# The Martian, by Andy Weir **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 27, 2014, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-by-andy-weir/691808 "2014-06-27T19:36:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-by-andy-weir/691808/21 "2014-06-30T20:02:12Z")
> [@Stuffy](#): > > There is also a story I read last year that reminds me a lot of this story. In it, a contest winner gets a ride to orbit and ends up stuck there…that sound familiar to anyone? _Orbit_, by John J. Nance? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-by-andy-weir/691808/22 "2014-06-30T20:26:26Z")
I read it last year, when it was just an ebook, before he got it picked up by a publisher. It was a definite page turner hard science fiction, with snarky humor thrown in. Good read. ---
**Author:** ![turner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@turner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turner)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-by-andy-weir/691808/23 "2014-07-03T22:14:24Z")
I just finished. What a great book. I like the reaction of the main character. I thought that was very realistic–“I’m fucked. I don’t have a choice, how can I fix it. What a pain in the ass that was, but I made it.” I Don’t usually get emotionally attached to a book character, but I couldn’t help share his emotional rollercoaster. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-by-andy-weir/691808/24 "2014-07-03T23:45:09Z")
Is this the same Andy Weir who used to do [“Casey and Andy”](http://www.galactanet.com/comic/)? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-by-andy-weir/691808/25 "2014-07-04T02:22:06Z")
yes it is. [http://www.amazon.com/gp/forum/cd/discussion.html/ref=ntt\_mus\_ep\_cd\_tft\_tp?ie=UTF8&cdForum=Fx1LQO2I51UNLHM&cdThread=Tx255EZCMGTS6G1](http://www.amazon.com/gp/forum/cd/discussion.html/ref=ntt_mus_ep_cd_tft_tp?ie=UTF8&cdForum=Fx1LQO2I51UNLHM&cdThread=Tx255EZCMGTS6G1) ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2014, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-by-andy-weir/691808/26 "2014-07-06T15:12:23Z")
Great book! I’d have read it in one session, but I had to work the next day so got some sleep. I have a few technical nits to pick, just for the fun of it. Should I do that here or another thread? It’d be a pain to discuss everything in spoilers. (Most of these “nits” are more like questions than criticisms. As in “What would 120MPH wind feel like in 1% atmosphere?”) ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2014, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-by-andy-weir/691808/27 "2014-07-06T16:24:22Z")
Thanks for the recommendation. I just finished it, and thought it was quite good. Now I’ve got to find the other stuff he’s written. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2014, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-by-andy-weir/691808/28 "2014-07-06T16:43:52Z")
> [@](#): > > Should I do that here or another thread? It’d be a pain to discuss everything in spoilers. I think here is fine, go for it ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2014, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-by-andy-weir/691808/29 "2014-07-06T17:11:59Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > Now I’ve got to find the other stuff he’s written. He’s written a couple of webcomics that you might like to check out. [Casey and Andy](http://www.galactanet.com/comic/view.php?strip=1), loosely based on himself and his real life best friend. [Cheshire Crossing](http://www.cheshirecrossing.net/), a crossover between several famous classic works. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-by-andy-weir/691808/30 "2014-10-01T19:07:54Z")
Here’s one thing that’s got me puzzled: The whole story depends on a storm that threatened the astronauts’ camp. But, if the air pressure on Mars is so low, how strong can the winds be? ---
**Author:** ![emarkp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3be4f8/32.png) [@emarkp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emarkp)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-by-andy-weir/691808/31 "2014-10-01T19:13:24Z")
Weir [mentioned in a podcast](http://twit.tv/show/triangulation/163) that the storm is the one science fudge he did intentionally. He had a scenario for a technical glitch, but because the story was essentially “man vs. nature” the storm was thematically better. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-by-andy-weir/691808/32 "2014-10-01T20:32:01Z")
I got the audio book of this last time this thread was bumped up, and really loved it. It hovered right on the edge of being overly ridiculous (what, yet ANOTHER disaster so incredibly life-threatening that there’s no way he could possibly survive??), but I enjoyed seeing him systematically work through each one in turn, bit by bit. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-by-andy-weir/691808/33 "2014-10-02T02:25:06Z")
