• THE MARTIAN
• by Andy Weir
• [rated by PBS readers as #61]
• 387 pages

50 PAGES IN.

I due need to confess that I have seen this book on screen and really enjoyed the film. So I do walk in knowing what happens. Or do I?

Two things strike me right off while starting into this book. The first is the high concept. High concept is a phrase used in Hollywood to describe a plot that you can tell in one sentence. You may not think that’s a great thing and you may be right. But it is revered beyond anything in LA. And this is the strongest high concept I’ve ever seen.

Describe it? An astronaut is left behind for dead on Mars. And he isn’t dead.

That’s it! That’s all you need! And it starts on PAGE ONE! I mean, c’mon. What more can you ask for? I’m in awe of the strength of the premise and the speed with which it starts up.

The other thing that is knocking me out is that this guy is writing in scientific terms about what he is doing to stay alive and I don’t understand any of it – but I’m fascinated. For a woman of a certain age with no patience, this fills me with amazement. Don’t know what he is doing, but I’m ready to hear more!

ABOUT HALFWAY – IN LESS THAN A WEEK!!

Can you begin to feel my giddyness at the chance to read something with this kind of speed under it? I am just plain old grateful to be carried like this!

Especially after months of reading Game of Thrones! As I mentioned in that review, I fully realize that to so many fans of his, Games was the alternate Universe in a book that they had been waiting for all their lives and I take nothing away from that. Nothing in that Universe is a thrill to me, which isn’t Martin’s fault.

And yet? The Martian pops up to be read and nothing in that world is in my fantasies or even interests! I am partially self-defined – at least on my radio show, where I have a husband and wife that are both scientists – by my utter lack of knowledge or curiosity about science.

But that doesn’t matter a wit because while I am reading this, I am at NASA and on Mars and I’m utterly swept up in it. Weir writes this thing like a roller coaster ride! So what am I saying there? Hm.

It is science come to life. I think every kid who is even remotely interested in science should read this. If I’m breathlessly interested, they are going to be breathlessly fascinated! And the ideas! Weir is pretty

endlessly gifted in writing this life.

Incidentally, it is very seldom that I would see a movie and then read the book. A friend asked me if I’m thinking about Matt Damon when I’m reading it.

I told her that I really like Matt Damon and he did a good job and was a logical and good pick for the role. But the interesting thing about how clearly Weir has written his main character is that he is different than Matt Damon. I love that, that his character is so strong that even after having seen a visual depiction of him, I am getting a different guy.

There are so many things to admire here.

LESS THAN A WEEK LATER – DONE!!

The Martian kicks some major ass!

You know, when you think about the title of this whole thing – the greatest reads – you conjure up the feelings of being involved in a whole secret advantage that is only a book away, that makes your heart beat a little happier and gives you those delicious feelings of – how fast can I get back there to read it some more?

When I have that, it feels old. Like the same feeling you had reading as a kid. It feels old and special. I had it while reading Ready Player One. And I had it reading The Martian. And now I’m hooked and I want it again!

This was superior story telling. I had seen the movie and besides, it’s a terrible story if he doesn’t survive so you know he will. But that actually didn’t matter. Weir, the author, had you so engrossed in the details that I almost had to stand up reading the last pages. I was that in suspense and that excited!

This is a great read and a masterful one. I repeat what I said from the beginning. The fact that I can’t possibly understand one scientific thing he’s doing but I’m completely engrossed and involved – is a hat trick that I couldn’t see him doing but he did it, over and over, and with the same velocity from the first page to the last! It never let down.

Readable, engrossing, a wild ride and a pleasure. Bravo!

It was, in fact, the sheer writing velocity of The Martian that inspired me to next try one of the three titles that scares me the most!