a series of unforeseeable mishaps, ended up stranded on Mars after his fellow astronauts had to abort the mission quickly due to an unexpected but deadly sandstorm. I loved the characters, loved the dialogue (including the internal dialogue of Mark Watney, the stranded astronaut, whose specialties were botony and mechanics), loved the worldbuilding, even loved the hard science (though I admit my eyes glazed just a bit whenever mathematical calculations were discussed, which was fortunately not all that often).
Here are a couple of my favorite lines from the novel spoken by Watney:
"Hell yeah, I'm a botanist! Fear my botany powers!"
"Yes of course duct tape works in a near-vacuum. Duct tape works anywhere. Duct tape is magic and should be worshipped."
Bottom line: Very very highly recommended, for everyone, even those who don't like "hard-science" scifi or scifi of any type.
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LibraryThing member conceptDawg
This has been a seriously fun book to read. If you are, in any way, a nerd, engineer, geek, space nut, adventure nerd, survivalist, or any other sort of human you should read this. Non-humans might also like it. I can't speak for them.
You know that scene in Apollo 13 where they throw the box of
And it helps that the protagonist shares the same cynical sarcastic sense of humor that I have. There's also that. So if you like me and my sense of humor—and who doesn't?—then you'll feel right at home.
Do yourself a favor and read this book.
You know that scene in Apollo 13 where they throw the box of
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assorted supplies on the table and tell the engineers that they have 6 hours to solve the problem? This entire book is a series of those problem-solving/life-saving adventures. It's really good.And it helps that the protagonist shares the same cynical sarcastic sense of humor that I have. There's also that. So if you like me and my sense of humor—and who doesn't?—then you'll feel right at home.
Do yourself a favor and read this book.
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LibraryThing member bragan
When what was originally meant to be a month-long Mars mission is aborted on day six due to a nasty dust storm, astronaut Mark Watney is injured, and his shipmates, believing him to be dead, reluctantly leave him behind and get out while they can. Turns out he's still very much alive, but staying
25 pages in, as Watney was telling us all the details of his plan to make water from hydrazine fuel and doing endless calculations about how much of everything he'd need and how long it would last him, I started feeling confused. "Wait, how is this book so popular?," I thought. "Why do even people who don't generally read SF seem to be into this? I'm a giant science nerd, and even I'm only mildly interested in all of this!" But then, as the novel went on, a funny thing happened. Even though it continued being more of the same -- lots of Martian MacGyvering, lots of arithmetic -- the story got really gripping.
It seems like it shouldn't have been, really. It should have felt like yet another so-so, tediously technical Tale of Hard SF Space Competence. Seriously, the writing's nothing special, the dialog (in the sections that have dialog, anyway) is stilted, and there's very little human drama at all, no powerful emotional sense of what it would be like to be stranded alone on an alien world. Watney's not a guy we learn much of anything about, beyond the fact that he's a) amazingly resourceful, and b) a total smartass, and his troubles are all physical, not psychological. He ought to seem like an impossible-to-care-about cardboard cutout of a space hero, like a million hard SF characters before him. (And I use the word the word "characters" loosely.) And yet... I wasn't just interested in the science-y problem-solving here, although that was pretty cool if you're into science-y problem solving. I actually cared about this guy, and I felt genuine suspense every time he faced an even-more-dangerous-than-usual situation.
I'm not entirely sure how Weir pulls that off, but it involves a good sense of humor and a surprising ability to summarize a lot of technical details in an accessible way. I'm still a little surprised that this has become something of a genre-transcending hit but, hey, maybe I shouldn't be. After all, Apollo 13 was a highly successful movie, and I think this novel is all about capturing that exact "failure is not an option"/"figuring out how to put the square peg in the round hole" spirit.
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that way is going to be a heck of a challenge, especially considering that he now has no way to contact Earth.25 pages in, as Watney was telling us all the details of his plan to make water from hydrazine fuel and doing endless calculations about how much of everything he'd need and how long it would last him, I started feeling confused. "Wait, how is this book so popular?," I thought. "Why do even people who don't generally read SF seem to be into this? I'm a giant science nerd, and even I'm only mildly interested in all of this!" But then, as the novel went on, a funny thing happened. Even though it continued being more of the same -- lots of Martian MacGyvering, lots of arithmetic -- the story got really gripping.
It seems like it shouldn't have been, really. It should have felt like yet another so-so, tediously technical Tale of Hard SF Space Competence. Seriously, the writing's nothing special, the dialog (in the sections that have dialog, anyway) is stilted, and there's very little human drama at all, no powerful emotional sense of what it would be like to be stranded alone on an alien world. Watney's not a guy we learn much of anything about, beyond the fact that he's a) amazingly resourceful, and b) a total smartass, and his troubles are all physical, not psychological. He ought to seem like an impossible-to-care-about cardboard cutout of a space hero, like a million hard SF characters before him. (And I use the word the word "characters" loosely.) And yet... I wasn't just interested in the science-y problem-solving here, although that was pretty cool if you're into science-y problem solving. I actually cared about this guy, and I felt genuine suspense every time he faced an even-more-dangerous-than-usual situation.
I'm not entirely sure how Weir pulls that off, but it involves a good sense of humor and a surprising ability to summarize a lot of technical details in an accessible way. I'm still a little surprised that this has become something of a genre-transcending hit but, hey, maybe I shouldn't be. After all, Apollo 13 was a highly successful movie, and I think this novel is all about capturing that exact "failure is not an option"/"figuring out how to put the square peg in the round hole" spirit.
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LibraryThing member iansales
This is an odd one. The book has been hugely successful, so much so Ridley Scott is apparently making a film of it. Yet most of the praise for the book I’ve seen has been outside fandom. Is this because the book was originally self-published, and did so well on Kindle it was then picked up by a
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major imprint? Or is it that hard science fiction has fallen out of favour with genre fandom? Actually, I think it’s neither, but rather the fact that a) The Martian is a resolutely commercial book, and in style and approach has more in common with technothrillers than it does science fiction novels, b) it is completely hollow, there’s no meaty idea for a sf reader to get their teeth into, and c) it’s actually not very good, just pages and pages of a very irritating narrator explaining how he managed to survive on Mars after accidentally being left behind. It’s basically “Home Alone on the Red Planet”, with the planet itself playing the part of the inept burglars. (Sticking Val Kilmer, or his lookalike, on the cover, probably didn’t harm its chances either.) The original self-published novel has been padded out with scenes set at NASA, as they learn the narrator, Mark Watney, is still alive and then set about putting together a rescue plan. But the characterisation is paper-thin and everyone sounds pretty much the same. Watney’s various predicaments are interesting, and some of his solutions are mildly clever – but Weir throws so much bad luck at him, it soon beggars belief. We also get little real idea of what it would be like to be on the surface of Mars. A handful of mentions of the 0.4G, no mention at all of the surface radiation, but lots about the cold. Lots. It was also my understanding that at such low atmospheric pressures, gale-force winds would actually cause very little damage. The Martian could have taken place pretty much anywhere, even the Antarctic, and very little would need to change (well, the technology would have to be dialled down a little). I’m completely mystified by all the praise this book has been receiving. We might as well claim Clive Cussler’s latest sweatshop effort is one of the best sf novels of the year… Show Less
LibraryThing member coloradogirl14
Normally I write reviews in the order in which I read the books, but I'm breaking tradition today. I have to write a review for The Martian while my enthusiasm is so spectacularly high. I only finished it last night, but I've already posted about it on Facebook, suggested it to two coworkers, and
Astronaut Mark Watney is stranded on Mars after his crew leaves, mistakenly believing him to be dead. When he comes to, he is faced with the nearly insurmountable task of trying to survive in an alien and hostile environment with limited supplies and technological capabilities...for a period of up to four years. The story is told from multiple perspectives, including Mark's first-person log entries, third-person POV from scientists at NASA, and third-person POV from Mark's crew mates who are called back in an attempt to rescue him.
