Log Entry: Sol 9000-something

Just wrapped up “The Martian” and wow, what a ride! Most SciFi books are heavy on the fiction and light on the science, but this one is the opposite. The science feels real, the hacks make sense, and the technology is spot-on. Andy Weir really did his homework.

I did stumble over something, though. The way Mark keeps his log doesn’t always add up. He talks about typing up his entries on a computer, but what about those times he was without a computer, like after that airlock seal catastrophe? Maybe he was recording voice notes, writing them down later… Anyway, very small nit to pick.

What really hooked me was the relentless problem-solving. Every hurdle thrown at the main guy had a crazy, yet believable solution. The solutions are genius-level insanity, and you can’t help but root for the guy. As for the technical stuff, I can’t claim to be a spaceflight expert, but I know a thing or two about computers. And let me tell you, the whole Pathfinder-Rover code-rigging move? That’s some legit programming wizardry through a tricky low-bandwidth setup.

The protagonist’s language? It’s got some flair, and by that I mean it’s full of expletives… But I fucking love it! :>
Reminded me of the edgy style in those Culture series books. Lots of fun and action, and definitely a wild, nerdy adventure well worth the read!