First off, I’m a bit disappointed! This book could have been awesome, but it was so packed with totally unnecessary language filth that I have a hard time recommending it to a friend let alone my mother.
The book is the story of an engineer and botanist stranded on mars as part of a multi mission manned exploration of the planet. The protagonist is trying to figure out how to survive long enough to be rescued. It’s told primarily in the form of audio logs mixed with third-person omniscience to cover the parts that happen back on earth. Generally, the book is suspenseful exciting, and hopeful. Yes, I’m a space fan! I love science fiction, I’m excited by companies like space X, Blue Origen, and Virgin Galactic. I’m an avid Mark Rober watcher and I watched the launch of Perseverance in 2020. To me, space represents one of the next great frontier’s; it holds the spirit of the West that motivated my ancestors to leave Europe and then to leave the east coast and then to leave the midwest. It’s the Adventure of new and grittier horizons. The Martian captures much of this.
Perhaps the secret ingredient in the book is the author. Weir is a self-described space nerd and he utilizes really top notch science fiction to tell a detail-rich story. His magic comes in two parts that really combine to make something special. First It’s an inspiring story of good ol’ American know-how, teamwork, and sticking it to the man. Second, It’s packed with believable adventure ensconced with thoroughly realistic back-of-the-envelope calculations that will make any nerd giddy about getting the right answer before Matt Damon, I mean Mark Watney can finish his mental musings (it helps to be able to pause Mark). It’s this incredibly faithful science fiction tied with the inspiring subject matter that would keep this book on my bookshelf.