From the Bookshelf of Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy…

The Martian

Andy Weir

Start date: November 21, 2014

Finish date: December 20, 2014

Discussion: Book Discussions

Discussion leader: Natacha

Why we're reading this: Group discussion November 21, 2014
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What Members Thought

Jul 19, 2015 seak rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2015, audio, science-fiction

Five stars for pure entertainment and because math made it suspenseful.

That's right, math made it thrilling. Look at it this way, you're stranded on a planet that's essentially trying to kill you. You could just keel over and die ... like I would most likely do in the same situation, or you could figure out how to stay alive.

Start with the math. NASA planned for 30 days worth of food for 6 people. The next time someone will be on the planet is in 4 years. Even rationing that food only gets you ...more

82 likes · Like · see review

Dec 10, 2014 Sue rated it liked it · review of another edition

NASA InSight Mission will get your name to Mars.

http://mars.nasa.gov/participate/send...

[Last day to register was September 8, 2015.]

Here is the trailer for the "The Martian" movie which debuted October 2nd with Matt Damon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue4PC...

[Matt Damon IS Mark Watney. He gives the character heart and life and makes the audience root for and care about him.]

["The Martian" screenplay hones "The Martian" story plot into one that the audience can understand and also makes memor ...more

38 likes · Like · see review

Sep 16, 2016 Katie Tillwick rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Follows the movie closely. The movie makers cut the right things, towards the end I was getting to be 'come on, let's save him already'. Also, don't drink wine while reading this book. 'Scieeeeeence!' tee hee hee *drop it, walk off* ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 17, 2015 Timothy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy, science, astronomy

I absolutely loved this book. I tore through it in just a few days! I haven't done that with a novel in quite some time so I am currently recommending it to everybody.

Andy Weir does an excellent job weaving together a reasonably scientifically accurate depiction of a lone man's survival on mars with a gripping and compelling narrative. There really weren't any boring parts in the book and the science is there to enjoy casually or to concentrate on as the reader wishes.

If I ever start writing, t ...more

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Jan 28, 2015 Dea rated it really liked it

Yay, all done. Took me two days and two nights, not bad.

Easy and quick read, although not too much substance. I think the writing was a bit lacking, but I liked how we got to learn about what was happening, the log. The pace was very good, no boredom at all even considering the subject matter. I mean, how boring would it be to read about a guy trapped on a planet for a VERY long time. I did notice that I stopped worrying about all the things that were going wrong towards the end of the book, be ...more

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