Hello Readers,
I'll be honest The Martian sat on my TBR far too long. I
loved the film when it came out, but for some reason, picking up the book took
a while. I’m so glad I finally did. To my surprise, I enjoyed it more than I expected
I would.
At its core, The Martian tells the gripping story of
astronaut Mark Watney, who’s left stranded on Mars after a freak accident leads
his crewmates to believe he’s dead. With no way to contact Earth and limited
supplies, Watney must rely on his scientific knowledge, ingenuity, and sheer
determination to survive in an environment utterly hostile to human life. That
premise alone makes for a tense and fascinating survival narrative but what
really sets this novel apart is Mark himself.
From the very first page, the book is utterly riveting. Mark’s
voice is real and it genuinely feels like reading the mission logs of a
marooned astronaut. The story dives deep into the scientific details of his
survival: creating water, growing food, setting up communication, managing
life-threatening mechanical failures, and withstanding Mars’ merciless dust
storms. The science is thorough and grounded based on real principles rather
than hand-wavy sci-fi which gives the book a gripping sense of realism. And
yet, even if you’re not a science whiz, it remains totally accessible. I’ll
admit I skimmed a few technical explanations, but that never lessened the
tension or my enjoyment.
What surprised me most was how funny and lovable Mark
Watney is. Here’s a man stuck on Mars, rationing potatoes and duct-taping his shit
together, yet still making “that’s what she said” jokes and mocking the 1970s
disco playlist left behind by his commander. He’s intelligent, endlessly
resourceful, and optimistic without being unrealistic. He doesn’t waste time
blaming his crewmates or wallowing in despair he gets to work, armed with a
sarcastic smile and a science degree.
The narrative also benefits from shifting perspectives.
We see what’s happening back on Earth at NASA, as engineers and officials
scrambling to find a way to bring Mark home. We even get glimpses into the
guilt and determination of his crewmates once they learn he’s still alive.
These alternate viewpoints add emotional weight, suspense, and a broader scope
to what could have been a narrowly focused survival story.
Despite the life-and-death stakes, The Martian is not a
grim or overly serious book. That’s what makes it so remarkable. Weir strikes a
perfect balance between intense suspense and laugh out loud humour. It’s a
survival story filled with calculations, explosions, solitude and one of the
most endearing protagonists in modern fiction.
I think The Martian is a masterclass in smart,
entertaining storytelling. It’s clever, heart warming, scientifically grounded,
and surprisingly hilarious. If you’ve seen the movie but haven’t read the book
yet don’t wait as long as I did. You’ll be glad you finally made the trip to
Mars yourself.
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