Helpful Score: 7
This is the diary of an astronaut that gets stranded on Mars in the not-too-distant future. Working from only the limited resources one might realistically expect to find themselves with in such a situation, can he survive long enough to be rescued? It's a provocative question, and the author is ruthless in his presentation of the difficulties. Our hero pushes his knowledge of physics, chemistry, and biology to the limits, but will it be enough? Obviously, there is limited dialogue, but the author nevertheless presents a very readable story with suitable doses of humor, suspense, and tragedy. The apparent rigor in this story makes it readily applicable to real life (should you ever find yourself stranded on Mars). I loved it, and I can't wait for the author's next work.
Helpful Score: 1
Some may find the science descriptions a little too in depth but when read with Mark's (the title character)sarcastic humor it all fits in nicely. The ability of Mark to overcome all the problems he is faced with keep the story line moving at a brisk pace.
This is a MUST READ book! Wow, thrilling, breathtaking, unstoppable action made for sleepless nights since I had to see what was going to happen next!
There a lot of NASA technical terminology which is fascinating to me as my son is employed by NASA as a Mechanical Engineer working on space projects for years. He worked on the Hubble until it was scrubbed.
The author describes how one man who was stranded on Mars when his crew thought him dead, plans to try to survive until the next Mars Landing two years later, when hopefully he can be rescued. He will have to travel to the landing site which is 90 days away,
He figured out a way to communicate with NASA who knew he survived since they had the ability to see the Mars landscape and watched as he was working on his survival plans. He was elated to finally speak to someone other than himself! That is until the system broke down and he was on his own again.
He knows he'll run out of food beforehand and since he's also a Botanist, devices a plan to grow potatoes inside his HAB. His ingenuity and skill is inspiring as he struggles with Martian atmosphere, sand storms and large craters which has to be endured as he travels to his destination
You can see I loved this book and can't wait to see the movie with Matt Damon. I'll be the first in line! 5 stars plus for this book.
There a lot of NASA technical terminology which is fascinating to me as my son is employed by NASA as a Mechanical Engineer working on space projects for years. He worked on the Hubble until it was scrubbed.
The author describes how one man who was stranded on Mars when his crew thought him dead, plans to try to survive until the next Mars Landing two years later, when hopefully he can be rescued. He will have to travel to the landing site which is 90 days away,
He figured out a way to communicate with NASA who knew he survived since they had the ability to see the Mars landscape and watched as he was working on his survival plans. He was elated to finally speak to someone other than himself! That is until the system broke down and he was on his own again.
He knows he'll run out of food beforehand and since he's also a Botanist, devices a plan to grow potatoes inside his HAB. His ingenuity and skill is inspiring as he struggles with Martian atmosphere, sand storms and large craters which has to be endured as he travels to his destination
You can see I loved this book and can't wait to see the movie with Matt Damon. I'll be the first in line! 5 stars plus for this book.
I have been wanting to read this book for awhile and was excited to finally get it on audiobook. The story was very well done and overall I really enjoyed it. Parts of the book get pretty technical and do a good job of portraying the boredom the main character feels but there are also portions that are very exciting.
I listened to this on audiobook and I highly recommend it. This was an awesome audiobook, the narrator was spectacular and did a perfect job. I also think it was easier to listen to all the technical data than it would have been to read it.
Six days ago Mark Watney arrived in Mars, excited to execute his mission there. That was until a stronger than expected sandstorm forced him and his crew to abandon the mission, however Mark didnt make it back. He was nearly killed by debris, leaving his crewmates to assume that he was dead. Now Mark is stranded on Mars with no way to signal anyone, everyone thinks hes dead, and the only way he will survive is by using his brilliant mind and a crazy combination of botany and engineering skills.
Kudos to Weir for doing such excellent research for this book. There is a lot of technical stuff in this story, however its explained in a way that is easy to understand and darkly humorous. Being an engineer myself I would find myself trying to think through Marks problems and solve them before he did.
