'The Martian': Author Andy Weir discusses his new sci-fi novel
Author Andy Weir has garnered good sales and positive reviews for his debut novel 鈥淭he Martian,鈥� which follows an astronaut who is left for dead on Mars.
鈥淢artian,鈥� which was released on Feb. 11, centers on Mark Watney, who is left by his fellow crew members on the red planet after a dust storm makes them return to Earth, believing an injured Mark to be dead. Left behind, Mark must use the scant available materials to keep himself alive.
The novel debuted on the IndieBound list for the week of Feb. 20 at number six and has received mainly positive reviews, with calling it an 鈥渆xcellent first novel鈥� Watney鈥檚 solutions to food and life support problems are plausible, and Weir laces the technical details with enough keen wit to satisfy hard science fiction fan and general reader alike鈥� Weir uses Watney鈥檚 proactive nature and determination to survive to keep the story escalating to a riveting conclusion.鈥�
Meanwhile, noted that 鈥渢he modern dialogue at times undermines the futuristic setting鈥� but said that 鈥淲eir displays a virtuosic ability to write about highly technical situations without leaving readers far behind. The result is a story that is as plausible as it is compelling鈥� sharp, funny and thrilling.鈥�
Weir told industry newsletter that in his book, he wanted to get the same feeling of excitement he has when watching the film 鈥淎pollo 13,鈥� in which astronauts and NASA staff scramble to create unorthodox solutions to rescue the spacemen. (The author said he penned the book without contacting anyone at NASA.)
鈥淚t's like MacGyver in space, with billions of dollars of equipment being misappropriated to barely stay alive, and everybody working together,鈥� he said of the film. 鈥淎nd I just love that.鈥澛�
He said he thought the best way to balance out the science talk in his story for readers would be to make his hero, Mark, as relatable as he could.
鈥淚f the reader is rooting for the protagonist, they'll forgive you just about everything else,鈥� Weir said. 鈥淗e's really snarky and self-effacing鈥� I had to get the humor in there, otherwise it's just a dry science lesson.鈥�
