Such a nerdy book. Such a page turner. Such a must-read.
Like Robinson Crusoe or Cast Away, the protagonist got stranded, only in Mars. Now, how the hell can one survive there, as the only living creature on the entire planet?
You started to like Mark Watney, a botanist and mechanical engineer, almost immediately. Then you started to admire him and rooting for him. You don’t want him to die, you want to save him, you want everyone to save him. There were some SNL level humor that were a bit poignant. Everyone was trying to save him. Very cool, but how?
If they can make Wild into a movie, this one will definitely too. If Gravity can be a block buster, this will too. If you are a nerd, or know someone who is, read this book. I basically pulled an all-nighter to finish it. That’s a very rare event. The movie will be out late this year (Matt Damon) and I will definitely watch it.
The book assumed modern day space travel technology: before “faster than light” warp speed has been mastered. There are some fancy gadgets, but all of them imaginable with today’s technological reach. The only factor is people’s creativity and will; not science, technology, or money. That’s the inspirational element of the book.