The Martian (fiction)
Andy Weir (2014)

THE A5 BOOK REVIEW

One of the best science fiction novels published over the last few years is The Martian, a suspenseful story about an American astronaut named Mark Watney who is accidentally abandoned alone on Mars.  After a major dust storm, the crew believed he was dead and was forced to leave to escape.  Watney is a botanist and an engineer, and he is forced to use those skills to figure out how to survive and how to make his food rations last as long as possible, despite the overwhelming recognition that there was no way to signal back to Earth that he was alive.  NASA does eventually figure out that Watney is actually alive through satellite images showing his activity, prompting a frantic plan for a difficult rescue mission.  The writing is a little corny at times, but the captivating story really highlights the power of human ingenuity and perseverance in the face of impossible odds.  The book was turned into a feature film in 2015, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon.
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A5 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THOSE WHO LIKED THIS BOOK

GREAT QUOTES:

“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 assholes who just don't care, but they're massively outnumbered by the people who do.”
- Andy Weir, The Martian

“Also, I have duct tape. Ordinary duct tape, like you buy at a hardware store. Turns out even NASA can’t improve on duct tape.”
- Andy Weir, The Martian

INTERESTING LINKS:

  • Read how a well-known space enthusiast from the Armaugh Planetarium in Ireland assesses the accuracy of the book,
  • The film adaptation of The Martian starring Matt Damon earned seven Academy Award nominations.  Read the New York Times article on the creation of the book and subsequent movie.

THE OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR THE MOVIE