Andy Weir

The bestseller behind the major film from Ridley Scott, starring Matt Damon and Jessica Chastain. I'm stranded on Mars. I have no way to communicate with Earth. I'm in a Habitat designed to last 31 days. If the Oxygenator breaks down, I'll suffocate. If the Water Reclaimer breaks down, I'll die of thirst. If the Hab breaches, I'll just kind of explode. If none of those things happen, I'll eventually run out of food and starve to death. So yeah. I'm screwed.

The Martian

Stranded on Mars by a dust storm that compromised his space suit and forced his crew to leave him behind, astronaut Watney struggles to survive in spite of minimal supplies and harsh environmental challenges that test his ingenuity in unique ways. A first novel.

A Novel

Ruthie C

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 dont care, but they' re massively outnumbered by the people who do. And because of that, I had billions of people on my side. 

Danny White

I don't want to come off as arrogant here, but I'm the best botanist on the planet.

"Originally self-published as an ebook in 2011 and subsequently published in hardcover in slightly different form in the United States by Crown Publishers ... and as a trade paperback by Broadway Books ... in 2014"--Title page verso.

Simon Sylvest

Quydasha Allen 

Wynter

This book... 

At first I really couldn't stand the style of narration. It really ground on my nerves. But after the first 50 pages I got to like Mark Watney and his strange sarcastic outlook on danger. There is a lot of science in this novel, and by science I mean actual calculations, that might turn people off. Thankfully there are no formulas, and it's nice to see solid, real life facts supporting the outlandish happenings throughout. The action is nonstop, and I was on the edge of my seat more than a couple of times.

This book... I liked it.

In the Classroom Edition of The Martian: Classroom-appropriate language Discussion questions and activities Q&A with Andy Weir Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he's alive--and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first. But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills--and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit--he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?

Cheri Fuller

This is one of the best books I've read. The subject is fascinating, the characters are engaging - particularly Mark Watney. I had to regularly remind myself that this was not a retelling of actual events and that these people are fictional. 
 
I won't lie, I did tend to zone out a touch during some of the longer scientific passages but they only made the story feel more real. I can only imagine the insane amount of research that went into this book.
 
In addition to the fantastic writing, the extremely engaging story, and the great character portrayals, the narrator did a stellar job of bringing it all together.

Colleen

Oh man, I loved this book! I haven't been this excited about a book in a while. I completely understand why there is so much hype surrounding The Martian, and for once it is actually deserved. I could hardly put this book down. I was riveted from cover to cover. I stayed up until the wee hours reading and then got up early to finish it. 

The premise is straightforward. Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead and left behind on Mars. What follows is a thrilling tale of his battle to survive. I don't want to give anything away, but this book certainly kept me guessing. It was definitely more exhilarating than other popular "thrillers" (cough, cough Gone Girl).

I have always loved survival stories. Granted most of them were about surviving various things on Earth, but I've been gobbling up everything from Robinson Crusoe to Hatchet since childhood. Survival on Mars was a new one for me, but I loved it! I was always fascinated by true survival stories too such as the Apollo 13 mission. Weir did an amazing job of capturing the high stakes thrill and battle of wits that it undoubtedly takes to not fall apart in such a dire situation.

Much of what made me enjoy The Martian was that it is Real Science Fiction. A lot of stuff labeled as Science Fiction truly belongs in the Fantasy genre. And the bulk of what is left over throws in a few scientific-sounding terms and hopes you don't know what they are talking about. Let's face it, most bestsellers are dumbed down and pedestrian with almost no opportunities to challenge your mind. Weir put an amazing amount of research into the science behind this book. I was practically skipping with nerdy joy! A book that utilized accurate science across multiple topics including space travel, astronomy, chemistry, biology, mechanics, and physics?! Be still my heart! I won't pretend to understand all of it, but I read an interview with some top scientists who said it was all very accurate. No pulling the wool over anyone's eyes; this is the real deal. If more Science Fiction books reached anywhere near this level, then I would read a hell of a lot more Science Fiction.

That being said, this book is not for everyone. If your eyes glaze over at the slightest sight of technical language then you will probably be bored by this book. Personally, I though Weir did a wonderful job of integrating technical talk with a thrilling and emotional story. I loved his writing style. The main character, Mark Watney, had a wonderfully wry sense of humor. I was literally laughing out loud at parts. But there were emotionally poignant moments when I got tears in my eyes. And trust me, I do NOT cry at books very often. This book was exciting, original, mentally stimulating, and emotional. Overall, one of the best books I have read in recent years!

I am definitely looking forward to reading more books by Andy Weir!


This review fulfills the "Book Set in the Future" category of the Popsugar reading challenge. http://www.popsugar.com/love/Reading-...

Victoria

4.75 stars

First off, don’t touch the audiobook of this. I like Will Wheaton. I’m not like a huge fan but from what I’ve seen of him on TBBT, I do like him. However, he sucked as an audiobook narrator and I had to stop listening after a few “Sols”. 

