The Martian

Although this book is science fiction, it contains one of the most insightful in-depth depictions I’ve read about how scientists solve problems, here in extremis.

I identified strongly with the central character of Mark Watney, inadvertently abandoned by his crew, as he figures out, step by inventive step, how to survive long enough as the lone inhabitant of Mars until NASA can find a way to get him back to Earth. Ridley Scott made an excellent film that is faithful to this book, but the book is even better. I found it well-written, witty, propulsive, and very entertaining. 

You can’t get more “real science" than this book! The author is an engineer who refuses to ask readers to take things on faith if there’s any way he can give them a real-world grounding with the science we already have. 

I loved it because I completely and totally believed it. Weir works within the rules of the real world rather than ignoring them and hoping readers don’t notice, which is what so many books do. All you need to do is believe that a manned mission to Mars is possible, and the rest won’t raise a single “but wait;… show more.

Dean Koontz, Jerry Jenkins, and others advise authors to plunge the main character into terrible trouble as fast as possible. This book delivers the best opening of any novel I’ve seen. It would have been even stronger without the profanity.

The story feels plausible, and I can feel Mark Watney fighting to live while reasoning his way through challenge after challenge. I was querying Virus Bomb shortly after this one came out, and I noticed many agents’ manuscript wish lists wanted stories where nature was the antagonist. I had to see why—and so, I bought the book.

Main character Mark… show more.

I am a sucker for a great opening line. From the very beginning, this book had me hooked! For me, it was the perfect mixture of humor, tension, and science. 

As I continued to devour it, I found this to be one of the rare books that did not let up on the gas. I was constantly engaged by the humor, kept awake late at night with the situation, and now reflect on the science.

I love to read a good book, but I treasure a great book. From start to finish, just like Mark Watney, I was trapped on… show more.

Andy Weir has. In my opinion, come to define hopepunk: pushing towards a goal through difficulties, even if the goal doesn’t personally benefit the character.

His depiction of the plight of Mark Watney, the impacts Watney’s plight have on a global scale, and the hard science behind it all combine to create a compelling story. The sacrifices his crewmates and NASA officials make to push his rescue forward exemplify the “community over self” attitude common in hopepunk.

I like math and science. Too much though, and I start to skim. I didn’t skip anything in this book, and I found it a page turner from the start.

The math and science involved in the character’s survival is explained well enough for it to make sense to the average person. After reading it, I think I would probably feel comfortable growing potatoes in [spoiler alert] human feces. Maybe not as comfortable having to eat them, but if I was [spoiler alert] stranded on Mars…

This is Robinson Crusoe crossed with Apollo 13 on Mars. An unexpectedly powerful storm forces the early termination of a Mars mission.

One astronaut, who was presumed dead, was left behind. Using his training and knowledge, he not only survives but figures out how to contact Earth. Together with the NASA team, the Chinese, and his former crewmates, plans are formulated for his rescue.

There are several failures and twists and turns along the way, as well as a few heroic sacrifices. As a nerd (I’m an engineer by education), I identified with the heroes (scientists and engineers) and appreciated… show more.

This book shattered my view of what science fiction could be. 

A botanist gets left for dead by the rest of his departing crew during a storm on Mars, and must battle for life, alone, millions of miles from home. The way Weir crafted the story, using historic missions to the Red Planet, as well as creating his own orbital calculations to judge if what he wrote was possible, left me shaking my head in awe.

Who’d have thought you could grow crops on Mars? I would have lasted a day there before I broke something and accidentally killed myself.

If you’ve seen the movie it’s time to read the book.

The Martian gets a lot of the science right as an astronaut stuck on Mars tries to get home using whatever technology he has on hand to survive. The descriptions of the planet are really good, giving you a feel for what it would be like to live on the Red Planet.

Weir does take a science shortcut or two to advance the plot, but the overall story is so gripping I’m OK with it. 

It is from the power of human passions that we often find ourselves in conflict, yet it is because of passion we can ultimately find the wherewithal to escape that struggle. In The Martian, Andy Weir remarkably detailed the scientific fantasies that took his characters to Mars; but also beautifully narrated the spirited passion that invigorated the protagonist’s will to survive. It is because of the quality of his scientific descriptions and the emotions of his protagonist that I heartily enjoyed this book.