Storms don’t get that fast on Mars. I looked it up because it seemed wrong to me. ---
**Author:** ![emarkp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3be4f8/32.png) [@emarkp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emarkp)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-by-andy-weir/691808/34 "2014-10-02T16:01:58Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > I got the audio book of this last time this thread was bumped up, and really loved it. It hovered right on the edge of being overly ridiculous (what, yet ANOTHER disaster so incredibly life-threatening that there’s no way he could possibly survive??), but I enjoyed seeing him systematically work through each one in turn, bit by bit. Pretty much the same here. I’m a software engineer, and it seemed to scratch right where the problem-solving part of my brain itches. Turns out Weir is in software as well. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-by-andy-weir/691808/35 "2014-10-02T17:45:00Z")
> [@emarkp](#): > > Pretty much the same here. I’m a software engineer, and it seemed to scratch right where the problem-solving part of my brain itches. Turns out Weir is in software as well. That’s what I liked about it (and Gould’s latest Jumper novel “Exo”) - they reminded me of old sci-fi I’ve read where the adventure was in problem solving rather than killing aliens (more prevalent post Star Wars, imo). A really old favorite of mine is “Two Men and a Mirror” with two guys trapped on a nearly friction-less surface. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-by-andy-weir/691808/36 "2014-10-02T21:00:53Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Here’s one thing that’s got me puzzled: The whole story depends on a storm that threatened the astronauts’ camp. But, if the air pressure on Mars is so low, how strong can the winds be? That was my first question! > [@emarkp](#): > > Weir [mentioned in a podcast](http://twit.tv/show/triangulation/163) that the storm is the one science fudge he did intentionally. He had a scenario for a technical glitch, but because the story was essentially “man vs. nature” the storm was thematically better. Good answer. 🙂 Thanks! > [@susan](#): > > Storms don’t get that fast on Mars. I looked it up because it seemed wrong to me. Well, Viking measured 60 MPH, so 100 MPH isn’t too far out of the question. But I doubt that would have much force. Of course, there is a V^2 term (or a V^3 term for power – right?) but still, I’d guess that a 100 MPH wind with a 1% atmosphere would balance out to around the equivalent of a 10 MPH wind here on Earth. (Folks who can actually do the math, please fight my ignorance!) Now, if the air is full of dust, that might increase the effect a bit. But still I wouldn’t expect it to be so severe. In any case, Weir acknowledges that, and it makes for a good story. Unfortunately I can no longer remember my other questions. I guess I’ll just have to read it again! ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-by-andy-weir/691808/37 "2014-10-02T21:03:37Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > That’s what I liked about it (and Gould’s latest Jumper novel “Exo”) - they reminded me of old sci-fi I’ve read where the adventure was in problem solving rather than killing aliens (more prevalent post Star Wars, imo). A really old favorite of mine is “Two Men and a Mirror” with two guys trapped on a nearly friction-less surface. I think that’s more of a “geek vs pop” distinction than a “then vs now” one. Buck Rogers was more of the alien shooting, wasn’t it? I really like the ones where we get both aspects combined, like Alien and The Thing. But this sure was a great book. I’d have read it in one sitting, except I had to go to work! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-by-andy-weir/691808/38 "2014-10-03T13:19:47Z")
What I don’t get is: why didn’t he just build a Potato-Plants-Surviv-O-Mat? ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2014, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-by-andy-weir/691808/39 "2014-10-04T15:29:09Z")
[Ridley Scott is adapting it into a movie](http://www.avclub.com/article/jeff-daniels-joins-ridley-scotts-martian-210096), with Matt Damon as the protagonist, and a bunch of other good actors and actresses. I think there’s some potential. ---
**Author:** ![emarkp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3be4f8/32.png) [@emarkp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emarkp)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-by-andy-weir/691808/40 "2014-10-05T03:47:22Z")
Will Matt Damon be in blackface, or did they whitewash the part? (I’m actually kidding here. Yes, the protagonist is black in the book, but I don’t require that to be unchanged in an adaptation.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-by-andy-weir/691808.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-by-andy-weir/691808.md?page=3)