Marks personality pretty much makes this book. He is a pretty upbeat guy with a sardonic sense of humor; without these personality traits I dont think theres any way he would have been able to deal with his long seclusion from the rest of humanity. He brings a very down-to-earth and practical attitude to a challenge of epic proportions. Everyone can learn from this guy, the main lesson problem at a time and dont let yourself get overwhelmed by the situation.
Weir does a good job of making the reader feel the long expanses of boredom interspersed with nearly panic-inducing disasters. The resourcefulness of Mark is astounding and amazing. The way the scientists of Earth pull together for portions of the novel was also amazing and inspiring.
My only complaint were that some of the sections (especially early in the book) where Mark is dealing with boredom and spending lots of time trying to solve very technical problems gets a boring. Maybe this was the authors intent but I feel like these parts could have been tightened up a bit. I also wasnt a huge fan of the ending, it was okay but just felt rushed and a bit incomplete.
Overall this was an amazing story about one mans resourcefulness and fight to survive. I enjoyed it quite a bit. It is a highly technical story at points and does have some portions that drag a bit. However I will still recommend it for everyone to read. I would especially recommend to those who are interested in space travel and survival. I am excited to see the movie when it releases in October and happy I got to read the book before seeing the movie.
I listened to this on audiobook and I highly recommend it. This was an awesome audiobook, the narrator was spectacular and did a perfect job. I also think it was easier to listen to all the technical data than it would have been to read it.
Six days ago Mark Watney arrived in Mars, excited to execute his mission there. That was until a stronger than expected sandstorm forced him and his crew to abandon the mission, however Mark didnt make it back. He was nearly killed by debris, leaving his crewmates to assume that he was dead. Now Mark is stranded on Mars with no way to signal anyone, everyone thinks hes dead, and the only way he will survive is by using his brilliant mind and a crazy combination of botany and engineering skills.
Kudos to Weir for doing such excellent research for this book. There is a lot of technical stuff in this story, however its explained in a way that is easy to understand and darkly humorous. Being an engineer myself I would find myself trying to think through Marks problems and solve them before he did.
Marks personality pretty much makes this book. He is a pretty upbeat guy with a sardonic sense of humor; without these personality traits I dont think theres any way he would have been able to deal with his long seclusion from the rest of humanity. He brings a very down-to-earth and practical attitude to a challenge of epic proportions. Everyone can learn from this guy, the main lesson problem at a time and dont let yourself get overwhelmed by the situation.
Weir does a good job of making the reader feel the long expanses of boredom interspersed with nearly panic-inducing disasters. The resourcefulness of Mark is astounding and amazing. The way the scientists of Earth pull together for portions of the novel was also amazing and inspiring.
My only complaint were that some of the sections (especially early in the book) where Mark is dealing with boredom and spending lots of time trying to solve very technical problems gets a boring. Maybe this was the authors intent but I feel like these parts could have been tightened up a bit. I also wasnt a huge fan of the ending, it was okay but just felt rushed and a bit incomplete.
Overall this was an amazing story about one mans resourcefulness and fight to survive. I enjoyed it quite a bit. It is a highly technical story at points and does have some portions that drag a bit. However I will still recommend it for everyone to read. I would especially recommend to those who are interested in space travel and survival. I am excited to see the movie when it releases in October and happy I got to read the book before seeing the movie.
Perfect blend of science and humor. Loved it and will definitely read again.
I saw the film first and loves it, which is why I bought the book. To start, this book was excellently written, the time and dedication put into the research to make this as scientifically accurate as possible is just amazing. That being said, a good bit of the science of it, while fascinating, was boring. If it weren't for the bits of humor thrown in as well as Wil Wheaton's excellent narration, I would have snoozed on this. Not a bad book, just not for me.
4.5 out of 5 stars: There were a few moments that kept it from being perfect, but overall a very well written book. Enough science to make it feel like Heinlein, but not so much it felt like I was being beaten over the head.
