Well… better late than never I guess! I’m getting this review in barely a month before the film comes out and embarrassingly I actually bought this book in hardback when it came out – the signed copy is sitting on my bookshelf mocking me. I actually ended up buying it again on Kindle towards the end of last year after seeing the film trailer and loving it,
I don’t know why I delayed because I love the Martian, both book and film, and even tolerated Artemis. But I got here and this book was a fun, science-heavy, joy to read. I still didn’t manage to be the first in my family to read it though as I mentioned it to my mum (aged 89) and as she shares a kindle family account with me she started reading and made it through first. Her feedback – well she absolutely loved it and it’s a shame she hates cinemas because I know she’ll love the film too.
My non-spoiler review: as with the Martian Andy Weir centres his plot around a guy, who whilst scientifically capable, gives off everyman vibes. This isn’t an athletic hero, it’s a smart dude who thinks his way out of problems. I do still wonder if, like me, Andy Weir read The Unorthodox Engineers at the age where you think ‘You know what, if we want to explore space we need smart, practical, people who can build a warp drive from some duck tape and a lighter’. Ryland Grace is a school science teacher turned astronaut stuck alone on a space ship with amnesia gradually figuring out he is the only guy who can save Earth. I’m not going to tell you how he got there because that’s the beauty of this book filling in the back story as he regains his memory.
I’ll also note that I know Weir’s style can grate with some people – it’s all rapid, punchy, internalised thoughts combined with hard science. You can accuse him of being Dan Brown for space-nerds but I much prefer him. And I do think he is a bit guilty of writing an idealised version of himself as the hero – it’s why Artemis failed a bit when he branched out with a young female protagonist. But I think he’s good at what he does and that’s engaging science fiction with a realistic technical edge.
And regarding the film trailers: I know people think they spoil the story but I think they spoil the story if you’ve read the book. If you haven’t then yes, there’s one obvious reveal in there but the main bits are still going to come as a surprise. I think it’ll be a fun ride for viewers
