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Biased and superficial Science Fiction reviews

           
     
The Martian

Copyright 2014 by Andy Weir

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SOJALS rating:     
one SOJALS point one SOJALS point one SOJALS point no SOJALS point no SOJALS point    Good (3/5)

I first read this on the 19th October 2015.

A massive dust storm threatens the Ares III mission on Mars and the crew evacuated.

All the crew except for Mark Watney.

Injured and abandoned on the Red Planet, Watney faces a lonely death. But he will not give up, he will be inexhaustible in his efforts to keep himself alive.

Wow, what a ride! This is an excellent novel. It's got nail-biting tension, drama and humour. Weir has caught the character of both NASA and the archetypal astronaut perfectly. An astronaut who is half scientist, half engineer, indomitable and yet good-humoured.

It brought to mind Hal Clement's "Mission of Gravity" in the depth of detail and the faith in science. I think it's time to read "Mission of Gravity" again.

We should all be so clever, learned and determined as Watney.

Loaded on the 7th March 2020.
    
Cover of The Martian
Cover art by Corbus/Head Design