Review of The Martian (2015) by Mark P — 07 Nov 2018

How could a futuristic, highly-technical story of isolation on the Red Planet connect with an earthbound reader? Well, at times we all endure isolation, solitary confinement, and feelings of being lost.

The question is how to work within the given circumstances and not give-up hope? It's a universal story of over-coming, perseverance, teamwork, and bravery. In the first 20% of the book and the film, one learns that Mark Watney is determined, relentless, and content in any and every situation.

Then really bad sh*t starts happening! His communication is in the form of a (daily log) diary, and the effect is eavesdropping on the anxious, personal ramblings of a lost astronaut on Mars. The feelings of being lost, misunderstood, and hopeless affect all of us at some point, so it is easy to relate to Mark Watney.

His intelligence, humor, courage, tenacity, and wit are essential to survival; but most of all, he won't quit, despite facing almost impossible odds of long-term existence or rescue. What originally started as free posts by a nerdy blogger, and then small increments posted on Amazon for $0.

99/per chapter, turned into this bestseller, which really picks up its pace when NASA discovers his movements on Mars (even though they thought he was dead) and begins to plan a rescue mission. All forms of botany, hygiene, communication, repair, and maintenance go out the window in a desperate attempt to save one man's life, at all costs.

The problem-solving alone keeps the pages turning as fast as the oxygen is depleted from his EVA suit. It's kind of like Unbroken, Castaway, and Apollo 13 (movies) combined to make this story one of the most gritty, compelling, suspenseful, and realistic novels I've read in a long time.

Speaking of movies, the epic film directed by Ridley Scott in 2015 stays lock-step with the book's rhythm, and for a movie largely based in technical details given in soliloquy, it does a masterful telling of the story with only minor changes.

Kudos to Drew Goddard for the Screenplay. Matt Damon is a perfect Mark Watney! And for any lonely soul whose felt "cut-off" in severe isolation, in whatever human condition, whether his fault or as part of an attack of bad luck; this character, Mark Watney, botanist astronaut, space pirate, Capt.

Longbeard, will soon become your long lost hero. He is a life-force for the ages, and even though the logistics of his rescue are a bit technical, the flow is powerful and engaging. I would read the book and see the movie! Two-thumbs up; go for blast-off!