The Martian

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Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	Science Fiction / Weir, Andy	4-week checkout	Due 04-30-2024
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"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?" -- from publisher's web site.

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Good Fun for Science Fans submitted by Jan Wolter on June 13, 2014, 7:03pm A martian expedition leaves the planet in a hurry, leaving one dead man behind.

Except he's not dead. Now he's got no ability to communicate with the Earth, and though he has quite decent resources, it isn't anything like enough to keep him alive for the four years until the next martian expedition arrives. How will he survive?

If you're looking for romance or any other kind of emotional journey, this isn't the book for you. Our hero is somehow pretty much a cheerful fellow through the whole thing.

But if you like the sort of book that explains realistic procedures that might actually work to survive on a barren airless planet, then this is a great book for you. It's kind of like Jules Verne's "Mysterious Island" but with more modern science and quite a bit more plausibility. I do like that kind of thing, and found the book entertaining all the way through.

Great sci if submitted by Gary Service on June 14, 2014, 8:13am Was a lot of fun to read, a lot of technical stuff

The Martian submitted by hcf on August 30, 2014, 10:03pm While I enjoyed the book overall, I did end up skimming some of the technical jargon.

Great book! submitted by alicejct on June 14, 2015, 9:39am I read this book with my class last year, and it is now my favorite book of all time. It tells the story of the astronaut Mark Watney in his journey to get home from being left behind on Mars, during a freak windstorm. This book is full of wit, humor, science, and even a little bit of romance. If you're a fan of science fiction novels, or not, this book is still a great read.

Not Impressed submitted by kelseyz on June 15, 2015, 11:00am I know people have gone gaga for this one, but it just didn't make much of an impression on me. I couldn't connect with Mark emotionally, and since that's what I'm looking for when I read a book the vast majority of the time, I just didn't like it. Sure, it's exciting enough, and Mark's sassy humor makes the pages fly by with ease. I just couldn't help but feel Mark was more of a robot than an astronaut.

Puts the science back in sci fi submitted by SurfGrape on July 10, 2015, 7:01pm Mark Whatney just wants to get home. Problem is, home is Earth, and he's stranded on Mars.

This book made me feel profoundly lonely and very connected to my fellow humans all at the same time.

I know more about potato farming than I ever imagined possible. submitted by keebs23 on July 28, 2015, 9:57pm Believable science and a sense of humor made this an enjoyable and satisfying read.

The Martian submitted by PizzaPuppy on August 15, 2015, 11:52am “If a hiker gets lost in the mountains, people will coordinate a search. If a train crashes, people will line up to give blood. If an earthquake levels a city, people all over the world will send emergency supplies. This is so fundamentally human that it's found in every culture without exception. Yes, there are people who just don't care, but they're massively outnumbered by the people who do.”

After a freak accident during a vicious sand storm at the Ares 3 mission base, Mark Watney wakes up to discover that his crew mates, believing he did not survive the storm, have abandoned him on Mars. With only enough supplies to last the original 35 days of the mission (and no chance of a return mission to rescue him for another 4 years), Mark must rely on his training, quick wit, and intellect to help him stretch his supplies to the limit and to find a way to survive in the harsh Martian landscape.

Throughout the novel, Mark's optimism blended with his witty (and sometimes crude) remarks humanize his character and bring a more light-hearted aspect to the novel. This fast-paced and thrilling novel intertwines the story of Mark with the respective stories of his devastated crew members on their way back to Earth, NASA's frenzied attempts to save Mark, and the media's fascination with the Mark Watney story. First-time novelist Andy Weir includes quite a bit of technical detail (most of which is backed by real science), adding to the intensity of this great story. The Martian is a classic story of hope and survival in a foreign wilderness that is sure to delight adult readers. Watch out for the movie adaptation starring Matt Damon, which hits theaters in October!

The Martian submitted by Fevvers - STAR473 on August 16, 2015, 1:20am This was a great read. It was smooth and suspenseful, yet had enough hard science to keep it grounded. Mark's trials and errors were pretty engrossing, and his down-to-earth (so to speak) character was conveyed pretty well.

The perspectives from others once they realize what's happened really opens the scope and is a welcome variation, though that is also very much in keeping with Mark's perspective - testing, science, suspense, things going right, things going wrong.

Highly recommended.