This was a great read! For the most part it's in a "audio log" format but this really pulls you into the story. You have to admire the inventiveness of the author in how he has his character work through the myriad of problems encountered and, for me, it was very believable. Each person experiences a story differently but this is one I will be wholeheartedly recommending to my friends.
Great book! I loved the diary writing style and it flows well when we go back to the people not on Mars with Watley. It does get a little bogged down with technical descriptions, but not overly much. Humor keeps the diary entries light and makes the book move quickly. Glad my book club had this as a selection option or I would have missed it!
I love this book! The protagonist, Mark Watney, is a fantastic character. He is like the "class clown" of the astronauts, but extremely clever at problem solving and survival. Even when all odds are against him, he will make you laugh. From the first page to the last, I was hooked and kept turning pages. You have to root for him through everything (and he goes through a lot!). Mr. Weir, I want MORE!
An excellent near-future science fiction novel, and can be thoroughly enjoyed even if you don't want to follow all the math yourself. Weir created a great narrator in Mark Watney and threw a wonderfully awful list of problems at him. You could really believe in this scenario, there's no FTL travel, teleportation, or other hand-wavium involved.
I found it impossible not to binge read this book. I have heard people talking about it for months, so I finally decided to see what all of the fuss was about. I wasn't disappointed.
For me, The Martian struck a great balance between the science and the fiction. This is a book about people who are wicked smart and doing insanely challenging things, yet Weir made it surprisingly accessible (even though I still don't understand half of what he actually said). It's also a great survival story of on man vs Mars, and the characterization of Mark Watney was both believable and incredibly funny.
This is the kind of book that would appeal to people who wouldn't normally read sci-fi. It's space without aliens, space travel without wormholes, futuristic without being too far removed from our present reality. It's plausible enough that it could actually happen, and for that reason alone it is going to appeal to a broader base of readers.
Also, The Martian is a self-published book, so kudos to Weir for taking his love of space and turning it into a best-selling book. One a side note, the movie is also very well done and follows the book very well (although in typical movie-Cliffs-notes style). Matt Damon was a perfect cast for the brilliantly resourceful astronaut with a gallows sense of humor, and Sean Bean's role as Mitch was delightfully amusing for reasons that I won't spoil in this review.
In all, this was a completely entertaining and absorbing read. Highly recommended!
For me, The Martian struck a great balance between the science and the fiction. This is a book about people who are wicked smart and doing insanely challenging things, yet Weir made it surprisingly accessible (even though I still don't understand half of what he actually said). It's also a great survival story of on man vs Mars, and the characterization of Mark Watney was both believable and incredibly funny.
This is the kind of book that would appeal to people who wouldn't normally read sci-fi. It's space without aliens, space travel without wormholes, futuristic without being too far removed from our present reality. It's plausible enough that it could actually happen, and for that reason alone it is going to appeal to a broader base of readers.
Also, The Martian is a self-published book, so kudos to Weir for taking his love of space and turning it into a best-selling book. One a side note, the movie is also very well done and follows the book very well (although in typical movie-Cliffs-notes style). Matt Damon was a perfect cast for the brilliantly resourceful astronaut with a gallows sense of humor, and Sean Bean's role as Mitch was delightfully amusing for reasons that I won't spoil in this review.
In all, this was a completely entertaining and absorbing read. Highly recommended!
I could not put this book down. Began reading it Monday night, finally forced myself to turn off the lights at 12:30 am. Finished it before going to sleep on Tuesday.
Also looking forward to the movie when it comes out. The movie rights were purchased by writer/producer Simon Kinberg (Mr and Mrs Smith, Sherlock Holmes, X-Men, First Class).
Also looking forward to the movie when it comes out. The movie rights were purchased by writer/producer Simon Kinberg (Mr and Mrs Smith, Sherlock Holmes, X-Men, First Class).
