A lone astronaut wakes up 11.9 lightyears from Earth with no memory of how he came to be there. As his memories slowly come back, he remembers that he is a sixth grade teacher who once wrote a paper on microbiology. The sun is slowly dimming as particles in spaces drain its energy. Earth will freeze to death if this isn’t stopped. And it takes quite some time before he remembers how he went from sixth grade teacher to astronaut. While he tries to remember, he goes to work trying to figure out why the star he is currently at isn’t getting drained of its energy. He meets and befriends an alien who is there for the same purpose. Together, they must find a solution or both their worlds’ will die.
Andy Weir is something special. He can write a science fiction novel where the science is technical but never boring. The character’s point of view is knowledgable, humorous, and heartbreaking. Disengaging from Weir’s novel is impossible. I’m still thinking about it days after finishing it.
What prompted me to finally read this book that’s been on my shelf for over a year was seeing the trailer for the film adaptation of it. Ryan Gosling is cast as the main character, and I neither love nor hate him. But Gosling certainly isn’t my favorite actor. When I read the novel, I could hear it in his voice. I’ll admit it. I think Gosling is the perfect choice. Now I not only want to see this movie, but I need to.
The main character’s arc is not what I was expecting, especially when I found out how he came to be on the spaceship in the first place. It’s better. So much better. His love and enthusiasm for science is infectious. That is what keeps this novel from being a total technical bore. He cares, so I care too.
At the heart of this story about saving Earth is the power of friendship. How it defines us and brings us together. In short, much like The Martian, people are willing to do whatever it takes for the ones we care for. In the end, it is what drives us. Give this one a read. I didn’t love it as much as The Martian, but its damn close
4 out of 5 stars.
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Becky Tyler Art and Photography 
A lone astronaut wakes up 11.9 lightyears from Earth with no memory of how he came to be there. As his memories slowly come back, he remembers that he is a sixth grade teacher who once wrote a paper on microbiology. The sun is slowly dimming as particles in spaces drain its energy. Earth will freeze to death if this isn’t stopped. And it takes quite some time before he remembers how he went from sixth grade teacher to astronaut. While he tries to remember, he goes to work trying to figure out why the star he is currently at isn’t getting drained of its energy. He meets and befriends an alien who is there for the same purpose. Together, they must find a solution or both their worlds’ will die.
Andy Weir is something special. He can write a science fiction novel where the science is technical but never boring. The character’s point of view is knowledgable, humorous, and heartbreaking. Disengaging from Weir’s novel is impossible. I’m still thinking about it days after finishing it.
What prompted me to finally read this book that’s been on my shelf for over a year was seeing the trailer for the film adaptation of it. Ryan Gosling is cast as the main character, and I neither love nor hate him. But Gosling certainly isn’t my favorite actor. When I read the novel, I could hear it in his voice. I’ll admit it. I think Gosling is the perfect choice. Now I not only want to see this movie, but I need to.
The main character’s arc is not what I was expecting, especially when I found out how he came to be on the spaceship in the first place. It’s better. So much better. His love and enthusiasm for science is infectious. That is what keeps this novel from being a total technical bore. He cares, so I care too.
At the heart of this story about saving Earth is the power of friendship. How it defines us and brings us together. In short, much like The Martian, people are willing to do whatever it takes for the ones we care for. In the end, it is what drives us. Give this one a read. I didn’t love it as much as The Martian, but its damn close
4 out of 5 stars.
Discover more from Becky Tyler Art and Photography
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
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