The Ultimate Man Versus Nature Grudge Match... On Mars
Every so often, you stumble across a book that you just can’t put down. I’d originally been recommended the book The Martian by Andy Weir by a fellow librarian, but I put off starting it because I’d had such trouble with books grabbing my attention. Then, fate would put me on a bus home from the library without my trusty Kindle (all too loaded with silly games and distractions instead of eBooks), but with my yet-to-be-started copy of Andy Weir’s debut novel. I began reading it at about 8:10 pm. By 4:20 pm the next day, I have finished all 360-some pages. Less than 24 hours, and I only ever put the book because contrary to popular belief, librarians don’t actually get to read books during their working hours. The book kept me gripped that entire time, always wanting to read what was about to happen next.
Andy Weir’s the Martian is about stranded astronaut Mark Watney, left for dead by a Mars mission that had to evacuate due to a horrific dust storm. With limited supplies, no way to communicate with Earth, and seemingly no hope of rescue, Mark is determined to figure out exactly how to survive a seemingly impossible situation.
That’s the set-up. Robinson Crusoe on Mars by way of Apollo 13, with an emphasis on realistic science fiction above anything alien or fantastical, you’ll be cheering each of Mark’s triumphs and biting your nails at each of his terrible setbacks. Continually building tension, but thankfully with some sharp comic relief thanks to Mark’s own sense of humor, this is definitely a thrill ride of a book. Check it out today before the rush later this year when the Matt Damon movie comes out.