If you're occasionally bothered by the nagging feeling that humanity is on a downward spiral, you'd do well to read this. Although I knew this was a fiction novel, I couldn't help but gain a bit more faith in our common humanity. This is the most positive science novel I've ever read. Imagine how happy I was when I learned halfway through that The Martian is now a movie. Twice I will have the pleasure of experiencing a boosting jolt of trust to my confidence in others.
After overcoming my initial irritation with Mark's very strong personality, I learned to appreciate who he was and how he coped with a nearly-hopeless situation. I respect resourcefulness and gratitude above all else; Mark brimmed with both. I liked that he was not resigned, panicked, or weepy. He retained a sense of humor throughout his experience. I'm not certain how realistic that is but I'm willing to accept it; we all deal with trauma in our own ways.
Weir gave us a sweeping view of how NASA and JPL and the Hermes crew saw the situation. There was no one answer to anything - just as in life. Things quickly became tangled with bureaucracy and ideas, which is incredibly realistic. I'll also mention the feel of isolation the reader gets when reading Mark's logs.
The only part that detracted from the story just a bit was the scientific detail. I'm sure chemical and mechanical engineers would admire the level of description Weir gave, but it didn't work for a lowly layperson like me. I still know exactly nothing about hydrogen and I didn't learn anything new about potatoes (and I actually do know a lot about them). The story became confusing and muddled during those sections and I tuned out. Still solid 4 1/2 stars. I'll read Weir's future books.
After overcoming my initial irritation with Mark's very strong personality, I learned to appreciate who he was and how he coped with a nearly-hopeless situation. I respect resourcefulness and gratitude above all else; Mark brimmed with both. I liked that he was not resigned, panicked, or weepy. He retained a sense of humor throughout his experience. I'm not certain how realistic that is but I'm willing to accept it; we all deal with trauma in our own ways.
Weir gave us a sweeping view of how NASA and JPL and the Hermes crew saw the situation. There was no one answer to anything - just as in life. Things quickly became tangled with bureaucracy and ideas, which is incredibly realistic. I'll also mention the feel of isolation the reader gets when reading Mark's logs.
The only part that detracted from the story just a bit was the scientific detail. I'm sure chemical and mechanical engineers would admire the level of description Weir gave, but it didn't work for a lowly layperson like me. I still know exactly nothing about hydrogen and I didn't learn anything new about potatoes (and I actually do know a lot about them). The story became confusing and muddled during those sections and I tuned out. Still solid 4 1/2 stars. I'll read Weir's future books.
Wow! An unstoppable roller coaster of a book! My son in law downloaded The Martian to my Kindle, and told me, "You have to read this book...you will love it!" My reaction at first was- but I dislike science fiction as a genre. Why? So glad I read this book, which is literally unable to be put down. Mark Watney's desperate struggle to survive, alone, on Mars, after the crew of Ares 3 departs, leaving him for dead after a sandstorm, really tugs at one's emotions. The book is narrated in Sols (Martian days) by this former botanist/physicist who is stranded on the Red Planet. In spite of the endless scientific jargon, calculations, ratios and, let's face it, astrophysics lessons, Watney's will to live and ingenuity makes us truly care about the outcome. My only criticism was the endless catastrophes that keep befalling our intrepid protagonist. As soon as something hopeful happens, immediately it is negated by yet another life-threatening peril or miscalculation. I was so invested in the story that I actually cried for a moment towards the end. An unbelievable story of survival against all odds.
* * ½*. Sci/Fi. While on Mars, a NASA crew suddenly departs leaving one man behind. Now thought dead, the lone astronaut, Mark Watney, must survive a barren wasteland with only a minimum of supplies and sustenance.
You could subtitle this book "Apollo 13 meets Castaway on Mars". The book could have been shorter. I found myself fast forwarding at times through the technical jargon, a lot, of technical jargon.
What saved the book for me:1) Mark Watney's sarcastic humor. 2) The peril he faced as the sole inhabitant of this neighboring planet 3) The laymen explanations converting all the science-speak, thus forwarding the plot.
