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Synopsis (from Goodreads):
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 & forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded & completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—& 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—& 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?
Review:
I first learned about this book when a local radio DJ spoke about it during the morning commute. Then I heard it was going to be a movie starring Matt Damon. With all that buzz, I had to get a hold of this book before I saw the film. The story is compelling: left for dead, an astronaut tries to figure out how to survive on Mars when his crew abandons the mission. We read exactly how Mark works out all the variables needed in order to survive until he can (possibly) be rescued. We also get a peek at the political fallout on Earth when a large-scale project falters.
I really enjoyed this book. As a science nerd, I appreciated all the behind the scenes insights as to how NASA could deal with the emotional, political, and technical details involved in the situation. When NASA figures out that Mark is alive, what should they do? Do they tell the crew headed back to Earth that they left a crew member behind? Would that jeopardize their safety? How can they organize a rescue? It's not like NASA has space ships ready to go that can be launched at a moments notice. As NASA grapples with these issues, Mark must figure out daily needs such as getting enough food, oxygen, and water to stay alive.
Each situation is dealt with in a realistic manner, so it feels like it could actually happen. This is not so much science fiction as it is foretelling what could go wrong when people do go on longer missions in outer space. It is both frightening and exhilarating to think that we could one day explore other planets. Given how easily things can go wrong, it brings to light the bravery and determination needed to perform these tasks. I highly recommend this book!
Rating: 
Source: Bought by myself
Format: Paperback
Recommendation: If you like science and adventure you will enjoy this.
Will I read more from this author: Yes!
I loved this book!! I read it this year also :) Thank you for your comment on my blog! Your blog is very lovely as well! I have followed you :)
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