It's an intriguing concept, but it doesn't even come close to explaining why this book has been so successful. The actual science behind the story is rock solid and insanely detailed, but it never feels overwhelming. The suspense about Mark's survival situation is unrelenting until the very last pages. The humor is, well, hilarious. (I literally laughed out loud while reading this book, at home, by myself.) And without giving away any spoilers, I will say that the ending is perfect. Andy Weir writes like Michael Crichton with a sarcastic streak.
And you can't help but root for Mark. He is insanely intelligent and uses his creative problem-solving skills to overcome seemingly-impossible obstacles. He even walks through the necessary math calculations and supply requirements, but don't worry if you're not as analytically inclined. It's Mark's thought processes that are important, and he walks the reader through everything going on in his mind, including his irrational hatred of disco. He is practical, focused, and determined, and he uses his unwavering sense of humor to get him through hundreds of days of solitude and impending death.
When I finished this book, I had an urge to a) turn right to the front of the book and start reading again, b) run around and start smacking people upside the head until they agreed to read it, or c) throw the book in the air in a fit of uncontrollable joy and excitement. I haven't been this thrilled about a book in a very, very long time. It's not just for science fiction fans. Do yourself a favor and read this novel.
Readalikes:
All of these suggestions come from NoveList:
Mars Crossing - Geoffrey Landis. A fast-paced novel that tells the story of an astronaut stranded on Mars and his struggle to survive in a hostile environment. Precise scientific details are balanced by strong characters, which lend emotional impact and human interest to the story.
The Martian Race - Gregory Benford. An account of a manned mission to Mars, although this mission ends successfully for the crew in The Martian Race! This compelling novel makes a good suggestion for fans of The Martian, with its skillful blending of technical details and strong characters.
The Explorer - J.P. Smythe. Another space survival story, although this novel takes place in deep space rather than on Mars. An intriguing look into how humans fare in life-or-death survival situations.
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gushed about it with another coworker who read it before I did. So if you're already getting tired of hearing me rave about this book...too bad. :) It's that awesome.Astronaut Mark Watney is stranded on Mars after his crew leaves, mistakenly believing him to be dead. When he comes to, he is faced with the nearly insurmountable task of trying to survive in an alien and hostile environment with limited supplies and technological capabilities...for a period of up to four years. The story is told from multiple perspectives, including Mark's first-person log entries, third-person POV from scientists at NASA, and third-person POV from Mark's crew mates who are called back in an attempt to rescue him.
It's an intriguing concept, but it doesn't even come close to explaining why this book has been so successful. The actual science behind the story is rock solid and insanely detailed, but it never feels overwhelming. The suspense about Mark's survival situation is unrelenting until the very last pages. The humor is, well, hilarious. (I literally laughed out loud while reading this book, at home, by myself.) And without giving away any spoilers, I will say that the ending is perfect. Andy Weir writes like Michael Crichton with a sarcastic streak.
And you can't help but root for Mark. He is insanely intelligent and uses his creative problem-solving skills to overcome seemingly-impossible obstacles. He even walks through the necessary math calculations and supply requirements, but don't worry if you're not as analytically inclined. It's Mark's thought processes that are important, and he walks the reader through everything going on in his mind, including his irrational hatred of disco. He is practical, focused, and determined, and he uses his unwavering sense of humor to get him through hundreds of days of solitude and impending death.
When I finished this book, I had an urge to a) turn right to the front of the book and start reading again, b) run around and start smacking people upside the head until they agreed to read it, or c) throw the book in the air in a fit of uncontrollable joy and excitement. I haven't been this thrilled about a book in a very, very long time. It's not just for science fiction fans. Do yourself a favor and read this novel.
Readalikes:
All of these suggestions come from NoveList:
Mars Crossing - Geoffrey Landis. A fast-paced novel that tells the story of an astronaut stranded on Mars and his struggle to survive in a hostile environment. Precise scientific details are balanced by strong characters, which lend emotional impact and human interest to the story.
The Martian Race - Gregory Benford. An account of a manned mission to Mars, although this mission ends successfully for the crew in The Martian Race! This compelling novel makes a good suggestion for fans of The Martian, with its skillful blending of technical details and strong characters.
The Explorer - J.P. Smythe. Another space survival story, although this novel takes place in deep space rather than on Mars. An intriguing look into how humans fare in life-or-death survival situations.
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LibraryThing member Kuglar
The movie was actually much better than the book. I liked the science and the survival aspects of the book. The rape joke, gay probe joke, stereotypical characters and lack of character development were extremely off putting.
I didn't care whether Mark lived or died because he was so one
The women cried, blushed, "um"-ed, cursed excessively and the commander had to be told by her subordinate that she had to give a verbal command to launch. Pretty sure she's aware since she's the mission commander. It seems like the author was trying to give the women distinctive personalities but ended up veering into stereotypeland. Hint to author: write women as if they are people. Radical notion, apparently, but it will work.
I didn't care whether Mark lived or died because he was so one
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dimensional. What scientist writes like that? He sounded like a teen. And why was he explaining scientific issues when his log was for NASA? The author should have found another way to explain to the readers.The women cried, blushed, "um"-ed, cursed excessively and the commander had to be told by her subordinate that she had to give a verbal command to launch. Pretty sure she's aware since she's the mission commander. It seems like the author was trying to give the women distinctive personalities but ended up veering into stereotypeland. Hint to author: write women as if they are people. Radical notion, apparently, but it will work.
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LibraryThing member jmchshannon
At the heart of The Martian is a very real commentary on the types of philosophical and sociological debates humans will have to face as they push space exploration towards Mars and beyond. The decisions Mark, his crew, and all of those involved at NASA must make are excruciating and delve to the
Mark Watney is one of the most entertaining heroes ever written. His penchant for dealing with stress through humor lightens the storyline, but more importantly, it reinforces his humanity. At the same time, it is so easy for readers to forget that he really is in a one-man struggle for survival in a situation where all of the odds are not in his favor because he is so affable. There are many times where readers will find themselves chuckling aloud at Mark’s antics, deservedly so.
All of the humor though cannot diminish the remarkableness of the story. Here is a man on a dangerous mission who genuinely forgives his crew for leaving him stranded on Mars without enough food, water, or other supplies. His ability to cope with his situation is astounding and inspiring, especially given how quick to find guilt society has become. His story is admirable in other ways. For one, he uses no super powers or coincidences that strain credulity. He uses old-fashioned hard work, knowledge, and logic to overcome obstacles. He also manages to maintain his sanity in spite of being completely isolated from everything and everyone and in the face of impossible odds. Again, he gives new meaning to the definition of a hero.