Add a star * if you're a fan of calculating number conversions in novels.
You could subtitle this book "Apollo 13 meets Castaway on Mars". The book could have been shorter. I found myself fast forwarding at times through the technical jargon, a lot, of technical jargon.
What saved the book for me:1) Mark Watney's sarcastic humor. 2) The peril he faced as the sole inhabitant of this neighboring planet 3) The laymen explanations converting all the science-speak, thus forwarding the plot.
Add a star * if you're a fan of calculating number conversions in novels.
This is NOT a traditional SciFi book. It is the story of an astronaut mistakenly left for dead on the surface by the first Martian landing. It is a surprisingly realistic, gripping account of what it would be like to try to survive on a totally alien, unforgiving environment with a few months' supplies and a lot of ingenuity. An interesting subplot develops when NASA discovers he is alive. What can they do? The next flight will take years to arrive, and his own crew are already part way home and low on supplies and fuel.
Weir has done his homework. The details of Martian landscape and weather are fascinating. Not only will you have a good read, you will also learn a lot about our nearest celestial neighbor.
Weir has done his homework. The details of Martian landscape and weather are fascinating. Not only will you have a good read, you will also learn a lot about our nearest celestial neighbor.
What a great read! Science fiction is a genre that I dip into now and then. So glad I picked this one up, thanks to the recommendation of one of my GR friends.
Mark Watney is stranded on Mars when a freak wind storm engulfs the crew exploring the planed. While he and his colleagues are heading for their craft to embark on a trip home, he is blown away from the others. A hole made in his suit seals when he falls onto the sand, unconscious. When he awakes, he realizes that he has been left behind.
His creativeness, resourcefulness, and positive attitude are tested over and over in the days and weeks ahead as he strives to survive. He does well and somehow overcomes the mistakes he makes but will he be able to get home? Since he has no contact with earth he cannot tell them that he is alive.
The story emphasizes how men help each other and themselves when those on earth discover he is alive and strive to find a way to bring him home. Scientists and Mark disagree about the methods to use but time is running out. Both those on earth and Mark know that their options are few. This is a read that I highly recommend. It's inspiring.
Mark Watney is stranded on Mars when a freak wind storm engulfs the crew exploring the planed. While he and his colleagues are heading for their craft to embark on a trip home, he is blown away from the others. A hole made in his suit seals when he falls onto the sand, unconscious. When he awakes, he realizes that he has been left behind.
His creativeness, resourcefulness, and positive attitude are tested over and over in the days and weeks ahead as he strives to survive. He does well and somehow overcomes the mistakes he makes but will he be able to get home? Since he has no contact with earth he cannot tell them that he is alive.
The story emphasizes how men help each other and themselves when those on earth discover he is alive and strive to find a way to bring him home. Scientists and Mark disagree about the methods to use but time is running out. Both those on earth and Mark know that their options are few. This is a read that I highly recommend. It's inspiring.
Take a little bit of the movie Gravity. Add in the book Robinson Crusoe. Then throw in MacGyver. That will get you close to what The Martian by Andy Weir is all about. The book is about dire circumstances being stranded alone on Mars but it is definitely one of the more entertaining stories I have read in a while. A whole lot of fun!
Read my complete review at: http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2014/10/the-martian-novel.html
Reviewed based on a publishers galley received through Edelweiss
Read my complete review at: http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2014/10/the-martian-novel.html
Reviewed based on a publishers galley received through Edelweiss
I'm not a die-hard science fiction fan by any stretch of the imagination, at least not since my teens and early twenties, but when trusted book sources raved about this book, it haunted me until I was forced to buy and read it. I have to admit that one of the things that drew me in was the first line. Although I do come from a family of farmers and sailors (and all the earthy/salty language that may imply), it wasn't the f-word that drew me like a magnet. There's just something about that first line that tells you even though the chips are down as low as they can get, this character still has a sense of humor. And as I well know, a sense of humor can keep you going when a lot of other things can't.
