The Martian

by Andy Weir
The Martian cover
Good Books rating 4.5
Science Fiction (Sci-Fi)
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Paperback • £8.99–£9.99
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Format • £17.09
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Technical
  • ID: 1921
  • Added: 2025-10-11
  • Updated: 2026-01-06
  • ISBN: 9780091956134
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2014-01-01
  • Formats: 15
  • Reviews: 4

The Martian follows the harrowing journey of Mark Watney, an astronaut left behind on Mars after a fierce storm forces his crew to evacuate. With limited supplies and no way to communicate with Earth, Watney must rely on his scientific knowledge and quick thinking to stay alive. The book is renowned for its blend of hard science, dark humor, and relentless tension, making it a standout in the genre. Watney's struggle to grow food, repair equipment, and find a way to signal Earth is a testament to human ingenuity. The novel's detailed descriptions of Mars and the challenges of space exploration add a layer of realism that immerses readers in the story. It's a thrilling and thought-provoking exploration of survival and the human spirit.

Reviews
The Prepared · 2025-01-09
excellent 4.50

The Martian is praised for its engaging and realistic portrayal of survival in space, making it a standout in the survival genre. The technical details and humor add depth to the narrative, making it both educational and entertaining.

The Martian is often highlighted for its unique blend of science and survival. The reviewer appreciates how the book balances technical accuracy with an engaging story, making it both informative and enjoyable. The protagonist's resourcefulness and the humor interspersed throughout the narrative are particularly noted as strengths. It's a book that not only entertains but also educates, making it a valuable addition to any survival library. The reviewer also commends the book for its ability to keep readers on the edge of their seats, making it a must-read for anyone interested in survival scenarios.

Quick quotes

    The Martian is a masterclass in survival storytelling.

    The technical details are both accurate and engaging.

    The humor adds a layer of depth to the narrative.

Catherine Rose Gunther's Blog · Catherine Gunther · 2024-05-20
fantastic 4.50

The novel is praised for its witty writing and engaging characters, making it a gripping and unputdownable read. The reviewer enjoyed the fast-paced narrative and the way the story kept them hooked.

Catherine Gunther loved how the witty writing and engaging characters made this novel so compelling. She couldn't put it down over the weekend, speeding through the pages. The gripping plot and the way the story unfolds kept her thoroughly entertained. Catherine's enthusiasm for the book is evident, highlighting how the combination of humor and suspense made for a fantastic reading experience.

Quick quotes

    With its witty writing, engaging characters and gripping plot I couldn't put it down as I sped read this novel this weekend.

    The novel is a fantastic blend of humor and suspense.

    Andy Weir's attention to detail and scientific accuracy adds a layer of realism that enhances the story.

Literary Elephant · 2020-01-30
enjoyable 4.00

The narrator's light tone makes the dire situation surprisingly fun, preventing the reader from worrying too much about the protagonist's safety. The reviewer appreciates the balance of humor and tension.

The reviewer from Literary Elephant found Watney's light tone as a narrator to be a standout feature of the novel. This tone makes the dire situation on Mars surprisingly fun to read about, preventing the reader from getting too anxious about the protagonist's safety. They appreciated how the humor balanced the tension, making the story enjoyable despite the high-stakes scenario. The reviewer also noted that the scientific details added depth to the narrative, making it more engaging.

Quick quotes

    Watney's light tone as a narrator makes this dire situation surprisingly fun, and also prevents the reader from worrying too much about him.

    The humor balances the tension, making the story enjoyable despite the high-stakes scenario.

    The scientific details add depth to the narrative, making it more engaging.

Elitist Book Reviews · Steven · 2015-09-08
favorite 5.00

This novel is considered one of the favorite Science Fiction novels, praised for its lack of typical sci-fi tropes and its focus on realistic science. The reviewer highly recommends it.

Steven from Elitist Book Reviews considers The Martian one of his favorite Science Fiction novels ever. He appreciates that it avoids common sci-fi tropes like aliens, FTL, and colonized worlds, focusing instead on realistic science. Steven's enthusiasm for the book is clear, as he highlights how the novel's grounded approach makes it stand out in the genre. He highly recommends it to anyone looking for a fresh and engaging science fiction experience.

Quick quotes

    With THE MARTIAN, Andy Weir has written one of my favorite Science Fiction novels ever.

    There are no aliens, no FTL, and no colonized worlds.

    The novel's grounded approach makes it stand out in the genre.

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