The story itself is extremely well-written and well-plotted. There are some extremely heartfelt moments as Mark comes to gripes with his odds of surviving and seeks to leave a lasting record of his survival attempts. Poignancy aside, there is no lull in the action, and the science elements are entirely plausible and easy to understand. In fact, Mark, in his journal entries, has a way of making even the most complex scientific experiment accessible without undermining the danger involved. Most importantly, nothing about Mark’s fate is certain, and a reader does not know until it is revealed whether he does survive or not.
The Martian is an intelligent and witty science-based story that reminds its audience of human abilities and perseverance. The feel-good moments hide to an extent the various serious situations in which Mark finds himself, which could easily bog down the entire narrative into a feeling of despair and hopelessness. Instead, The Martian is hopeful – that man can triumph against the odds, that we can harness technology to further scientific advancement, and that there is such a thing as a happy ending. Whether that hope lasts throughout the story is for a reader to discover. Regardless of what happens, watching Mark in action is worth any amount of emotional pain or suspense a reader must endure.
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heart of the risks/rewards debate of a robust space program. To boldly go where no man has gone before may not be worth the risks after all.Mark Watney is one of the most entertaining heroes ever written. His penchant for dealing with stress through humor lightens the storyline, but more importantly, it reinforces his humanity. At the same time, it is so easy for readers to forget that he really is in a one-man struggle for survival in a situation where all of the odds are not in his favor because he is so affable. There are many times where readers will find themselves chuckling aloud at Mark’s antics, deservedly so.
All of the humor though cannot diminish the remarkableness of the story. Here is a man on a dangerous mission who genuinely forgives his crew for leaving him stranded on Mars without enough food, water, or other supplies. His ability to cope with his situation is astounding and inspiring, especially given how quick to find guilt society has become. His story is admirable in other ways. For one, he uses no super powers or coincidences that strain credulity. He uses old-fashioned hard work, knowledge, and logic to overcome obstacles. He also manages to maintain his sanity in spite of being completely isolated from everything and everyone and in the face of impossible odds. Again, he gives new meaning to the definition of a hero.
The story itself is extremely well-written and well-plotted. There are some extremely heartfelt moments as Mark comes to gripes with his odds of surviving and seeks to leave a lasting record of his survival attempts. Poignancy aside, there is no lull in the action, and the science elements are entirely plausible and easy to understand. In fact, Mark, in his journal entries, has a way of making even the most complex scientific experiment accessible without undermining the danger involved. Most importantly, nothing about Mark’s fate is certain, and a reader does not know until it is revealed whether he does survive or not.
The Martian is an intelligent and witty science-based story that reminds its audience of human abilities and perseverance. The feel-good moments hide to an extent the various serious situations in which Mark finds himself, which could easily bog down the entire narrative into a feeling of despair and hopelessness. Instead, The Martian is hopeful – that man can triumph against the odds, that we can harness technology to further scientific advancement, and that there is such a thing as a happy ending. Whether that hope lasts throughout the story is for a reader to discover. Regardless of what happens, watching Mark in action is worth any amount of emotional pain or suspense a reader must endure.
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LibraryThing member gbill
With travel to Mars fascinating us, Weir wrote the right novel at the right time. He certainly did his homework, and should get credit for the hardcore physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, math, and mechanical engineering he includes. As a side note, I’d love to have his protagonist over at my
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house to fix a few things. What’s endearing about the story comes down to humanity’s best traits: bravery, stoicism, brotherhood, perseverance, ingenuity, and humor. The comedy sprinkled in is hit and miss, sometimes bringing a smile, other times a groan. Unfortunately, while it’s got great science going for it, it’s not all that great as literature. No book for adults should contain sentences like this: “The Hab was intact (yay!) and the MAV was gone (boo!).” There is very little depth, and the book simply trundles on towards its inexorable Hollywood ending. Show Less
LibraryThing member JGolomb
"So that's the situation. I'm stranded on Mars. I have no way to communicate with...Earth. Everyone thinks I'm dead. I'm in a Hab designed to last thirty-one days."
Astronaut Mark Watney in Andy Weir's "The Martian"
The story's simple, the storytelling superb, and the combination of the two make for
Astronaut Mark Watney is separated from his crew during a horrific wind storm on the face of Mars. Presumed dead, the crew is left no choice but to abort their mission, flee the planet and launch back towards Earth. Stranded, alone and injured, Watney becomes as a futuristic MacGyver, learning ways to survive alone on Mars through better science.
The first pages are dedicated to his situational and supply analyses. As a reader, his circumstance is crystal clear, as Weir surveys the tools Watney has to survive and extricate himself from the seemingly hopeless situation.
The mystery of how he'll survive is unraveled like a TV crime procedural. Weir details the steps taken to grow more food, make water, create enough energy for his Mars rover. The drama turns on each obstacle Watney addresses. Some are minor, like how he experiments with turning his Mars Habitation (Hab) into a greenhouse; others are more severe, like surviving a near fatal Hab decompression. All of his problems are solved through Watney's mastery over science and mathematics. He's a total nerd hero.
The book is not a personality or psychological study, although Weir does a tremendous job developing Watney's voice. He really reminds me of SciFi writer John Scalzi's snide, snarky and smartly funny characters.
The story is tight. The drama is taut. It's very hard to accept that this is Weir's first novel.
I received "The Martian" through Amazon's Vine Program.
Astronaut Mark Watney in Andy Weir's "The Martian"
The story's simple, the storytelling superb, and the combination of the two make for
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a terrific space-based science thriller. Yes, it's science fiction, but there are no aliens, there are no laser shootouts. Think "Apollo 13", but written by John Scalzi.Astronaut Mark Watney is separated from his crew during a horrific wind storm on the face of Mars. Presumed dead, the crew is left no choice but to abort their mission, flee the planet and launch back towards Earth. Stranded, alone and injured, Watney becomes as a futuristic MacGyver, learning ways to survive alone on Mars through better science.
The first pages are dedicated to his situational and supply analyses. As a reader, his circumstance is crystal clear, as Weir surveys the tools Watney has to survive and extricate himself from the seemingly hopeless situation.
The mystery of how he'll survive is unraveled like a TV crime procedural. Weir details the steps taken to grow more food, make water, create enough energy for his Mars rover. The drama turns on each obstacle Watney addresses. Some are minor, like how he experiments with turning his Mars Habitation (Hab) into a greenhouse; others are more severe, like surviving a near fatal Hab decompression. All of his problems are solved through Watney's mastery over science and mathematics. He's a total nerd hero.
The book is not a personality or psychological study, although Weir does a tremendous job developing Watney's voice. He really reminds me of SciFi writer John Scalzi's snide, snarky and smartly funny characters.
The story is tight. The drama is taut. It's very hard to accept that this is Weir's first novel.
I received "The Martian" through Amazon's Vine Program.
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LibraryThing member auntmarge64
A very entertaining story of the first man to be marooned on Mars.
Mark Watney, thought to have died during a storm as the rest of his team scrubs the third manned mission and heads back to Earth, has survived his injuries and managed to make his way back to the Hab (habitation module). He begins a
Mark is a delightful character, sure to stay in the reader's mind for a long time. This should be a real hit with Martian fiction aficionados.