After hearing raves about The Martian and after having read it... just what is my opinion? It's a darned good book, but not quite rave worthy for me. It is written in the form of a log book, which is the perfect format. Mark is there alone; he has no one to talk to; and the only way we're going to get to know him is for him to write his thoughts and problems down in the log. Each Ares 3 crew member had to have two specialities; Mark's are mechanical engineering and botany. If he is to survive for the four years it will take for help to arrive, he has to concentrate on food and water and making any necessary repairs to the equipment and his shelter. Reading his thought processes as he works through the various problems he deals with is the perfect way to learn his character.
However, I have to be honest. The technical jargon in the first fifty pages started making my eyes glaze over. That "stuff" is necessary to show how Mark survives, and it also shows the tremendous amount of research the author did for the book, but there's only so much interest I can personally show in growing potatoes in a hostile environment and mechanical engineering. (I know of many readers who were fascinated with this. I'm happy for them... and a little envious.)
Something happens after those first fifty pages that sets the whole book on its ear, and my interest re-engaged with a vengeance. Yes, there was still quite a bit of that "stuff" I mentioned previously, but it was easier to digest after injecting more action into the storyline. Before you think this book is nothing but technical language and action, let me tell you that Mark Watney is a gem of a character. His intelligence, his problem-solving skills, his sense of humor, how he copes throughout a situation that would make most people give up... he's one of the best characters I've read so far this year.
If you like science fiction that's so good you feel as though you're on the red planet yourself, if you like survival tales, or if you like brilliant characters, by all means give The Martian a try. I'm very glad I did.
After hearing raves about The Martian and after having read it... just what is my opinion? It's a darned good book, but not quite rave worthy for me. It is written in the form of a log book, which is the perfect format. Mark is there alone; he has no one to talk to; and the only way we're going to get to know him is for him to write his thoughts and problems down in the log. Each Ares 3 crew member had to have two specialities; Mark's are mechanical engineering and botany. If he is to survive for the four years it will take for help to arrive, he has to concentrate on food and water and making any necessary repairs to the equipment and his shelter. Reading his thought processes as he works through the various problems he deals with is the perfect way to learn his character.
However, I have to be honest. The technical jargon in the first fifty pages started making my eyes glaze over. That "stuff" is necessary to show how Mark survives, and it also shows the tremendous amount of research the author did for the book, but there's only so much interest I can personally show in growing potatoes in a hostile environment and mechanical engineering. (I know of many readers who were fascinated with this. I'm happy for them... and a little envious.)
Something happens after those first fifty pages that sets the whole book on its ear, and my interest re-engaged with a vengeance. Yes, there was still quite a bit of that "stuff" I mentioned previously, but it was easier to digest after injecting more action into the storyline. Before you think this book is nothing but technical language and action, let me tell you that Mark Watney is a gem of a character. His intelligence, his problem-solving skills, his sense of humor, how he copes throughout a situation that would make most people give up... he's one of the best characters I've read so far this year.
If you like science fiction that's so good you feel as though you're on the red planet yourself, if you like survival tales, or if you like brilliant characters, by all means give The Martian a try. I'm very glad I did.
Smooth blend of daily log recordings on Mars and the rescue mission taking place on Earth. I was hooked within seconds, and I remained captivated to the very end. I got lost sometimes in the technical details of astro-whatever problem solving (can you tell I have no NASA training?), but those were minor hiccups. Still, it was a fascinating and suspenseful read, one I found hard to put down. Enthusiastically recommended at 4.5 stars.
Excellent. A non-stop read that will have you staying up into the wee hours to finish it.
This book was so good, It had tons of humor, threat, disasters,starvation, and unplanned events that could make or break him and his crew... Andy Weir needs to make a book two!!!
10 year old Grandson
10 year old Grandson