Simultaneously overhyped and excellent. submitted by eknapp on November 6, 2015, 3:36pm A ferocious storm causes an astronaut crew to accidentally strand a member of their crew when departing Mars for Earth. He must use badass engineering and botany skills--and a large measure of smartassery and self-deprecating humor--to survive the two years until the arrival of the next Martian expedition.

The exorbitant hype surrounding The Martian did its damndest to ruin the experience for me. Everyone read it, everyone raved about it, a freaking MOVIE came out before I could even get my hands on a library copy...there was just no way the book could live up to that. And it didn't. It was a little disappointing by comparison, as it had to be.

And yet it was excellent. There's lots of hard science and technical jargon but it manages to avoid feeling like a textbook. There's a superbly fleshed-out, believable protagonist that you can't help but root hard for. The political and bureaucratic environments of Weir's NASA ring perfectly true, as do the dynamics of the horrified astronaut crew that left their companion behind.

The writing is a solid, effective blend of first-person journal entries, third-person POV, and even inanimate object-biography. Not bad for such a tech-oriented writer.

There's not actually much tension, as the tone and the aforementioned hype make it clear that this is a rousing kumbayah feel-good story with only one possible outcome. But it never stops being engaging and entertaining. I may resent the hype, but I understand it.

Great Sci-Fi Novel submitted by pixel gamer 3000 on June 17, 2016, 10:40am The Martian is an awesome book. It includes all of my favorite things and puts them in one great book. Humor, science, and survival, among other things, are all in this book. I would suggest this to any reader that can put up with a few profanities (including the f-bomb in multiple places).

Quick and interesting read submitted by alireingold on June 24, 2016, 2:18pm I really enjoyed this book, much more than I had anticipated. The research that the author did in order to ensure that the story would have as realistic a feel as possible make this an interesting read.

Fantastic Read submitted by reaganmalcolm on June 28, 2016, 10:47pm Although in the science-fiction genre, it can be enjoyed by anyone, as it has a hopeful theme and plenty of space action to keep everyone satisfied.

Martian submitted by kelleyc on July 18, 2016, 7:39pm I like how much effort was put into describing exactly how this situation could be possible.

So many deadly issues! submitted by Xris on July 24, 2016, 12:56am Keeps you wanting to read more to find out how he gets out of the latest problem. Made me think I was reading about a real group of astronauts/NASA operators. :)

Super detailed (for better or worse) submitted by mrajraspn08 on July 26, 2016, 11:45am The awesome thing about this is all the little details. The biggest problem is all the little details. While I loved learning through a fiction novel, sometimes all the technical details got boring and bogged down the story. Great humor and interesting premise, though.

Phenomenal submitted by Susan4Pax -prev. sueij- on August 9, 2016, 11:01pm Absolutely phenomenal. I think I heard about this on Science Friday, and was not reading it because of the impending movie, although I hear that it's so well done that I may actually get myself to a theater to see it.

The book was outstanding. A fantastic blend of science and story. The stranded astronaut holds just the right amount of wit to make his lonely sojourn bearable. The eventual shift in perspectives to include other astronauts and the NASA decision makers broadens the story just when you need it and heightens the tension. I obviously can't assess the feasibility of the science, but Weir lays it all out in a way that feels real (and Science Friday assures me comes close). I was completely drawn in. Totally and completely recommended.

A Good Summer Read submitted by jtseng232 on June 18, 2017, 8:03am It's the Martian.

On a more serious note, Andy Weir combines (mostly) accurate scientific knowledge with an interesting premise - what happens when a man gets stuck on Mars with no way to communicate with anyone on Earth? His crew thinks he's dead, NASA thinks he's dead, and the general public thinks he's dead. But he's not.

Science fiction is a widespread genre, with all sorts of different titles under its umbrella. The Martian is an excellent introduction to scifi, as the premise is fairly realistic, and since most will have watched the movie, the book will be just as interesting.

There are some downfalls, including the premise of the novel (how many times can he screw up and STILL BE ALIVE?), as well as the almost obsessive amount of swearing (the first sentence of the entire book features an f-bomb), but aside from that, it is overall a very worthwhile summer read.

