The Martian by Andy Weir tells the story of an astronaut in the not-too-distant future who is separated from his crew during a storm on Mars and left for dead. Alone on the planet, Mark Watney survives using nothing but his scientific knowledge, creativity, ingenuity, toughness, and sense of humor. His goal is simple: stay alive and contact NASA back on Earth.
Once it’s discovered that Watney is still alive, the story shifts into something that reminds me a lot of Apollo 13—a massive effort where people across the world work together to rescue one man.
In my opinion, The Martian is the Robinson Crusoe of space. Mark Watney is witty, funny, smart, and kind of a smart aleck. If you’ve seen the movie, you already know that tone, but the book captures it even better.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its realism. Andy Weir does a great job filtering technical details through Watney’s voice in a way that’s understandable and engaging. You don’t need a science background to enjoy it.
I first read The Martian on Kindle years ago and later listened to the audiobook—both after seeing the movie. Even then, the book added new depth and layers to an already fantastic story. While the movie is very good, the book is a little better, in my opinion.
If you like the movie, I recommend the book. It’s also a great entry point into science fiction, especially with all the real-world talk about going to Mars in the coming decades. Go check it out, you’ll enjoy it.
Page Turner Book Blog by Kyle Page 