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The Martian

Andy Weir

Start date: October 3, 2015

Discussion: BOOKS & FILMS: THE MARTIAN

Why we're reading this: The movie, of course!
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BOOKS & FILMS: THE MARTIAN

Books and their films 1: The Martian convening thread
By Traveller · 107 posts · 49 views

last updated Apr 20, 2016 01:05PM

The Martian: THE MOVIE (Spoilers)
By Traveller · 131 posts · 50 views

last updated Dec 10, 2015 06:34AM

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What Members Thought

Oct 08, 2015 Miquel Reina rated it really liked it

Shelves: adventure, travel-and-adventure, survival, humor, science, science-fiction

I wanted to read "The Martian" from a long time ago, and when I saw the movie plans I just hurried to read it before going to the cinema and watch the adaptation.
I don't know if it would be fair to say that the book has disappointed me, it's not exactly that. I think that I just hoped a different approach to the story. I must say that I had never read a book with this high level of scientific accuracy. Sometimes the rigor is so precise that is a bit overpowering even for science and space lover I wanted to read "The Martian" from a long time ago, and when I saw the movie plans I just hurried to read it before going to the cinema and watch the adaptation.
I don't know if it would be fair to say that the book has disappointed me, it's not exactly that. I think that I just hoped a different approach to the story. I must say that I had never read a book with this high level of scientific accuracy. Sometimes the rigor is so precise that is a bit overpowering even for science and space lovers (I include myself in that group). And it's precisely the technical language which sometimes forces me to step outside the story. In my opinion, the survival diary lacks a little more of humanity; I've missed moments when you could get into character's head and explore his feelings and deep thoughts (such as loneliness, despair...) So although I recommend the reading of the book to all lovers of stories of survival and space, I can't say that "The Martian" has fulfilled my expectations.

Spanish version:
Hacía tiempo que quería leer "El Marciano" así que cuando vi que habían adaptado el libro película me di prisa para poder leerlo antes de ir al cine a ver su adaptación. Así que aquí estoy, haciendo la review del libro. No sé si decir que el libro me ha decepcionado sería realmente justo, no es eso, simplemente me esperaba otro tipo de aproximación a la historia. Creo que nunca había leído un libro de ficción con un rigor científico tan preciso como éste. A veces incluso resulta desconcertante para lectores amantes de la ciencia y del espacio (yo me incluyo en ese grupo). Pero es precisamente este enorme despegamiento técnico el que a veces me ha sacado un poco de la historia. Para mí gusto a esta historia de supervivencia le falta algo de humanidad; momentos en los que entremos realmente en la cabeza del personaje y podamos explorar sentimientos que de bien seguro surgirían (la soledad, la desesperación,...) Así que aunque recomiendo que todos los amantes de las historias de supervivencia y del espacio lo leáis, no puedo decir que "El Marciano" forme parte de mis novelas de ciencia ficción favoritas. ...more

25 likes · Like · see review

Dec 29, 2022 Michael Finocchiaro rated it really liked it

Shelves: american-21st-c, novels, sci-fi, made-into-movie, fiction

This was a fast-paced survival book made into a blockbuster film with Matt Damon in 2015. Was it worthwhile as a read? Well, I enjoyed the movie despite my natural aversion to Damon movies and wondered whether the book was better. It certainly gives a few more details about his strategy and the politics back on Earth. I thought that his inner voice felt a bit forced at times and irritating, but that did not truly distract too much from the overall narrative. There are a few cliffhangers (althoug ...more

10 likes · Like · see review

Jun 17, 2015 Amy (Other Amy) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: x-kindle, epistolary, 2015, x-own-it, lol, 4-stars-loved-it, pop-sugar-me, thx-4-spoilers-goodreads, reviewed, saw-the-movie

Ares 3. Well, that was my mission. Okay, not mine per se. Commander Lewis was in charge. I was just one of her crew. Actually, I was the very lowest ranked member of the crew. I would only be "in command" of the mission if I were the only remaining person.

What do you know? I'm in command.

So, pretty much everybody on planet Goodreads has heard of this book right? If you haven't read it yet, you've either decided against or are wondering if this book is for you or not, right? I think I can help yo Ares 3. Well, that was my mission. Okay, not mine per se. Commander Lewis was in charge. I was just one of her crew. Actually, I was the very lowest ranked member of the crew. I would only be "in command" of the mission if I were the only remaining person.

What do you know? I'm in command.

So, pretty much everybody on planet Goodreads has heard of this book right? If you haven't read it yet, you've either decided against or are wondering if this book is for you or not, right? I think I can help you.

This book is 369 pages of Macgyver, with a good splash of the A-Team. No boring stuff; we're talking as the music comes up and the stuff gets taped together and leaves the ground. Because this book starts in medias res like a good book should, and it does not stop until the ride is over. This is not your slow build thriller or your angst filled existential meditation.

Me, I love Macgyver. I was all, "C'mon, Mac, er, I mean, Mark! Get up! Stop passing out in your space suit! You've got complicated NASA machinery to fix with a hammer and duct tape! Go, man, go!" It was pure delight.

Oh, sure, there are some places where the writing creaks and groans (a misplaced flashback, cheap changes to an omniscient point of view for drama, a set up for a gay joke that would never have happened), but the story pulled me right through. I did not find characterization to be an issue; to me it was completely believable that Mark is totally focused on the next action item on his to-survive list; he is also the one keeping the journal we are reading, so I can completely understand why no emotional breakdown is recorded. (Except for the weird POV switch as mentioned earlier. But that is a young author mistake, not a hole in the narrative.) The latter half of the book does bog a little as the details of yet another fix have to be glossed.

In spite of all that, I was on the edge of my seat almost the whole way in spite of these issues, in spite of the fact that I damn well knew how it was going to end. And that makes it a great book. 4.5 stars, highly recommended.

**Original review 9/29/15, edited 10/4/15 to add movie comments. No change to original review.**
I went to see the movie yesterday, and overall I was disappointed. This surprised me as I really thought the story would connect better through film. Unfortunately, they took the middle of the book out entirely, and with it most of the dramatic tension. Consensus from those I've talked to seems to be see the movie, if you're going to see it, before you read the book. I'd just go with the book. ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Jan 24, 2018 Greg Hickey rated it it was amazing

A riveting sci-fi survival story that is equal parts thrilling, funny and triumphant. It is refreshing to read a book that showcases human ingenuity, especially without the need for an evil antagonist. I found the shifts in narrative perspective a little jarring at first, but they were necessary to the story and Andy Weir used them well to heighten the drama of the novel.

4 likes · Like · see review