Surging in popularity recently due to the movie adaptation, Andy Weir’s “The Martian” deserves all of the praise it is receiving. With tense scenes, incredible problem solving, interesting characters and a plot that keeps you turning the pages, Weir’s first novel is a thrilling and interesting read. “The Martian” is truly out of this world.
When NASA engineer and botanist, Mark Watney is accidentally left behind on Mars, the story quickly turns into a sci-fi Robinson Crusoe, in which Watney must fend for himself on the rusty planet. He uses his skills to chemically create water, grow food, and contact Earth. He beats the odds with his problem solving.
Although “The Martian” lacks in character development and pretty writing, it makes up for it with sheer wit, ingenuity, and creativeness. Weir uses several writing techniques to write the story, including third person, diary entries, and chat logs. He also keeps the reader on the edge of the seat by constantly giving Watney new problems to face.
There are only a few parts of the book that could be improved. Characters in “The Martian” have very little change in personality throughout the book, which makes them predictable. Also, the imagery is very low. It is tough to actually imagine the setting that Watney is stuck in. This can be excused due to much of the story being written as Watney’s journal logs. He was much more interested in getting off of Mars than describing it, which is understandable.
Even with these minor complaints, “The Martian” was a wonderful book, and anyone who is a space, science, or engineering enthusiast should try it. Even those who aren’t as interested in those field will still have an interesting read in front of them, full of twists and tension. This story will definitely be remembered for a long time.
