The Best Sci-Fi I’ve Read in a Long Time!
Wow, just wow. This is easily one of the best science fiction novels I’ve read in a long time. It’s fresh and unique with a quirky point of view. I’ve seen some reviews that his point of view was childish, but it made me laugh really hard throughout the book (and considering how much goes wrong you needed a good laugh). And at one point they even explain his personality evaluation and explain that he was the life of the group — always the one to make the joke and make the other astronauts feel at home and happy.
Mark Whatney is one of those characters that you will never forget. Seriously, I’m actually going back and editing my original post from almost 2 years ago now and I haven’t forgotten how funny and quirky he really was. I read a lot of books these days and I’m not able to go back and re-read a lot of them. The Martian will live up there with some of my favorite Crichton books for how much I loved it to start, but then, how much I loved it on a re-read.
This was definitely filled with some hard science aspects and a lot of measurements and scientific explanations that may overwhelm the average reader — but good lord was this an incredible book, even with these harder to read parts.
I simply cannot wait until the movie with Matt Damon comes out this year. If you’re looking for a book that’ll make you laugh while making you feel hopeless–this is the book for you. I have honestly never known a character in a book that goes through more struggles than Watney.
Now that I’ve seen that movie, I wanted to point out to anyone who saw it and “kind of” liked it, READ THE BOOK. Seriously, The Martian is phenomenal. And might be easily one of my favorite books of all time.
Weir was able to both build a world that was fascinatingly believable and able to capture both the mind and the heart in a tale about a man left for dead (since they thought he was dead).
I felt heartbroken, I felt lost, hopeless. I laughed a lot, and almost cried a few times.
Also, I don’t know how I didn’t mention it the first time, but the narration by R.C. Bray is fantastic, just absolutely makes this audiobook!
Book Description:
2015 Audie Award WINNER, Science Fiction
2015 Audie Award Finalist, Solo Narration: Male
2014 Voice Arts Award Finalist, Science Fiction
Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars.
Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there.
After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive – and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive.
Chances are, though, he won’t have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plainold “human error” are much more likely to kill him first.
But Mark isn’t ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills – and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit – he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?”
Praise for The Martian
“One of the best thrillers I’ve read in a long time. It feels so real it could almost be nonfiction, and yet it has the narrative drive and power of a rocket launch. This is Apollo 13 times ten.” -Douglas Preston, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Impact and Blasphemy
“A book I just couldn’t put down! It has the very rare combination of a good, original story, interestingly real characters and fascinating technical accuracy…reads like MacGyver meets Mysterious Island.” -Astronaut Chris Hadfield, Commander of the International Space Station and author of An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth
“The best book I’ve read in ages. Clear your schedule before you crack the seal. This story will take your breath away faster than a hull breech. Smart, funny, and whiteknuckle intense, The Martian is everything you want from a novel.” -Hugh Howey, New York Times bestselling author of Wool
“The Martian kicked my ass! Weir has crafted a relentlessly entertaining and inventive survival thriller, a MacGyver trappedon Mars tale that feels just as real and harrowing as the true story of Apollo 13.” -Ernest Cline, New York Times bestselling author of Ready Player One
“Gripping…shapes up like Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe as written by someone brighter.” -Larry Niven, multiple Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of the Ringworld series and Lucifer’s Hammer
“The tension simply never lets up, from the first page to the last, and at no point does the believability falter for even a second. You can’t shake the feeling that this could all really happen.” -Patrick Lee, New York Times bestselling author of The Breach and Ghost Country
“Strong, resilent, and gutsy. It’s Robinson Crusoe on Mars, 21st century style. Set aside a chunk of free time when you start this one. You’re going to need it because you won’t want to put it down.” -Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The King’s Deception and The Columbus Affair
The Martian by Andy Weir
Narrator: R.C. Bray
Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins
Published by Podium Audio on March 23th 2013
Genres: Science Fiction
Pages: 385
Format: Audiobook
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Also by this author: Artemis, Randomize, Project Hail Mary
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- Trust in Truth by Emily Banting (Narrated by Lulu Russell) - September 15, 2023
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