The Martian

The Martian

4.6 (9 ratings)
Mystery Science Fiction Thriller & Suspense +2 more
Format Hardcover
Pages 384
Language English
Published Feb 11, 2014
Publisher Ballantine Books
ISBN-10 0804139024
ISBN-13 9780804139021
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Description

Mark Watney, an astronaut and botanist, finds himself stranded and alone on the unforgiving terrain of Mars after a dust storm forces his crew to evacuate, believing him to be dead. With limited supplies and no direct way to communicate with Earth, he must rely on his ingenuity and resourcefulness to survive the harsh conditions of the red planet. Every day is a battle against the elements as he devises strategies to grow food, generate water, and ultimately signal for help.

As Watney faces numerous challenges, from equipment failures to the relentless Martian environment, his wit and humor shine through the dire circumstances. He navigates the complexities of survival with a combination of scientific knowledge and a never-give-up attitude, forging ahead amid isolation and uncertainty. His journey becomes a testament to human resilience and determination.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, mission control grapples with the reality of possibly losing one of their own. As the world becomes invested in Watney’s fate, a race against time begins to bring him home. The intertwining narratives of Watney’s struggle for survival and the efforts of those on Earth to rescue him create a gripping and inspiring tale of hope in the face of overwhelming odds.

Reviews

Rating: 4.75Read: May 8, 2016Reread: Jan 22, 2018Reread: May 19, 2019Still adore this book. And the audiobook is so much fun. 10/10 do recommend.Reread: Aug 28, 2020Started a reread early in the year at the start of the pandemic as a bedtime book and dug deep into the reread during the second wave of civil unrest late August. 2020 has been... a year, but the compassion and hope that embodies this book, along with the sarcastic humor, has been a light for me and the occasional break I really needed.Reread: March 1, 2022Hm I wonder what catastrophic event led to me reading my favorite comfort read that makes me feel hopeful about humanities' goodness?Reread: Jan 17, 2023I was in a ton of pain and reached for my comfort read. But early in the year for this reread lol

Good preliminary read before having to read it for school next semester.

5.0
Ali
Ali @ali29626
Dec 11, 2025

Oh my god, this was such a good read! I was extremely annoyed at having to put it down in order to get some sleep...Fantastic edge of seat stuff. Loved every word

Best book of 2015 so far I loved it Mark Watney is hilarous

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