Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American ReadSix days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there.After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that … alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive.
Chances are, though, he won’t have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old “human error” are much more likely to kill him first.
But Mark isn’t ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?
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I just love books that have a great story line but also allow me to indulge my inner-nerdiness. This book was a gripping story of one mans survival against all odds in an incredibly inhospitable environment. But the progression of the story and the detail of the science behind the main characters survival were so compelling that I just couldn’t …
As good as or better than the movie.
an easy fun read
This is my favorite book of all time. A background in STEM is a help but not necessary.i have read this book three times.
Great story. Sometimes exhausting to read but worth every minute.
Simply wonderful book.
Better than the movie by far.
Excellent book, excellent mix of dry humor and nail biting adventure. I haven’t laughed that much in a while.
I read it after watching the movie. Our fearless Martian was even better in the book, but that’s what usually happens. If you loved the movie, you’ll love the book!
Explains a lot of things not covered in the movie, as well as good science for the most part.
Very well thought out. Gave careful explanation of what character was doing and why it would work.
Easily the best pure SF book I’ve read in ages. And talk about a page turner! OMG! I had to see, day by day, if he was gonna make it. No spoilers for those who haven’t read it, but if you love SF, but like real science in your SF—this is the novel for you. Read it. I promise you will love it, too.
Explained parts of the story that the movie skipped over
the ending isnt quite the same as in the movie, but everything for the most part is.
One of my favorite books ever. Thought provoking. Scientifically surprising. Great characters.
The book gets a whole lot more technical than the movie. I enjoyed them both.
You have to read this book and don’t let the science scare you away. Most of the science was above my head yet it was exciting to read how a scientist uses his intellect to survive on and escape the Planet Mars
Take a journey with a stranded astronaut as he sets out to “science the shit out of it” to solve a life or death puzzle. I loved the movie, but the book — which I read before seeing the movie — is better. Deeper, more detailed, the scientific basis more clearly laid out, and ultimately more hair-raising because the outcome didn’t seem such …
Such a great book, and so much better than the movie. Highly recommend.
Who knew that being stuck on Mars could be so entertaining and exciting? Great book with lots of originality.