Imagine being stranded on Mars. You were injured, left for dead by your crewmates in their rush to get off the planet. You survived, though, and made it back to camp. You have food, but not enough to last, and you have no way of communicating with anyone. Welcome to Andy Weir’s bestselling The Martian, now a Golden Globe-winning, Oscar-nominated movie. In the spirit of how the book was originally published—in installments on his website—I’ve decided to review it in installments as well, as I read it.
As you might have surmised, if I’m planning to write multiple short reviews, it must be because I’m enjoying the novel so far. I was a bit worried by the Wall Street Journal cover blurb trumpeting the fact that it’s full of real science—not because I don’t like science, but because it can be a bit dry and get in the way of more important story elements like character and plot. Judging from the first seven chapters, I needn’t have worried. The book is indeed full of science, but in service of a gripping plot.
As for character, I also wasn’t sure if spending so much time with one character would hold my interest. Again, so far so good. For one thing, astronaut Mark Watney is worth spending time with as he grapples with his many life-threatening challenges and complains about, but is mesmerized by, the 70s TV shows he happens to have with him for entertainment. (They were left behind by his crewmates, who are on their way back to Earth.)
For another thing, we’re not stuck reading about just one character. No, it’s not that little green men suddenly appear to keep him company, and I seriously doubt there will be any in subsequent chapters. It’s not that kind of book. Instead, so far, there has been the very moving scene of the people back on Earth at NASA realizing that they’ve left a man behind. Watney is alive, but they appear to have no way of communicating with him, much less of saving him before he starves to death.
Can’t wait to see what happens next!
As for character, I also wasn’t sure if spending so much time with one character would hold my interest. Again, so far so good. For one thing, astronaut Mark Watney is worth spending time with as he grapples with his many life-threatening challenges and complains about, but is mesmerized by, the 70s TV shows he happens to have with him for entertainment. (They were left behind by his crewmates, who are on their way back to Earth.)
For another thing, we’re not stuck reading about just one character. No, it’s not that little green men suddenly appear to keep him company, and I seriously doubt there will be any in subsequent chapters. It’s not that kind of book. Instead, so far, there has been the very moving scene of the people back on Earth at NASA realizing that they’ve left a man behind. Watney is alive, but they appear to have no way of communicating with him, much less of saving him before he starves to death.
Can’t wait to see what happens next!