Now, this book isn’t as great as Project Hail Mary. There was too much Science in this that my Science-hating self couldn’t wrap her head around. But overall, it was a really enjoyable read. Mark Watney, although admittedly overly characterized, has a great personality. I like how funny he is and all the jokes made me laugh out loud. It’s a great way to break up all the Science stuff that I was not at all interested in lol. 

I can’t wait to watch the movie to see how that would compare to this. Also, all the goddamn potatoes. I felt that in every fiber of my being (see what I did there?) and now I feel like I’m as sick of potatoes as Mark Watney is.

Der Astronaut Mark Watney war auf dem besten Weg, eine lebende Legende zu werden: Als einer der ersten Menschen in der Geschichte der Raumfahrt betritt er den Mars. Nun, sechs Tage später, ist Mark auf dem besten Weg, der erste Mensch zu werden, der auf dem Mars sterben wird: Bei einer Expedition auf dem Roten Planeten gerät er in einen Sandsturm, und als er aus seiner Bewusstlosigkeit erwacht, ist er allein. Auf dem Mars. Ohne Ausrüstung. Ohne Nahrung. Und ohne Crew, denn die ist bereits auf dem Weg zurück zur Erde. Es ist der Beginn eines spektakulären Überlebenskampfes ...

Source: https://www.randomhouse.de/Paperback/Der-Marsianer/Andy-Weir/Heyne/e445571.rhd#info

Der Marsianer

Genial. Mark ist ein sehr sympathischer Protagonist. Der Schreibstil war sehr angenehm und die ganzen wissenschaftlichen Nebeninfos leicht verständlich. Ich würde mehr Sterne geben, aber so genial kann es ja doch nicht gewesen sein, wenn ich 5 Monate gebraucht habe um es fertig zu lesen. 

Tabea

The Martian by Andy Weir is a gripping tale of survival and perseverance in the face of insurmountable odds. The story follows astronaut Mark Watney, who becomes stranded on Mars after a devastating storm separates him from his crew. Despite the seemingly impossible circumstances, Mark refuses to give up and does everything in his power to stay alive until a rescue mission can be mounted.

One of the most compelling aspects of The Martian is Mark's unrelenting determination to survive. He faces numerous challenges, from food and water shortages to communication breakdowns, but he never gives up hope. This resilience is truly inspiring and makes Mark a character that readers can't help but root for.

However, the book does have some shortcomings. The decision by Mitch Henderson to disobey mission control and inform the Ares 3 crew that Mark is still alive is a little hard to believe, and it puts the lives of the entire crew at risk. Understandably, Mitch wanted to help Mark, but it's not entirely clear why he would take such a huge risk to do so.

Additionally, while the scientific explanations in the book are impressive, they can also be overwhelming. At times, it feels like the story is bogged down by lengthy descriptions of complex scientific processes. While this attention to detail may be appreciated by some readers, it can make the book feel like a bit of a slog at times.

Overall, The Martian is a compelling and engaging read that is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats. While it may not be perfect, the story of Mark Watney's survival is a testament to the human spirit and a tribute to the power of determination in the face of adversity. I would give it a solid four out of five stars.

The Martian by Andy Weir is a gripping tale of survival and perseverance in the face of insurmountable odds. The story follows astronaut Mark Watney, who becomes stranded on Mars after a devastating storm separates him from his crew. Despite the seemingly impossible circumstances, Mark refuses to give up and does everything in his power to stay alive until a rescue mission can be mounted.

One of the most compelling aspects of The Martian is Mark's unrelenting determination to survive. He faces numerous challenges, from food and water shortages to communication breakdowns, but he never gives up hope. This resilience is truly inspiring and makes Mark a character that readers can't help but root for.

However, the book does have some shortcomings. The decision by Mitch Henderson to disobey mission control and inform the Ares 3 crew that Mark is still alive is a little hard to believe, and it puts the lives of the entire crew at risk. Understandably, Mitch wanted to help Mark, but it's not entirely clear why he would take such a huge risk to do so.

Additionally, while the scientific explanations in the book are impressive, they can also be overwhelming. At times, it feels like the story is bogged down by lengthy descriptions of complex scientific processes. While this attention to detail may be appreciated by some readers, it can make the book feel like a bit of a slog at times.

Overall, The Martian is a compelling and engaging read that is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats. While it may not be perfect, the story of Mark Watney's survival is a testament to the human spirit and a tribute to the power of determination in the face of adversity. I would give it a solid four out of five stars.

Fabian

Audrey Lord

such a thrill ride of a book. I really felt like I was there with Watney. It was great

I actually liked how they ended the movie then the book. also I love how he says "if this was a movie there'd be high fives all around, which they did in the movie. how funny

Lord Aragorn

Started off as a slow read but then the book got really engaging. The main character really appealed to my nerdiness :-) Fun!

