The Martian in Fantasy Buddy Reads

May 16, 2014 Jokoloyo rated it really liked it

4.5 star. A great debut.

Before read this novel, I haven't imagine that a Survival Theme (Man vs. Nature) Hard SF could be this fun. The plot is very simple, the beauty of this book is on the technical details and the execution.
On the other hand, the simple tedious plot could be a disadvantage. Regardless the technical terms and some humor, there is nothing special with the main story itself.

I don't know what else to write:
1. There are so many other rave reviews in Goodreads that I agreed. But b ...more

90 likes · Like · see review

Apr 08, 2014 Chris Haught rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2014-sffbc-challenge, fof-reads, scifi-fan-group, audiobook

That was. Well. Wow.

I really don't have words. Except that it might be my favorite book of 2014. ...more

55 likes · Like · see review

Dec 18, 2014 Kirsten rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audible, kindle

When I was a kid, my dad built our TV from a Heathkit. He would've loved this book. For that matter, any one who loved MacGyver, any engineer, scientist, or just plain geeky are going to love this book!!

It was just plain wonderful. I lost count of how many times Weir tried to kill poor Mark Watney.

Things I loved about this book:

-- NASA!! NASA!!
-- We get to Mars
-- A woman is in command of the mission
-- Love affair in space
-- Disasters
-- Watney's sense of humor
-- Realistic science and technology ...more

52 likes · Like · see review

Sep 25, 2014 Silvana rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reading-with-friends, sci-fi, rotflmao, space-the-final-frontier, stand-alones

I’ll honour Andy Weir by replacing the ubiqutous review star with his very creative equivalent term for kilowatt-hours per sol: pirate-ninja. One star = one pirate-ninja.

1 pirate-ninja for a simple storyline: survival.

1 pirate-ninja for a very likeable main character who could have won any Mr. Congeniality contest in the Milky Way. Dude’s sunny personality is his fuel, more than his resourcefulness.

1 pirate-ninja for a very detailed technical description of growing potatoes and building makeshi ...more

18 likes · Like · see review

Mar 05, 2014 Janny added it

Great fun, laugh out loud humor, and brisk pace. Enjoyed this tremendously.
For anyone who followed Apollo 13, extrapolate the concept to Mars, with a funny, resourceful protagonist.

6 likes · Like · see review

Nov 29, 2014 mina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Full of math, physics, chemistry, IT stuff, yet it's a very enjoyable book to read. Witty, hilarious in some parts, fast-paced (although Mark Watney didn't feel that way), smartly plotted, with a very likeable protagonist. You will end up liking the other characters, too. It looks like every one in this book has some sarcastic streak.

By the way, I really like the last log by Mark Watney at the end of the book.

I finished the last fourth of the book in one sitting in one early Saturday morning ( ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 09, 2015 Yashima rated it it was amazing

Shelves: science-fiction, first-person-perspective, lead-male, fiction, sciency-stuff, my-current-recommendations, 2015-read-in, sf-hard, weight-light, popculture-glorified

At first I did not want to read this, I am not into survival stories. And I have liked the Mars trilogy and felt I didn't want to read another "Mars" book. But then more and more recommendations started piling up and I decided I would have to read it. The highest recommendation coming from someone who is usually a slow reader, he said he finished it more or less in one go. So ... I finished this book fast like few others I read lately. The story was compelling from the first and I enjoyed the ir ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 19, 2014 C.S. Daley rated it it was amazing

Shelves: science-fiction

I know this book won't be for everyone. There is a lot of science. I found it fascinating and entertaining. One of my favorite books of the year.

I can hear the movie pitch. It's Cast Away but on Mars. The science is mixed in with a great story and a lot of humor. If you don't like it after about 50 pages walk away. The science stays a main part of the story all the way through. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Mar 07, 2014 Justyna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, adventure, sci-fi, thriller, adult-fiction, year-2014

One of the best books, I've read in a long time. I will be recommending it to everyone.

The situation our hero finds himself in is quite horrific. Abandoned all alone on Mars. His only chance of survival is a mission Ares-4 which will land on Mars in four year. Four years is a long damn time, so he has to make do with what he has.
Mark Watney is a fantastic character. If anyone had to be left on Mars, they should have his spirit. The guy is funny, doesn't loose hope and can find a good side of ev ...more

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Jul 16, 2015 Cmm rated it it was amazing

Great adventure! Did take me 2 starts before I was willing to 'invest' in reading all his calculations. They are fun but after awhile get a little tedious. ...more

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