The Martian Book Summary

In 'The Martian', astronaut Mark Watney is stranded on Mars after a mission gone wrong, presumed dead by his crew. Alone on the desolate planet, he must rely on his ingenuity and wit to survive against overwhelming odds. With limited supplies and a series of catastrophic challenges, Watney's battle for survival turns into a gripping tale of resilience and hope. As NASA works frantically to bring him home, the story raises profound questions about humanity's perseverance in the face of adversity. Will Watney’s science and determination be enough to defy the odds and make it back to Earth?

By Andy Weir

Published: 2014

"I'm pretty much f***ed. That's my considered opinion. F***ed. Six days into what should be the greatest two months of my life, and it's turned into a nightmare."

Book Review of The Martian

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Brilliant . . . a celebration of human ingenuity [and] the purest example of real-science sci-fi for many years . . . utterly compelling.”—The Wall Street Journal The inspiration for the major motion picture Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, he won’t have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old “human error” are much more likely to kill him first. But Mark isn’t ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him? NAMED ONE OF PASTE’S BEST NOVELS OF THE DECADE “A hugely entertaining novel [that] reads like a rocket ship afire . . . Weir has fashioned in Mark Watney one of the most appealing, funny, and resourceful characters in recent fiction.”—Chicago Tribune “As gripping as they come . . . You’ll be rooting for Watney the whole way, groaning at every setback and laughing at his pitchblack humor. Utterly nail-biting and memorable.”—Financial Times

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I'm pretty much f***ed. That's my considered opinion. F***ed. Six days into what should be the greatest two months of my life, and it's turned into a nightmare.

The Martian

By Andy Weir