Mark Watney, thought to have died during a storm as the rest of his team scrubs the third manned mission and heads back to Earth, has survived his injuries and managed to make his way back to the Hab (habitation module). He begins a
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log, which comprises most of the book. Communications are shot, but he's got plenty of water, food, and oxygen - at least for a year or so. But the next mission is scheduled to arrive long after the year mark, so Mark, a mechanical engineer and botanist, starts planning how to prolong his life and, possibly, reestablish communications. Mark is known for his easy-going nature and ability to make people laugh, and he certainly is tested here. The log is very funny (even with the threat of instant death pretty much overhanging all he does), and there is no "why me?" and little introspection. This is a guy who has trained to survive, and all his thought goes to that - except for the hours of enforced inactivity, when he explores the music, book and videos left on travel drives by his teammates. Even this is hilarious, because they largely consist of disco, old TV shows, and Agatha Christie mysteries, and we discover how Mark feels about each of them. Still, they're company. Many of the logs concern the work he does on various systems, and he starts a farm indoors to enrich some Martian soil and grow potatoes from a few real spuds thoughtfully packed by NASA so the team could have a bit of Thanksgiving dinner. There's quite a bit of science mixed in, stuff I can't give an opinion on as to accuracy, but it sure reads well. Mark is a delightful character, sure to stay in the reader's mind for a long time. This should be a real hit with Martian fiction aficionados.
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LibraryThing member MrsLee
This is the third manned mission to Mars. On sol (a day on Mars, which is longer than earth days, hence the different name) 6, things go drastically wrong. Is there anyone on earth still who doesn't know the plot to this book? I'll just say, it is worth your time to read it. I don't care if you are
There are some obscenities in the text. I know I would have uttered a few/lot if in that same situation, so they seemed a part of the book, not thrown in for shock value.
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young, old, mechanically inclined, a rocket scientist or a farmer, or just a gal like me who admires these traits. This is worth your time and I think you will enjoy it. It is a tale of survival, ingenuity, and the best of humanity. Read it. Now.There are some obscenities in the text. I know I would have uttered a few/lot if in that same situation, so they seemed a part of the book, not thrown in for shock value.
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LibraryThing member mckait
THE MARTIAN: A Novel by Andy Weir
The first thing you need to know about this book is that the author is, in his own words" a lifelong space nerd and devoted hobbyist of subjects like relativistic physics." This helps to make THE MARTIAN by Andy Weir a classic science fiction, and thriller. It's a
Mark Watney is a member of a team sent to Mars for research purposes. Each team member had more than one skill set, and Watney is an engineer and a botanist. Why send a botanist to Mars? Who better to assess potential of sustainable life on that planet? AS it turned out, that skill set saved his life. That and the fact that he was generally a cheerful, fun loving kind of guy, who was able to find humor is some pretty grim circumstances.
The mission was supposed to last thirty-one days on the surface of the planet. They had enough food, water and air to last them nearly twice that amount of time. Even NASA likes to have just in case contingency plans. So when Watney was mortally wounded during a storm with incredible high winds and dust, his companions had no choice but to assume that he was dead. There was no communication from him, no information from his suit, and he had been seen being blown away by another team member. Under the circumstances, they decided to leave the surface and return to their craft.
It turns out that NASA had done quite well with their just in case resources, because a kit meant to repair the suit came in quite handy, as did other supplies and back up systems. Except communication systems. There was no way for him to communicate with anyone on earth. But, not only was Watney alive, but he meant to stay that way until the next mission arrived on Mars and hitch a ride home with them. But first things first, he had to find a means of communication. And food, because despite the fact that there was plenty of food for a few extra days on the red planet, it wasn't near enough to keep him fed for years, until the next landing. Let me tell you, If I ever find myself stranded on Mars, or anywhere else for that matter, Whatney is the man I want to be stranded with. If you thought MacGyver ( remember him?) had a bag of tricks, his were nothing compared to Mark Whatney. I promise that you will be astounded by his survival skills.
I don't want to spoil this for you, so all I can say is that you really need to read this book. It is as close to five of five stars as I have read this year. Don't be intimidated by its science fiction classification, it is as much a thriller, and story of teamwork and friendship as it is science fiction.
The first thing you need to know about this book is that the author is, in his own words" a lifelong space nerd and devoted hobbyist of subjects like relativistic physics." This helps to make THE MARTIAN by Andy Weir a classic science fiction, and thriller. It's a
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book that is difficult to put down. I had no choice but to read it all in one sitting, because I simply couldn't wait to see how it ended. I suspect that you will feel much the same. Mark Watney is a member of a team sent to Mars for research purposes. Each team member had more than one skill set, and Watney is an engineer and a botanist. Why send a botanist to Mars? Who better to assess potential of sustainable life on that planet? AS it turned out, that skill set saved his life. That and the fact that he was generally a cheerful, fun loving kind of guy, who was able to find humor is some pretty grim circumstances.
The mission was supposed to last thirty-one days on the surface of the planet. They had enough food, water and air to last them nearly twice that amount of time. Even NASA likes to have just in case contingency plans. So when Watney was mortally wounded during a storm with incredible high winds and dust, his companions had no choice but to assume that he was dead. There was no communication from him, no information from his suit, and he had been seen being blown away by another team member. Under the circumstances, they decided to leave the surface and return to their craft.
It turns out that NASA had done quite well with their just in case resources, because a kit meant to repair the suit came in quite handy, as did other supplies and back up systems. Except communication systems. There was no way for him to communicate with anyone on earth. But, not only was Watney alive, but he meant to stay that way until the next mission arrived on Mars and hitch a ride home with them. But first things first, he had to find a means of communication. And food, because despite the fact that there was plenty of food for a few extra days on the red planet, it wasn't near enough to keep him fed for years, until the next landing. Let me tell you, If I ever find myself stranded on Mars, or anywhere else for that matter, Whatney is the man I want to be stranded with. If you thought MacGyver ( remember him?) had a bag of tricks, his were nothing compared to Mark Whatney. I promise that you will be astounded by his survival skills.
I don't want to spoil this for you, so all I can say is that you really need to read this book. It is as close to five of five stars as I have read this year. Don't be intimidated by its science fiction classification, it is as much a thriller, and story of teamwork and friendship as it is science fiction.
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LibraryThing member Unkletom
Remember the movie Robinson Crusoe on Mars? Well, if you do, get thee to a hypnotist and have any trace of it removed from your memory. Aside from the apparent similarities that both include stranded astronauts and, well, Mars. Andy Weir's The Martian is nothing like it.
Now try to remember Apollo
'The Martian' begins with another catastrophic event. Six days into a one month exploration of the Martian surface, a severe windstorm destroys Ares 3's communications array and aborts the mission. If you can remember the old stories of Minnesota farmers in blizzards so bad they get lost going from the barn to the house, then you have a pretty good idea of what the evacuation was like. Five of the six astronauts successfully make their way from the Hab (habitation module) to the MAV (Mars ascent vehicle) that will take them off the surface of the planet. The sixth astronaut, our hero Mark Watney, does not. To make matters worse, the last sight of him that his fellow crew members have is of a flying piece of antenna skewering Mark and his airtight EVA suit, and the 175 mph winds tumbling him out of sight.
