Andy Weir
Published: Podium Publishing
Date: 2012
Format: Audiobook
Length: 10hrs 53min
Narrator: R. C. Bray
Genre: Science Fiction
Source: Own book
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?"
The Martian by Andy Weir, is so not what I normally read. However with all the hype I decided to listen to the audiobook, and while I found some of the factual side a tad bit tedious, the book melded into a wonderful survival story.
Was it believable? Men living on Mars, you're joking right! However those a tad tedious facts made it fully believable. You're going to have to convince me now that something in the future just might not happen like this! The details are very well researched. The book in itself is a tribute to the author, who first published this in chapters on his blog, then on Amazon and finally picked up by a publisher. The power of the internet and modern reading.
What did I like? I loved the spirit and sense of living one day at a time by Mark Watene. Try living by yourself for a week or two with no human contact in any way. Hard - right? Imagine being on Mars with no one and the need to survive or plan your own humane death. I loved the sense of loneliness, yet the spirit of Mark to keep on, keeping on. That message is a positive one, and challenges each of us to live the the best each day. I was inspired anyway.
I also liked once the story moved out into the halls of NASA and the space craft that left Mark behind, through no fault of their own. Characters like Mindy, Venkat, Mitch added such interest. I loved the tough humour, many lines by Mark Watene were filled with humour - one of the many I smiled at - "I am the first man to have his piss turned into rocket fuel". Or something along that line, can't remember exactly.
Was the narrator any good? You bet. Loved the narrator, in one way he sounded like Watene, yet the voices for the other characters were very well done. My favourite for others was Venkat!
Will I go and see the movie? As soon as The Martian is showing in my part of the world, I'll be an early viewer, and I am not a movie goer on the whole!