Outstanding Hard Science Fiction submitted by Meginator on July 14, 2017, 2:25pm I knew from the very first sentence of "The Martian" that I was going to love it, and indeed I did. Mark Watney is immediately likable: he's intelligent, snarky, and remarkably blunt about his desperate situation. The story is gripping and the science, which is as realistic as possible, is explained in a way that is easy for non-scientists to understand; this adds to the tension as readers come to grasp just how unlikely Watney's survival is. The prose is efficient, if not particularly beautiful, and Watney's voice is immediately (and remains) vibrantly clear. This is a great book that showcases the beautiful literary magic that can come from the expert fusion of science and fiction into one compelling package. This novel is an excellent book to recommend to science fiction fans and skeptics alike, and I suspect that it will remain a classic for many years to come.

great submitted by Shahed on June 23, 2018, 11:23pm the movie is just as amazing

Great Debut Novel submitted by steveiew on June 28, 2018, 4:44pm This is an incredible novel of survival against all odds. The sci-fi element makes the story more foreign but it is ultimately a survival story in space. This isn't just for sci-fi lovers, but for book lovers in general.

The Martian submitted by annette golen on July 15, 2018, 10:58pm This is one of the best books I have ever read! Having also seen the movie afterward, to me it feels as if Matt Damon is standing in front of me and talking directly to me. The author is amazing! I also like the story itself. It is fascinating to imagine a journey to Mars. I would highly recommend this book.

The Martian submitted by Bigal2212 on August 22, 2018, 1:48pm Read first then watch the movie

Fun and a breeze to read submitted by kassafrass on July 13, 2019, 9:38am I really enjoyed this one and devoured it in a day or two. I also enjoyed the movie, so I was interested to see which I'd like more. Honestly, the movie captures the vibe and voice of the book quite well, and I thought it was excellent. I'd say the book was better by degrees than the movie. I'd recommend this for an easy, engaging read.

AWESOME BOOK!!!! submitted by speedysophia on July 13, 2019, 5:48pm I think that this book is a book everyone should read. It is really funny, and the movie is good too. Definitely, a must read for everyone.

Good Book submitted by idogmockingjay on June 15, 2020, 10:34am This book is very technical in the science of how Mark survives but it doesn't bore you with numbers and algorithms. It's also very funny.

Good Read submitted by eschrine on July 22, 2020, 9:04pm For how detailed his accounts of farming, fixing machinery, and all things space life, I was afraid I was going to get bogged down by the tech terminology and other specifics. Weir's book didn't fail me, however, and I was pleasantly surprised. Mark's character is honest, humorous, and likable. I liked reading his story of survival from his perspective.

riveting and fun submitted by apknapp on August 16, 2020, 6:29pm Great wilderness survival story with lots of chewy, science-y details. My engineer dad is going to LOVE this one. The narrative/dialogue were a bit too accessible to non-astronauts to be really believable, but still a very enjoyable read.

Fantastic book, story about the struggle for survival submitted by bahr on July 23, 2021, 11:05pm This book was such a fun read, especially as a scientist myself. I couldn't put it down as I wondered how Mark Watney would solve each problem. It doesn't take long for you to really root for Mark. You don't have to be a scientist or engineer to love this book and I really think it shows the way scientists and engineers solve problems. If you've seen the movie, know that this book contains way more detail and is quite a bit more accurate in some of the science parts. It really is worth reading, even if you've seen the movie.

A Fun Read submitted by gnatxela on July 25, 2021, 1:19pm enthralling sci-fi where the emphasis on sci is real! be prepared to finish it in one or two sittings!

Not a very relaxing read submitted by rmbussa on August 2, 2021, 2:22pm There is so much math in this book. It was not what I was looking for when wanting to sit down and read something. If you are looking for in-depth explanations and science fiction, this is probably your style.

Realistic Sci Fi submitted by 21621032124198 on June 11, 2023, 11:02am A great example of science fiction that is grounded in realistic science. Exciting, funny and believable.

A wonderful book submitted by thebearcavalry on July 1, 2023, 9:50pm An absolutely wonderful, thrilling read. You know that things are going to go wrong - that's what the book's about. The fun part is watching how the characters deal with what's thrown at them. A real page turner.

Awesome read submitted by schweiml on July 12, 2023, 8:41am I decided to read this after watching the film adaptation (which I very much enjoyed!). As a book lover, I tend to enjoy the books more than the movies, so I figured why not give this a try. I’m so glad I did! I thoroughly enjoyed Weir’s writing and the amount of science and math that are brought into it. I would be curious to know more about his writing (and research process). There are so many books out there about space travel and Mars and this one definitely stands out! I’ve read a couple of Weir’s other novels now and have enjoyed them as well.