Hopefully I’m not spoiling anyone’s enjoyment of the book by reporting that Watney doesn’t die in the book’s opening pages. He manages to pull through by means incredible, yet plausible (an unlikely combination of probabilities that occurs often during the book). Once he recovers from his injuries he is faced with the seemingly insurmountable challenge of surviving for the several years before any rescue mission can be mounted. Luckily for him, his primary function on the crew was botanist and mechanical engineer, skills vital if he is going to turn dead dirt from the planet’s surface into living soil and then manufacture enough water to grow food. What follows is a virtual geekfest of steps that Watney took to survive that would make MacGyver proud, and how each turned out. I don’t know if this is even possible but as Weir inscribed in my copy, “I don’t have to be right. I only have to make the reader think I’m right.” That he did, and in spades.
Perhaps the most enjoyable feature in the book is Andy Weir’s sense of humor. I have seen him speak and he is a genuinely funny guy. This humor shows in the book in a big way and every chapter is full of belly laughs. As an example, when someone at NASA Mission Control states “I wonder what he’s thinking right now,” readers are treated with “Log entry: Sol 61: How come Aquaman can control whales? They’re mammals! Makes no sense.”
The book, on the other hand, does make sense. It is very readable and enjoyable. I recommend it highly.
* The review book was based on an advanced reading copy obtained at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. While this does take any ‘not worth what I paid for it’ statements out of my review, it otherwise has no impact on the content of my review.
Now try to remember Apollo
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13, the actual event when a catastrophic explosion crippled a moon mission and left the lives of its crew dependent on a tremendous amount of luck and the combined intellects of a bunch of pencil-necked geeks back at NASA. Now that's what we're talking about!'The Martian' begins with another catastrophic event. Six days into a one month exploration of the Martian surface, a severe windstorm destroys Ares 3's communications array and aborts the mission. If you can remember the old stories of Minnesota farmers in blizzards so bad they get lost going from the barn to the house, then you have a pretty good idea of what the evacuation was like. Five of the six astronauts successfully make their way from the Hab (habitation module) to the MAV (Mars ascent vehicle) that will take them off the surface of the planet. The sixth astronaut, our hero Mark Watney, does not. To make matters worse, the last sight of him that his fellow crew members have is of a flying piece of antenna skewering Mark and his airtight EVA suit, and the 175 mph winds tumbling him out of sight.
Hopefully I’m not spoiling anyone’s enjoyment of the book by reporting that Watney doesn’t die in the book’s opening pages. He manages to pull through by means incredible, yet plausible (an unlikely combination of probabilities that occurs often during the book). Once he recovers from his injuries he is faced with the seemingly insurmountable challenge of surviving for the several years before any rescue mission can be mounted. Luckily for him, his primary function on the crew was botanist and mechanical engineer, skills vital if he is going to turn dead dirt from the planet’s surface into living soil and then manufacture enough water to grow food. What follows is a virtual geekfest of steps that Watney took to survive that would make MacGyver proud, and how each turned out. I don’t know if this is even possible but as Weir inscribed in my copy, “I don’t have to be right. I only have to make the reader think I’m right.” That he did, and in spades.
Perhaps the most enjoyable feature in the book is Andy Weir’s sense of humor. I have seen him speak and he is a genuinely funny guy. This humor shows in the book in a big way and every chapter is full of belly laughs. As an example, when someone at NASA Mission Control states “I wonder what he’s thinking right now,” readers are treated with “Log entry: Sol 61: How come Aquaman can control whales? They’re mammals! Makes no sense.”
The book, on the other hand, does make sense. It is very readable and enjoyable. I recommend it highly.
* The review book was based on an advanced reading copy obtained at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. While this does take any ‘not worth what I paid for it’ statements out of my review, it otherwise has no impact on the content of my review.
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LibraryThing member Oh_Carolyn
*Note: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Mark Watney is a wisecracking MacGyver-type who specializes in botany. He’s also stranded on Mars.
Alone after his crew accidentally leaves him behind during a hurried evacuation, Watney decides to try his damnedest
The Martian is fiction that reads like nonfiction, which is part of why I think my mom is going to dig this book. Mr. Weir conducted painstaking research for the novel; as he notes in an author Q&A, “All the facts about Mars are accurate, as well as the physics of space travel the story presents. I even calculated the various orbital paths involved in the story, which required me to write my own software to track constant-thrust trajectories.”
Yes, you read that right.
The novel is chock-full of Watney’s nitty-gritty calculations for survival, which heighten the realism and the tension of the work. The pacing is fast, but Watney notes the long stretches of days when not much happens except survival in the wilderness against daunting odds; there’s no tedious day-by-day, blow-by-blow replay, but neither are we to believe that Watney survives a new catastrophe daily. The novel also features tense Mission Control scenes; the only thing missing is Ed Harris in a white vest. (Maybe not for long — the movie rights have already been sold).
Thanks in no small part to Watney’s sense of humor, his plight evokes sympathy rather than sentimentality; The Martian is a good old man vs. the elements survival thriller. The emotional payoff is comparable to a viewing of Castaway or Apollo 13, to which The Martian is often compared, but with fewer scenes calibrated as tear-jerkers. You’ll also learn a hell of a lot about potatoes and atmospheric regulators, and have a pretty great time in the process.
Mark Watney is a wisecracking MacGyver-type who specializes in botany. He’s also stranded on Mars.
Alone after his crew accidentally leaves him behind during a hurried evacuation, Watney decides to try his damnedest
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not to be the first person to die on Mars. With grim determination, creative engineering skills, long-term strategizing and way too much 70s tv, he takes painstaking steps to save himself, recording them in detail in his mission log.The Martian is fiction that reads like nonfiction, which is part of why I think my mom is going to dig this book. Mr. Weir conducted painstaking research for the novel; as he notes in an author Q&A, “All the facts about Mars are accurate, as well as the physics of space travel the story presents. I even calculated the various orbital paths involved in the story, which required me to write my own software to track constant-thrust trajectories.”
Yes, you read that right.
The novel is chock-full of Watney’s nitty-gritty calculations for survival, which heighten the realism and the tension of the work. The pacing is fast, but Watney notes the long stretches of days when not much happens except survival in the wilderness against daunting odds; there’s no tedious day-by-day, blow-by-blow replay, but neither are we to believe that Watney survives a new catastrophe daily. The novel also features tense Mission Control scenes; the only thing missing is Ed Harris in a white vest. (Maybe not for long — the movie rights have already been sold).
Thanks in no small part to Watney’s sense of humor, his plight evokes sympathy rather than sentimentality; The Martian is a good old man vs. the elements survival thriller. The emotional payoff is comparable to a viewing of Castaway or Apollo 13, to which The Martian is often compared, but with fewer scenes calibrated as tear-jerkers. You’ll also learn a hell of a lot about potatoes and atmospheric regulators, and have a pretty great time in the process.
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LibraryThing member mountie9
•Do you know how bloody hard its going to pick only 3 favorite passages (ok spoiler - I won't)
•Mark is a truly wonderful character that will make you laugh your ass off (if you are upset by the word ass, I'm thinking this isn't the book for you) and you will cheer him on and hope he will make
•Some of the science is a little much for someone simple like myself, but most people won't mind it - I actually learned a few things though : )
•I could not put the damn thing down, I just wanted to find out what would happen next. And after it was all over, I honestly just wished it was longer
•Best opening paragraph I have read in a long time
•Made me snort out loud with laughter. In other words, reading on public transit might get you attention
•As my co-worker Connor mentioned, it is the perfect blend of science and story
•The humour is fabulous and used perfectly. This book could only be made into a movie though, if Joss Whedon was in charge
•Love the mentions of disco music and 70's tv
•Would love if it there was more scenes with the secondary characters
•Duct tape!!!!! Trust me, great mentions of that amazing invention
•Even astronauts can do stupid stuff - think hard resin and hands
•The world needs more Mitch's
•The use of the word Pirate-Ninja as a scientific term - trust me that scene is hilarious
•A truly fascinating man vs nature thriller with a unique and sarcastic hero. And best thing, lots of laugh your ass off moments.
