Tolog Review: The Martian

The Martian
by Andy Weir
reviewed by Ana Cristina Bailey

In Andy Weir’s thrilling science fiction novel, The Martian, he follows astronaut Mark Watney in a classic “man-versus-nature” battle for his survival. While on the Ares 3 Mission to Mars, Watney and his crewmates initially feel exhilarated to be involved in the historic moment of being the first people to walk on Mars. However, their excitement is fleeting as a violent dust storm strikes Mars and forces them to abort their mission. As the crew prepares to evacuate the planet, Watney is harshly wounded, and the crew presumes he has perished. The crew, unaware that Watney is indeed alive, retreats from Mars and grieves for their crewmate who they believe has heroically died. As Watney regains his consciousness from his injury, he realizes that he is stranded on an uninhabitable planet. Nevertheless, Watney resolves to defy all odds and survive on the “red planet” until the next Ares Mission to Mars in four years when he can be rescued. Watney embarks on his journey on this hostile planet with nothing but his engineering and botanical skills, an exceptional sense of humor, and a resilient spirit. 

In The Martian, Watney reveals his successes and setbacks through his log entries where he reflects upon his progress each day in repairing the damaged machinery and developing ways to sustain his limited resources. Watney’s log entries, which he initially writes so that he can record his data, ultimately develop into a form of a diary where he discusses his thoughts, making it apparent that he feels isolated. Furthermore, The Martian alternates perspectives between Watney and the scientists at NASA, allowing the reader to see both intriguing sides of the story-Watney’s struggle to survive and NASA’s persistent work in developing a plan to bring Watney back to Earth safely. Moreover, Weir uses dramatic irony and creates tension as the reader recognizes when Watney makes egregious errors in repairing the defective machinery although he does not realize it at the time. Weir’s pathetic fallacy regarding the hostile Martian environment mirrors Watney’s feelings of isolation in his unfavorable predicament. Furthermore, Weir creates an inspirational character in Watney as he confronts challenging situations with an optimistic attitude and a determination to succeed. Weir’s remarkable writing technique aids in illustrating Watney’s journey on Mars in an intriguing way that keeps the reader on the edge of his or her seat.

I would recommend this novel to those who are avid lovers of tales about overcoming obstacles with a tenacious spirit. Watney faces problems that appear to be insurmountable with his sarcastic humor, persistence, and ingenuity. Watney’s positive attitude in The Martian has inspired me to confront challenging predicaments with a hopeful outlook. I would recommend this compelling novel to people who enjoy chemistry, for Watney vividly describes how he intends to use his knowledge in chemistry to approach problems he has with the Martian atmosphere. Furthermore, the trivial mistakes that Watney makes when trying to repair damaged equipment lead to chaos and remind the reader that all mistakes are significant in a “life or death” situation. I would recommend The Martian to people who appreciate cliffhangers and the suspense it creates. In sum, this compelling novel exceeds all of my expectations and is a prime example that people can overcome adversity with a resilient spirit and a positive outlook.