The Martian

Title: The Martian

Author: Andy Weir

Published in: 2011

Date read: 8th April 2016

Score: 5/5

Genre: Science fiction, Thriller

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"The Martian" by Andy Weir, published in 2011 (and 2014 in print), is a thrilling and scientifically rigorous science fiction novel about one astronaut's desperate struggle for survival on Mars and the global effort to bring him home.

The story centres on Mark Watney, an American astronaut and botanist, who is part of the Ares 3 mission to Mars. During an unexpected and violent dust storm, the crew is forced to abort their mission and evacuate the planet. However, in the chaos, Watney is hit by debris, presumed dead, and left behind on the red planet.

Miraculously, Watney survives the storm, only to find himself completely alone, millions of miles from Earth, with no way to communicate and dwindling resources. He is stranded in the Hab (his crew's temporary habitat) with equipment designed for a 31-day mission, while he needs to survive for years until the next Ares mission, Ares 4, can theoretically reach him.

Watney, a resourceful and scientifically brilliant individual with an irrepressible sense of humour, immediately sets about the impossible task of surviving. He uses his botanical knowledge to grow potatoes in the Martian soil using human waste as fertilizer, figures out how to generate water, and finds ways to restore communications with Earth. His daily log entries, filled with wit and scientific explanations, form the primary narrative.

Back on Earth, a sharp-eyed satellite technician at NASA spots anomalies in satellite images of the Ares 3 landing site, realizing Watney is alive. This discovery sparks a global, high-stakes effort to rescue him. NASA's finest minds, including mission director Mitch Henderson and astrodynamicist Rich Purnell, scramble to devise a rescue plan, facing immense technical challenges, political pressures, and tight deadlines.

The novel is a testament to human ingenuity and perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds. It meticulously details Watney's scientific problem-solving, from engineering solutions for oxygen and warmth to calculating complex orbital mechanics. His biggest challenge becomes finding a way to get from the Ares 3 Hab to the Ares 4 landing site, thousands of kilometres away, where a potential rescue vehicle might await.

The climax involves a daring and incredibly complex rescue attempt orchestrated by NASA, relying on international cooperation and pushing the boundaries of space travel and human endurance. Watney must navigate a treacherous journey across Mars, and both he and his rescuers face numerous near-catastrophic failures, culminating in a nail-biting, all-or-nothing final manoeuvre to bring him home. "The Martian" is a celebration of science, optimism, and the indomitable human spirit.

Comments:
This book was chosen and a copy bought for me by my friend for us to read at the same time. We both loved it, it is exceptional. The film made in 2015 is awesome as it sticks so closely to the book. I insist that all of my chemistry students watch it (I try, but not many read it) when we study the chemistry of our atmosphere and we compare it with the atmospheres around our solar system. The science is superb, phenomenally well researched.

Books that we've read by Andy Weir (3):
The Martian (2011), Artemis (2017), Project Hail Mary (2021)