A review by annoyedhumanoid
The Martian by Andy Weir

adventurous funny tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

i don’t quite understand the point of the format. it’s mostly told through Watney’s own typed logs, but there’s also voice log transcripts and a third person omniscient narrator detailing rescue attempts back on Earth and foreshadowing disasters on Mars. just a bit convoluted.
tbh some of the heavy science stuff was boring and confusing, which is why i looked forward to Earth scenes so much. i liked the science details in Project Hail Mary better, there it felt less nebulous (lol). however i much prefer Mark Watney over Project Hail Mary’s Ryland Grace: The Martian’s narrator is not just tolerable but actually likable and funny. Andy i appreciate the effort to flesh out the minor characters back on Earth, but having a habit of “squaring papers” is not a personality trait. overall, I think Project Hail Mary had the better story while The Martian was superior on the more delicate aspects of characters and themes.
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