The Martian is Andy Weir’s first book and the best science fiction novel I have read in a very long time. Much of the book is told through a journal by astronaut Mark Watney, who is stranded on Mars. Believing he is dead after a freak accident pierces his space suit, his fellow astronauts take off for Earth and abandon him.
After he manages to patch up both himself and his space suit, Watney is faced with how to survive on Mars with limited resources until the next Mars mission arrives in four years. Since the team left early due to a sand storm, there are supplies left, enough for six people for a couple of months, but still not enough to sustain one person for four years.
Luckily, Watney, with his expertise in both botany and engineering, finds ways to extend his resources. The fun is taking the trip along with him. In his journal, we see Watney’s ingenuity as well as his wit. We can follow his thought processes as he uses his knowledge of science in creative ways, but we also get insight into his personality. While The Martian is very suspenseful at times, it can also be very funny, as the astronaut uses his humor to dispel his fear of death.
Well worth the read, I highly recommend The Martian for any fan of science fiction. I hope we see a lot more from Andy Weir in the future.