•Going to buy the audio book, but sorta wish I could have picked who the voice was done by. Who do you guys think should narrate?
•My friend, Christa, suggested Mark is a space MacGyver - which I would say is a bang on description of him!
•Ok and I have had that damn David Bowie song stuck in my head since I started reading the story
Favorite Passages
"Hell yeah, I'm a botanist! Fear my botany powers!"
"The data transfer rate just isn't good enough for size of music files, even in compressed formats. So your request for "Anything, oh God, ANYTHING but Disco" is denied. Enjoy your boogie fever."
"Yes of course duct tape works in a near-vacuum. Duct tape works anywhere. Duct tape is magic and should be worshipped."
"I can't wait till I have grandchildren. "When I was younger, I had to walk to the rim of a crater. Uphill. In an EVA suit| on Mars, ya little shit! Ya hear me? Mars!"
5 Dewey's
I borrowed this from my co-worker at Chapters. And FYI, everyone who has read it gave it a huge thumbs up
•Mark is a truly wonderful character that will make you laugh your ass off (if you are upset by the word ass, I'm thinking this isn't the book for you) and you will cheer him on and hope he will make
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it (and nooo I am not telling you if he does or not)•Some of the science is a little much for someone simple like myself, but most people won't mind it - I actually learned a few things though : )
•I could not put the damn thing down, I just wanted to find out what would happen next. And after it was all over, I honestly just wished it was longer
•Best opening paragraph I have read in a long time
•Made me snort out loud with laughter. In other words, reading on public transit might get you attention
•As my co-worker Connor mentioned, it is the perfect blend of science and story
•The humour is fabulous and used perfectly. This book could only be made into a movie though, if Joss Whedon was in charge
•Love the mentions of disco music and 70's tv
•Would love if it there was more scenes with the secondary characters
•Duct tape!!!!! Trust me, great mentions of that amazing invention
•Even astronauts can do stupid stuff - think hard resin and hands
•The world needs more Mitch's
•The use of the word Pirate-Ninja as a scientific term - trust me that scene is hilarious
•A truly fascinating man vs nature thriller with a unique and sarcastic hero. And best thing, lots of laugh your ass off moments.
•Going to buy the audio book, but sorta wish I could have picked who the voice was done by. Who do you guys think should narrate?
•My friend, Christa, suggested Mark is a space MacGyver - which I would say is a bang on description of him!
•Ok and I have had that damn David Bowie song stuck in my head since I started reading the story
Favorite Passages
"Hell yeah, I'm a botanist! Fear my botany powers!"
"The data transfer rate just isn't good enough for size of music files, even in compressed formats. So your request for "Anything, oh God, ANYTHING but Disco" is denied. Enjoy your boogie fever."
"Yes of course duct tape works in a near-vacuum. Duct tape works anywhere. Duct tape is magic and should be worshipped."
"I can't wait till I have grandchildren. "When I was younger, I had to walk to the rim of a crater. Uphill. In an EVA suit| on Mars, ya little shit! Ya hear me? Mars!"
5 Dewey's
I borrowed this from my co-worker at Chapters. And FYI, everyone who has read it gave it a huge thumbs up
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LibraryThing member UnderMyAppleTree
My Thoughts:
A lot of people hear the words ‘hard science’ and immediately lose interest because they think it will be boring or difficult to follow the plot. To be honest, The Martian does have a significant amount of science detail, but it is written in an easy to read, engaging manner, and
The story opens on Mars as Mark Watney realizes he is alone. His crewmates believed he had been killed during an accident while evacuating the planet. There had been no time to retrieve his body and still safely launch their vehicle into orbit ahead of the severe storm. Mark knows he must find a way to communicate with NASA – they think he’s dead and the Mars habitat’s communication system was destroyed – and to stay alive, possibly for years, until he can be rescued.
Mark is a very resourceful guy. We follow his progress through his daily log entries. He needs food, water, power, shelter, transportation and the ability to make repairs. At times he’s so resourceful that I began to think of him as MacGyver and that he would conquer Mars with duct tape, a swiss army knife and a paper clip! Meanwhile, back at mission control on earth, someone observing satellite images of Mars believes that Mark might still be alive. As the story alternates between mission control and earth, it’s a race against time to save Mark.
The writing is smart, funny and filled with witty dialog and humor. It’s obvious the author did a lot of research, and got it right. I have a background in science so I was thrilled with the detail, however not understanding the science does not prevent the reader from enjoying the book. This is a story about Mark, one guy against a planet, and the team of people who are taking risks to save him. In some ways it reminded me of the movie Castaway and what one individual can and will do to survive.
Not sure you’ll like this? Read an excerpt, borrow it from the library, but do give it a try. Yes, I’m recommending it for everyone and not just because it’s one of my favorite books of the year.
A lot of people hear the words ‘hard science’ and immediately lose interest because they think it will be boring or difficult to follow the plot. To be honest, The Martian does have a significant amount of science detail, but it is written in an easy to read, engaging manner, and
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it’s a necessary part of the story. Like Apollo 13, this is a riveting adventure about survival in space, overcoming obstacles and finding a way back home.The story opens on Mars as Mark Watney realizes he is alone. His crewmates believed he had been killed during an accident while evacuating the planet. There had been no time to retrieve his body and still safely launch their vehicle into orbit ahead of the severe storm. Mark knows he must find a way to communicate with NASA – they think he’s dead and the Mars habitat’s communication system was destroyed – and to stay alive, possibly for years, until he can be rescued.
Mark is a very resourceful guy. We follow his progress through his daily log entries. He needs food, water, power, shelter, transportation and the ability to make repairs. At times he’s so resourceful that I began to think of him as MacGyver and that he would conquer Mars with duct tape, a swiss army knife and a paper clip! Meanwhile, back at mission control on earth, someone observing satellite images of Mars believes that Mark might still be alive. As the story alternates between mission control and earth, it’s a race against time to save Mark.
The writing is smart, funny and filled with witty dialog and humor. It’s obvious the author did a lot of research, and got it right. I have a background in science so I was thrilled with the detail, however not understanding the science does not prevent the reader from enjoying the book. This is a story about Mark, one guy against a planet, and the team of people who are taking risks to save him. In some ways it reminded me of the movie Castaway and what one individual can and will do to survive.
Not sure you’ll like this? Read an excerpt, borrow it from the library, but do give it a try. Yes, I’m recommending it for everyone and not just because it’s one of my favorite books of the year.
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LibraryThing member bookappeal
This book falls shy of 5 stars only because of the sheer amount of scientific detail. Weir gets his point across but it can be difficult to maintain interest while trying to decide whether or not one should even attempt to understand the mathematical calculations going through Mark Watney's head.
