The Martian - a review

The Martian by Andy Weir
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and have watched it several times. Then I saw Project Hail Mary and was also impressed. So I read the book Hail Mary and now read the Martian.

Both books are heavy on the science and physics, which isn’t my thing at all, but I stuck with it. The main theme isn’t really science, but enduring and solving problems to survive. It’s as much a psychological “OK, I can do this,” when faced with your own death, or the extinction of your whole species.

There’s a LOT of bad language in the Martian, and several sexual references. It starts with the first three sentences of the book. This is not for kids.

The benefit of the book is in conveying the human spirit’s desire and ability to survive against overwhelming odds. “Okay, I’ll need oxygen there for the next 2 months – how am I going to do that?” Times fifty. Until you get home.

Also, the human connection between people. Although Watney is on MARS, alone, for crying out loud, there is a strong bond with his crew returning to earth, and with NASA back on earth. He consumes crewmate Johannsen’s disco music and seventies TV shows. He constantly tells the crew it wasn’t their fault they left him on Mars. Even when they lose contact for several weeks, NASA and Watney are thinking of each other, and how each could help the other.

As with most modern books, my usual slogan is reversed. The movie is better than the book.
2 stars.

View all my reviews