The book is Andy Weir’s debut novel “The Martian”, which has become a runaway bestseller and has already been optioned for a major motion picture. It is, at least among science geeks and sci-fi nerds (like myself), the literary event of the year. Of course, even among those who don’t necessarily like science or science fiction, it is quickly shaping into a literary phenomenon.
It’s hard to resist. At its heart, “The Martian” is a simple story. Man versus nature. Survival against tremendous odds. A testament to human ingenuity and creativity. It’s about heroism and compassion and intelligence and faith. It’s about all that, but it’s also just a damn good adventure story.
The plot: Mark Watney, a lower-rung astronaut on a mission to Mars, is presumed dead after a sandstorm on the Mars surface forces the six-man crew to abort the mission. They are forced to abandon Watney’s body on Mars. The problem: Watney isn’t dead.
Alone on an entire planet that is uninhabitable and without any means of communicating with Earth, Watney must do some amazingly out-of-the-box thinking. A base camp called the Hab offers air, food, and water for a limited time. The electronic and computer equipment is operational, and there are supplies that will see him through for up to roughly six months.
Thankfully, Watney is an engineer and a botanist. He has calculated a way to extend his stay on Mars for more than a year. And, thankfully, another Mars mission is planned to arrive within that time frame. He just needs to find a way to survive until then, at which point he will, hopefully, get rescued.
In the meantime, Watney must endure loneliness, tight quarters, and eating nothing but potatoes. Unfortunately, the only entertainment he has is a an iPod downloaded with bad 70s TV shows and disco.
Throughout the book are the creative---and scientifically accurate---ways in which Watney tries to stay alive. Told primarily through log entries, Watney’s story is fascinating and suspenseful. He also doesn’t suffer the depression and horror of his situation thanks to a warped sense of humor and a heightened optimism. Even when the reader has the sneaking suspicion that everything he is doing may be for naught, Watney keeps calm and carries on.
When a NASA scientist observing live satellite feeds of the Mars surface accidentally discovers that Watney is alive, it creates a world-wide campaign to save him.
The phrases “riveting”, “edge-of-your-seat”, and “un-put-down-able” have been used to describe this book, and, indeed, they are extremely apropos. I haven’t read a book this exciting in years. It puts authors like Lee Child and Stephen King to shame.
Most of all, though, the book is a tribute to Science and an illustration of how science and technology---when used benevolently---could be our salvation
Loved this book!!!