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The technical detail is a necessity, however, and adds to the tension by illustrating how smart this character is but how one tiny mistake or unforeseen circumstance can have devastating effects when stranded on Mars! A gripping and also funny read. The backstory of how this book came to be is almost as interesting as Mark Watney's harrowing adventure. Show Less
LibraryThing member Stbalbach
This is Weir's first novel and he has put a lot of time into it. Based on his Audible reviews he seems to have garnered a strong following from an Internet fan base (his background is in fan fic) even adopting Internet meme speak yay sigh etc along with heavy doses of easy profanity presumably
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appealing to a younger hipper crowd than me. I don't like to give 3 stars easily so will need to justify. The novel tries to be as realistic as possible using today's technology, imagining what a manned mission to Mars would be like (following what looks like Zubrin's model). The plot is a classic Robinsonade desert island story in which a single man is left with a pile of stuff with which to survive. And that's it. 14 hours (audio) of the same thing over and over again. Something breaks, he fixes it. To keep it from getting too boring occasionally he doesn't fix it, but gets it the right the second time. The novel never gets off the ground, which is a shame since at about 2.5 hours I was loving it and totally hooked - then it got repetitive. The scenes from earth are re-enactments of the 1960s Apollo 13 but with different ethnicity and gender to make it seem modern, but otherwise largely cliche. As pro-space propaganda it's great. As what-if fiction, fine. But as literature, the novel doesn't raise any deeper questions, it seems as sterile as Mars. Wish the author luck. Show Less
LibraryThing member busyreadin
Excellent read
During an emergency evacuation on Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is lost. His body is left behind . Only thing is he survives. Now he is the only living thing on the planet and he is determined to live.
Using only the resources salvaged from the mission and his ingenuity he creates a
During an emergency evacuation on Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is lost. His body is left behind . Only thing is he survives. Now he is the only living thing on the planet and he is determined to live.
Using only the resources salvaged from the mission and his ingenuity he creates a
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life. The story is set in the near future, and the science seemed very plausible. I can't imagine what the silence must have been like! Show Less
LibraryThing member heaven_star
Holy crap!
If you only read one sci-fi book this year, make it this one. Do it in audiobook if you can because it's fantastic.
I stressed.
I laughed.
I learned things.
There was duct tape.
I'm considering naming my first child 'Watney' (ok, maybe a bit far).
Most of all I felt hollow when I finished it,
If you only read one sci-fi book this year, make it this one. Do it in audiobook if you can because it's fantastic.
I stressed.
I laughed.
I learned things.
There was duct tape.
I'm considering naming my first child 'Watney' (ok, maybe a bit far).
Most of all I felt hollow when I finished it,
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like only the best books can. This book is a force, and the rumoured movie adaption will be incredible. Show Less
LibraryThing member Meredy
Six-word review: Not literature, but a terrific page-turner.
Extended review:
In a writing class I took once, the instructor said, "Ninety percent of plots amount to this: 'Someone takes a trip.' And most of the rest boil down to 'A stranger comes to town.'" (Or maybe it was the other way around.)
In a way, The Martian is both.
Stranded on Mars when the rest of his expedition crew thinks he's been killed, Mark Watney is the stranger, the fish out of water, utterly and completely on his own until someone on earth happens to notice signs that he has survived. He also has taken and still must take a major trip, by whatever means possible, if there's to be any chance that he'll ever get home again.
"There's no place like home," says Dorothy in Oz, and like Dorothy, all Watney wants is to get back to the place he came from. The homebound quest itself is a theme of countless stories, from The Little Lost Kitten to The Lord of the Rings, but it's never been done quite like this.
The Martian has been justly popular, garnering rave reviews and plenty of media attention. It's thoroughly entertaining: suspenseful, textured, and inventive. Pairing plausible-sounding science with an appealing narrative voice, Weir takes us on an unsought adventure in which our hero meets a seemingly unstoppable series of mishaps and challenges with indefatigable resourcefulness and persistence. This is the stuff of which our national myth is made, and the less we see of it in our real-world surroundings, the greater our appetite for it in our escapist reading.
As long as we don't look for much more than that, this is a terrific read.
What we don't see is much in the way of character development. From the first lines, we're given Watney as a glib, wisecracking realist, a bit of a rogue, an out-of-the-box thinker in the best tradition of Westerns, war stories, detective yarns, space operas, and just about every other genre that features a solitary protagonist up against overwhelming odds. Watney starts out with such a sizeable endowment of confidence and self-reliance that there's not much for him to gain along the way; but neither, as in the customary alternative setup, are we going to see him learn humility as an antidote to arrogance, despite a few dangerous miscalculations. It's a given that he needs help outside himself; there's no supernatural force at work here, and he can't fly home under his own power. But we don't see him learn. We don't see him change. The character arc is flat.
Not that it needs to be otherwise. That's just where the depth marker is set.
Apart from several jarring shifts in point of view that seem to occur with cinematography conspicuously in mind--the business about the faulty sheet of Hab canvas, for instance--the craftsmanship is perfectly adequate to the task, not calling attention to itself. For a book of this sort, we don't need more than that.
In sum, this novel meets my test of delivering what it promises. It doesn't promise to be more than it is. It was a fun ride, with an exciting gallop to the finish line, and when it was done I'd got exactly what I came for.
Extended review:
In a writing class I took once, the instructor said, "Ninety percent of plots amount to this: 'Someone takes a trip.' And most of the rest boil down to 'A stranger comes to town.'" (Or maybe it was the other way around.)
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This turns out to be a paraphrase of a principle set down by Tolstoy: "All great literature is one of two stories: a man goes on a journey or a stranger comes to town."In a way, The Martian is both.
Stranded on Mars when the rest of his expedition crew thinks he's been killed, Mark Watney is the stranger, the fish out of water, utterly and completely on his own until someone on earth happens to notice signs that he has survived. He also has taken and still must take a major trip, by whatever means possible, if there's to be any chance that he'll ever get home again.
"There's no place like home," says Dorothy in Oz, and like Dorothy, all Watney wants is to get back to the place he came from. The homebound quest itself is a theme of countless stories, from The Little Lost Kitten to The Lord of the Rings, but it's never been done quite like this.
The Martian has been justly popular, garnering rave reviews and plenty of media attention. It's thoroughly entertaining: suspenseful, textured, and inventive. Pairing plausible-sounding science with an appealing narrative voice, Weir takes us on an unsought adventure in which our hero meets a seemingly unstoppable series of mishaps and challenges with indefatigable resourcefulness and persistence. This is the stuff of which our national myth is made, and the less we see of it in our real-world surroundings, the greater our appetite for it in our escapist reading.
As long as we don't look for much more than that, this is a terrific read.
What we don't see is much in the way of character development. From the first lines, we're given Watney as a glib, wisecracking realist, a bit of a rogue, an out-of-the-box thinker in the best tradition of Westerns, war stories, detective yarns, space operas, and just about every other genre that features a solitary protagonist up against overwhelming odds. Watney starts out with such a sizeable endowment of confidence and self-reliance that there's not much for him to gain along the way; but neither, as in the customary alternative setup, are we going to see him learn humility as an antidote to arrogance, despite a few dangerous miscalculations. It's a given that he needs help outside himself; there's no supernatural force at work here, and he can't fly home under his own power. But we don't see him learn. We don't see him change. The character arc is flat.
