Fiction / Science Fiction
385 pages / 9030 KB
5 Stars
If I could give this book more stars, I would! While I
agree, this book is not for everyone, it is for everyone who loves science
fiction. I am not a scientist, but my understanding is that the science is
good, except for a couple of small places where Weir had to move the story
forward. I'm not a scientist, I didn't notice them;-)
By now, most of you know the story, botanist Marc Watney is
left on Mars. His crewmates think he's dead—his bio stuff is registering zero.
Obviously, he's not dead, he's alive, and he has to figure out how to survive
until (possible) rescue. (OK, he's rescued.)
I actually had to stop reading a couple of times to give my
old heart a chance to settle down to a normal beat. Yes, I got that involved in
the story. In fact, I may never eat a potato again. Never my favorite veggie,
it is pretty much now at the all time low end of edibles. Just thinking about
them kinda makes my tummy tumble. I can't imagine having nothing else to eat
for as long as Watney had to survive on them. Blech. He didn't even have hot sauce!
I have read, or tried to read, a few other books through the
years that are about living/colonizing/surviving on Mars. Most of them I
couldn't get through. The authors either knew less science than I did, or they
were just downright boring, or I didn't like any of the characters. Marc Watney,
however, was great fun. He's a smart-alec wise-cracking guy, who is able to
find humor in just about any situation. It's what keeps him sane. And helps
keep the interest going in the book. In fact, his sense of humor was one of the
reasons he was chosen for the mission.
If you like 'hard' science fiction, read this book. It's
wonderful. Just don't pick it up until you have time to read. It's really not
one to read a chapter or two of before turning out the light at night. You will
lie awake worrying. I suggest you take the book, get up in the morning, make a
pot of coffee (and count your blessings you have it), send the kids somewhere
outside, lock the door, and then read. And drink your coffee. The kids can
bother the neighbors.
Incidentally, after finishing the book, I was watching the news. I finished the book on the 48th anniversary of the first Moon Landing!
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