The Martian - Andy Weir

RATING: FIVE STARS

The world watches while Mark Watney and a small group of astronauts land on the surface of Mars. They are not the first men and women to have stood on the distant planet and their mission is routine, one of exploration and scientific experimentation. But a ferocious sandstorm barrages their camp after just six days and the explorers are forced to flee back to the safety of the ship that orbits far above.

That is five of them escape. Mark Watney may have been the seventeenth person to walk on the surface of Mars, but he will be the first man to die there. Wounded and utterly alone, Mark knows the hopelessness of his situation. Yet self-preservation is a powerful instinct and he cannot just lie down and accept his end. He will have to survive until the next group of astronauts arrive on Mars - in about five years time! Mark needs water, food and equipment. He needs company. Surviving in an environment that denies human survival by its very nature will be far from easy.

The Good
The Martian is an extremely well researched book and Andy Weir has really done his homework. Weir describes the equipment and procedures Mark uses throughout his extended stay on Mars in great detail, which really adds a sense of plausibility to the book. He outlines specific processes and procedures and really goes into the science behind them. I'm quite scientifically oriented myself and particularly enjoyed the depth this added to the book.

Weir has also established Mark's character well, going into his thoughts and motivations as he struggles to survive. As you may already have guessed, The Martian isn't a book filled with shooting and action, but Weir still manages to make it exciting and it is captivating throughout. In fact, I blitzed through it in around a week and found the book extremely difficult to put down!

The Bad
In truth, there was nothing I didn't like about The Martian. However, its science won't be for everyone and I expect some people will find it a little tedious when Weir's explaining the chemistry of a chemical reaction, for example, or working through the mathematics of how many calories Mark will need to survive until his rescue.

My Thoughts
The Martian is a true gem of a book and is very different to most science fiction novels, so even people aren't usually fans of the genre might still enjoy it. I strongly suggest that everyone gives it a go - it has been my favourite read of the year so far and is among my favourite sci fi books ever! It's certainly worthy of its place on my Shelf of Fame!