"Well beggars can't be choosers. Three's Company it is."
The Martian by Andy Weir depicts one man's lone fight to survive the most hostile odds against all odds.
The story is told mostly from the logs of
stranded astronaut, Mark Watney, as he fights to survive on Mars after a freak
accident leaves him stranded. Intermittently, we see blips from both the people
of earth and Watney’s crewmates as they desperately seek to save him.
Watney must use his botany, engineering
skills, and just simple ingenuity to devise ways to live in complete isolation
on a planet literally not fit for human survival. He does it with the best of
attitudes, humoring himself with his logs, and old 70's TV, despite his dire
circumstances.
After discovering he's alive, the entire
world watches in horrified wonder as the brilliant minds at NASA race to save
Mark.
Personally, I enjoyed The Martian.
It explores a man's ingenuity and the culture that bands us together,
forgetting budgets, fame, and even our own safety to rescue a fellow man. It is
a more modern take on Robinson Caruso told with sarcasm and wit. The story
moves quickly enough to keep you interested. It isn't weighed down with super
scientific information, which considering the subject matter, it could have
been. The switch between Mark's point of view, what's happening on earth, and
the occasional third person narrator gives a 360 degree view of everything
allowing the reader to really immerse himself in the story.
I would rate it PG-13 for language, but
nothing else. It's a great story I would recommend it for anyone looking
to go on an amazing adventure.