Not that it needs to be otherwise. That's just where the depth marker is set.
Apart from several jarring shifts in point of view that seem to occur with cinematography conspicuously in mind--the business about the faulty sheet of Hab canvas, for instance--the craftsmanship is perfectly adequate to the task, not calling attention to itself. For a book of this sort, we don't need more than that.
In sum, this novel meets my test of delivering what it promises. It doesn't promise to be more than it is. It was a fun ride, with an exciting gallop to the finish line, and when it was done I'd got exactly what I came for.
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LibraryThing member TadAD
If you're a science type of person, or a science fiction type of person, you probably will enjoy this book, perhaps even enjoy it a lot. Otherwise, it may not be your cup of tea.
Essentially, we've got a survival story: one man, astronaut Mark Watney, pitted against the entire environment of Mars,
This is entirely a plot-driven book. We get some of the surface of Mark Watney's character—mostly that gallows sense of humor—but little depth. Regardless of how good his training and how "can do" his attitude is, it's impossible to believe that doubts and fears don't grow over a year and a half of utter solitude in a daily struggle against disaster after disaster, yet we see almost none of it. The other characters are just names with an attribute or two attached: Teddy's a bit of a moral coward; Mitch is a jerk but will always do what he thinks is right; Johanssen is the nerdy-but-hot member of the team; Purnell is the stereotypical engineer with high IQ and low EQ, etc.
Calling it plot-driven might be a misnomer; puzzle-driven might be more descriptive. The plot is basically nothing more than standing up a science problem and knocking it down. No water? No problem, you can do X (avoiding spoilers here). No food? No problem, you can do Y. Freezing to death? No problem, do Z. Suffocating? No problem, do A and B and do them PDQ. And so on. If you take away those elements, the plot is simply, "travel to Point A and hope for rescue." And, for me, puzzle-driven books have a difficulty when it comes to suspense because there's a certain inevitability that the protagonist will triumph so that we can see the cool solution.
In the end, I like science, so I enjoyed the book. If you would be utterly bored by the chemistry of hydrazine, or think that calculations of electrical usage are a snooze fest, this probably isn't a good selection...or, at least, be prepared to turn it into a novella by skimming a section here or there. Limited recommendation.
Essentially, we've got a survival story: one man, astronaut Mark Watney, pitted against the entire environment of Mars,
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trying to make it back home without succumbing to any one of a dozen things that have lethal consequences. It's fast paced and Mark has an enjoyable, slightly sophomoric sense of humor. The epistolary style (it's written as log entries), works well because it allows Weir to skip over the day-to-day humdrum. For most readers, science buffs or not, this might work well...if it were a novella. However, as a 367 page book, I suspect you really have to enjoy your science simply for its own sake in order to hang in until the end with the same level of enjoyment. This is entirely a plot-driven book. We get some of the surface of Mark Watney's character—mostly that gallows sense of humor—but little depth. Regardless of how good his training and how "can do" his attitude is, it's impossible to believe that doubts and fears don't grow over a year and a half of utter solitude in a daily struggle against disaster after disaster, yet we see almost none of it. The other characters are just names with an attribute or two attached: Teddy's a bit of a moral coward; Mitch is a jerk but will always do what he thinks is right; Johanssen is the nerdy-but-hot member of the team; Purnell is the stereotypical engineer with high IQ and low EQ, etc.
Calling it plot-driven might be a misnomer; puzzle-driven might be more descriptive. The plot is basically nothing more than standing up a science problem and knocking it down. No water? No problem, you can do X (avoiding spoilers here). No food? No problem, you can do Y. Freezing to death? No problem, do Z. Suffocating? No problem, do A and B and do them PDQ. And so on. If you take away those elements, the plot is simply, "travel to Point A and hope for rescue." And, for me, puzzle-driven books have a difficulty when it comes to suspense because there's a certain inevitability that the protagonist will triumph so that we can see the cool solution.
In the end, I like science, so I enjoyed the book. If you would be utterly bored by the chemistry of hydrazine, or think that calculations of electrical usage are a snooze fest, this probably isn't a good selection...or, at least, be prepared to turn it into a novella by skimming a section here or there. Limited recommendation.
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LibraryThing member Bookmarque
Everyone seems to really love this book. I’m not one of them. I liked it, sure, but it didn’t have enough emotional depth for me to love it. Overall it was enjoyable, funny and full of science and problem-solving in the most dire of circumstances. But after a while I began to wonder about
Instead we have MacGyver in space. Seriously. We know Mark’s going to survive. After the first couple of chapters that’s pretty clear. And that everyone else will, too. No death, no casualties, not so much as a hangnail. Nothing heavy. Then when shit just started to happen, one thing after another, it became comical; like what ELSE can happen to this poor sap? When the rover rolled down the crater slope I almost laughed. It was a pratfall on grand scale, but still a pratfall. Banana skins. For me it would have been a much more affecting novel if there had been some palpable danger. As weird as that sounds about a book featuring a guy abandoned on Mars, it’s true. Like Sir Galahad the Pure, he needs just a little more peril. Alas, it was too perilous.
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Mark’s sanity. How could a person facing his plight be so damn chipper all the time? Not one tantrum or crying jag or even a poor-poor-pitiful-me episode. No long diatribes about the unfairness of the universe or how much he misses his family. Nope. Not Mark. Stiff upper lip, denial, call it what you will, but I began to wonder if there were some serious antidepressants in the kit that he wasn’t telling us about. Oh sure there were some complaints about how much potatoes suck or that Mars was trying to kill him, but they were on the same level as his jokes and quips; very light-weight stuff. I had hopes for something a bit closer to the bone.Instead we have MacGyver in space. Seriously. We know Mark’s going to survive. After the first couple of chapters that’s pretty clear. And that everyone else will, too. No death, no casualties, not so much as a hangnail. Nothing heavy. Then when shit just started to happen, one thing after another, it became comical; like what ELSE can happen to this poor sap? When the rover rolled down the crater slope I almost laughed. It was a pratfall on grand scale, but still a pratfall. Banana skins. For me it would have been a much more affecting novel if there had been some palpable danger. As weird as that sounds about a book featuring a guy abandoned on Mars, it’s true. Like Sir Galahad the Pure, he needs just a little more peril. Alas, it was too perilous.
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Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — 2015)
Alex Award (2015)
RUSA CODES Reading List (Winner — Science Fiction — 2015)
Indies Choice Book Award (Winner — 2015)
John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel (Finalist — 2015)
Green Mountain Book Award (Nominee — 2016)
Seiun Award (Nominee — 2015)
Geffen Award (2015)
Golden Archer Award (Nominee — 2018)
Ignotus Award (Winner — 2015)
International Thriller Writers Award (Nominee — First Novel — 2015)
Wissensbuch des Jahres (2015)
Publishers Weekly's Best Books of the Year (Mystery/Thriller — 2014)
NPR: Books We Love (2014)
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year (Science Fiction and Fantasy — 2014)
The A.V. Club best books (2014)
Los Angeles Public Library Best of the Year (Fiction — 2014)
Lariat Adult Fiction Reading List (Selection — 2015)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Adults (Selection — Fiction — 2014)
RUSA CODES Listen List (Selection — 2015)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2012-09-27
Physical description
400 p.; 5.2 inches
ISBN
0553418025 / 9780553418026