Tolog Review: The Martian

The Martian
by Andy Weir
reviewed by Katrina Manaloto

Self-diagnosed “space junkie” Andy Weir’s science fiction novel, The Martian, tells astronaut Mark Watney’s tale of survival. On America’s mission to Mars, Watney and his crewmates become the first people to walk on the red planet. Soon, though, Watney and his crew reach a deadly dust storm on their landing site, forcing them to evacuate. While the other four crew members escape unharmed, Watney is lost and mistakenly pronounced dead. However, Watney is, in fact, alive, stranded on Mars alone. All odds are against Watney surviving; a myriad of danger such as starvation, natural disasters, and miscalculations lies before him. Equipped with only his wits and limited supplies, Watney must find ways to communicate with Earth and live until the day of his rescue. Grappling with his isolation and fear of error, Watney lives under the likelihood of death but perseveres on his quest to survive, making every reader root for him the entire journey.

This compelling read unveils Watney’s triumphs and trials by alternating between a series of “Log Entries” in his perspective and descriptions of NASA and America’s role in the third person omniscient. By alternating between both perspectives, readers can both empathize with Watney’s personal struggles as an insider of the story and root for his safe return as a citizen. Readers will enjoy Watney’s drippingly sarcastic humor, optimism, and impressive ingenuity under pressure. A prime example of Watney’s goofy personality is when he says, “Actually, I was the very lowest ranked member of the crew. I would only be ‘in command’ if I were the only remaining person… What do you know? I’m in command” (Weir 2). Along with his good traits, Weir constructs a well-developed main character in Watney by also displaying his flaws and fears. For example, Weir exhibits his most prominent fear of isolation when Watney states, “Mars is a barren wasteland and I am completely alone here. I already knew that, of course. But there's a difference between knowing it and really experiencing it” (Weir 75). Weir’s refreshing characters and method of storytelling left me utterly satisfied and wanting more. The suspense he was able to create through the prospect of Watney’s death kept me on my toes and craving to reach the resolution. I especially enjoyed this novel because it is the combination of both my interests in science and literature. Whether you are a literature lover, science geek, or somewhere in between, this futuristic yet captivating fictional narrative exceeds all expectations and provides a story that is out of this world.