Author:
Andy Weir
Title: The Martian
Genre: Adventure
Publication Date: 2014
Number of Pages: 369
Geographical Setting: Earth (NASA/ China) and Mars
Plot Summary:
This is an adventure gone wrong. Mark Watney has
been left stranded with supplies and equipment only meant to last for about 31
sols (40 minutes longer then an Earth day). He’s also on Mars.
A forceful dust storm caused his NASA crew to abandon
their mission on the surface of the red planet, unfortunately for Watney he
doesn’t quite make it to the crew’s escape craft. Left alone on a barren
planet, with no way of letting Earth know he’s alive, Watney has to find away
to make materials for a short mission last years. That’s if human error doesn’t
kill him first. As Watney overcomes one deadly scenario after another he relies
on his ingenuity, skills as an engineer, and tons of humor.
Appeal:
Overcoming challenges- Going along with Watney as he survives
Mars is heart stopping at times and warming at others. When he does receive help,
the reader can see all of mankind rally for one man’s life, and it’s amazing.
Hero with mad skills – Some of the ideas Watney comes up with
are mind blowing. While some of the science can take away from the action, it still
leaves the reader with wonder at how he came up with such an idea.
Exotic setting – Can't get much can be more exotic than a planet that man has
never set foot on. Considering the very setting of the story appears as the protagonist,
it’s rather ominous as well.
Similar Authors and Works:
Robinson
Crusoe by Daniel Defoe: Dangerous adventure (this time on the sea). Crusoe
feels the call of the sea, despite his parents’ wishes, and takes on one danger
after the next.
Seveneves
by Neal Stephenson: The world bands together. Catastrophe makes Earth a ticking
bomb and all the nations must come together in order to find hope—in outer
space.
Packing for
Mars by Mary Roach: Is living in space possible? For more of the concept of living in
space, follow Roach as she explores questions of how one could live in “the
void” and what makes us human.
I picked this book for my Sci-fi annotation! Good to know that it can be considered an adventure too. I'm looking forward to reading it after reading your annotation on it. Great work!
ReplyDeleteEeek! I saw you reviewed The Martian and had to exclaim my everlasting love for this book. I just love how detailed and researched this book was and I like how you added that it was humorous. I think that is something most people wouldn't expect from a book about a man stranded on Mars.
ReplyDeleteI love this book and you did a great job annotating it. I'm glad someone picked it as an adventure title. Generally it's housed in sci-fi, but to me it's not really science fiction, I feel as if it could happen and it's very realistic. Full points!
ReplyDelete