Title: The Martian
Author: Andy Weir
Narrator: R. C. Bray
ISBN: B00B5HO5XA
Audiobook Length: 10 hours, 53 minutes
Genre: Science Fiction
Origins: Mine. All mine.
Release Date: 13 February 2014
Bottom Line: This one is moving into my top ten all-time favorite novels.
“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 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?”
Thoughts: I freaking love this story. I just finished the audio and could easily sit down and read the print version again in one sitting. There is nothing about this story that bores me or bothers me. It makes me laugh. It makes me cry. It makes me proud to be human. The Martian really is That. Good. (I was much more eloquent the first time I reviewed it.)
While the print format is wonderful, especially given so much of Mark’s commentary is through his log book, there is something truly magical about Mr. Bray’s performance that launches the novel into the stratosphere of awesomeness. He is Mark Watney in all of his blustering, lonely, brilliant, and smartass glory. More importantly, he becomes the rest of the cast as well. Everyone in NASA and JPL become fully realized characters under his skillful narration. His accent usage is slight but very effective, and it becomes so easy to forget that this is just a story.
I do not gush about novels that much, but The Martian is one novel about which I have been gushing to friends and family for over a year. I have multiple copies in various formats of the novel and will eventually succeed in getting as many people as possible to read it. It really does have a little bit of everything for a wide variety of readers, but most importantly, it is just a fantastic story with amazing writing and some of the best lines one will find in a modern novel. Just do yourself a favor and go out and read it; you will not be sorry you did.
There’s quite a bit of tech-y stuff in this book so I’m glad I had the print edition, though I’m sure audio was fun too. Here are some of my thoughts on it at http://www.thecuecard.com/?s=martian
I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I thought the science stuff was fascinating because it was so plausible. I’ve been sharing it with all of my science-loving friends and family.
I love doing audio for re-reads of books I love in print. Clearly I must get this one.
That’s my favorite way to re-read these days as well. I am always pleasantly surprised by how much I forgot or missed the first time. Also, I don’t feel guilty that I am neglecting other books as I would feel if I re-read it in print.
Count me in as one of the adoring fans of this one. I didn’t listen to it, but it was such a great read on kindle that I have to go out and purchase a physical copy for my bookshelves!
I have a physical copy and an audio copy! I can’t get enough of this story!!
I think a reread via audio is in order – especially before the film comes out.
Absolutely!!
I really liked this, and so glad to see the audio version getting some love! I thought it was really well done.
Exactly. I was so worried about how well it would translate into an audio format. R. C. Bray does an excellent job. I still chuckle at some of the back-and-forth dialogue between Mark and JPL. “That’s what she said.” “Seriously, Mark? Seriously?”
I just downloaded the audiobook version of this, and I can’t wait to start it! I’m glad it was so good!
Yay!! Enjoy!
I really enjoyed this one! I had it as one of my favorites of last year.
Last year, this year. I can see this one being a book I reread quite often.
I got the audio of this after I read it, too. Now to find time to listen to it. My audio book listening has been sporadic lately.
🙁
Find the time!! You won’t regret it!!
But do you really, really like it? LOL
I have this one on my wishlist on Audible. I’ll be using a credit for it soon, I imagine. Just have a couple of more to listen to first.
How could you tell?!? 😉
Enjoy!
I just read this one and it knocked my socks off! I wasn’t interested at first because I thought it would be too science-y. WRONG. It was amazing and it’s definitely in my tippy top faves too 😀
YAY!! I have been gushing on and off on this one for over a year now, you know. About time you read it and loved it!