Beatrix Haase

4/5 stars

I finally finished this book. Yay!!! I intended to read this book in 3 days. It did not turn out that way unfortunately. Next year I am going to be reading short stories at the end so that it doesn't go into the next year.

I really did enjoy this book. I had a few problems that I really can't talk about since this is going to be a spoiler free review.

The plot was amazing. Andy Weir has such a great way of using science in a story. I didn't think I would like all the science terms he was spitting out at us but it made sense if you screw your head on real tight. I understood it and really enjoyed it. 

The characters were super funny and awesome. I loved Mark he was so much fun to read about and learn. The other characters like Teddy, Mindy, Venkat, Annie, etc were super funny and awesome to read about also. They were super simple and cute. I just loved it. 

This book was super fun and entertaining. I recommend this book to anyone who loves science and space.

xoxo,
Bebe

Matthew Royal

Writing style was very informal and blog-like, but it helped make this book a fast read. The material was interesting -- it was a series of realistic challenges and realistic solutions. However, this is less a novel and more a diary from the future with an Earth-perspective novella interwoven among some entries to stave off readers' waning interest, rather than to serve as a plot device or provide symbolism. 

Despite the artless writing, it's a good book. If it weren't for the language, I would recommend that every highschool student read this to catch the contagious confidence that being an engineer gives.

Pierre-Louis Guidez

Mark Watney is ingenious, witty, and incredibly smart. A pleasure to read

Jamieson

this book came out in 2012 and it's now 2020 and the hype has massively died down so I'm not spending much time on it. 

all I'll say is.... this is a book that's very entertaining and very poorly written akndksk. also sometimes it was Way too corny for me. But I did have fun with it. Although, honestly, I kinda think the movie is better

reading rush 2020 prompt / read a book you've seen the movie of

fuelled my desire to read something sciency. journal entries got a little bit repetitive & needed to take a few breaks but still an enjoyable read

Cindy McKee

Oh. My. God. This is a great book! I, at first, resisted it because I didn't think it would interest me. Then I resisted because of the hype. When I saw the trailer, I thought, maybe I was wrong, and decided to give it a try. Soooo glad I did!

Mark Watney is such a great character. He's smart, funny, and just a little bit crazy. It is his character that hooks you, it is him you are rooting for till the bitter end. 
 
No matter what gets thrown at him, he bounds back, usually with a joke. Sure, he allows himself a few poor me moments, but those are well deserved and only temporary. The collection of people trying to save just one " dorky botanist " is equally amazing. I was racing towards the ending as the seconds ticked by, and I was crying tears of joy at the end. Just a great story!

Carah Gedeon

If youd like to read a book of paragraphs and paragraphs of info-dumping, math equations, and step by steps for science experiments, this book is for you!

Gosh, I’m so MAD I didn’t like this book — I really freaking wanted to!! I read it fast but mostly because I just wanted to know what happened. The ending left me annoyed and wanting more. I skipped multiple paragraphs throughout because I just didn’t care, especially with all the science jargon (I guess I’m just stupid ??)

I wanted more reflection from Mark, for him to look at his surroundings and Mars and contemplate. And I know that’s not really his character, but it’s so unrealistic to me that he stayed that positive for almost 2 years and was never depressed. Maybe he’s just super mentally stable. But like, c’mon. 

The chapters where I had to read from his perspective were so annoying. “First, I did this. Then I did this.” LIKE OKAYYYYYYY I DONT CARE. I did however care about the other chapters with NASA and the crew. I wish that we got to know them more and they were more fleshed out. 

I think this would be an excellent movie (which it is! And I’m excited to watch) but as a book it wasn’t executed well.

aisha

This book makes me so so so happy. The movie was very true to the book so it was like rewatching the movie -- I watched it before I read it -- but better. God bless Andy Weir.

Ben Jenkins

Giulia Giacometti

I was afraid that I would not like this book because I knew there would be a lot of scientific details in it. 

However, I was completely wrong and loved it! Instead of making it boring, I thought the scientific explanations were all explained really well. It felt like trying to solve puzzles, and I was actively trying to figure out myself how the main character could survive on Mars! After reading it, I felt I had learned a lot as well.

Moreover, it was not only a very thrilling book, it was also extremely funny. I would recommend people to listen to the audiobook, as I have never listened to such a good reader before. It felt like I was just listening to the logs of the main character. When I finished the first thing I did was to watch the trailer of the film, can't wait to watch it so that I can revisit this amazing story.

So 5 stars, would recommend it to anyone!

Katelyn Sykes

This book was written differently then any other books I have read and I loved it. I found it flowed nicely and I loved seeing how mark watney’s brain works. My only criticism of the book was the ending .. I wasn’t ready for it to be over yet. I wanted it to keep going.

Michela

It's a nice book, full of humor and science. A great book for everyone who likes space!

Adam

Really enjoyed this book. Good mix of humour and suspence.

The Martian

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