Mars is not a great place to be stranded on. There would be several death facing challenges, can be read about in The Martian by Andy Weir. In this thrilling book, readers follow the witty main character, Mark Watney on his journey. Watney struggles to find ways to live with his limited resources after becoming stranded on Mars. From this book, readers learn the importance of perseverance and to never give up. The science fiction book, The Martian, is written by the interesting author, Andy Weir, who fills the book with sarcastic humor and suspense. The author Andy Weir is a unique author “ANDY WEIR was first hired as a programmer for a national laboratory at age fifteen”(Weir). Still quite early in his life, Weir scored himself two amazing …show more content…
Constantly working for his survival, Watney still manages to make jokes. On his venture through Mars, he has to figure out how to grow potatoes so he can eat them to survive, but he runs into the problem of finding enough CO2 so that the potatoes too can survive. Mark states, “I know what you’re thinking. ‘Mark, old chap! You produce carbon dioxide! It’s all part of the majestic circle of nature’”(Weir 79). Even though Watney could be in a bad situation, he will say funny things that are directed to the readers. At this point of the book, Watney has to get to Schiaparelli and commandeer the Ares 4 lander. Although not having direct permission from NASA, Watney decides to go anyway, “After I board Ares 4, before talking to NASA, I will take control of a craft in international waters without permission. That makes me a pirate! A space pirate!” (Weir 260). Here, Watney makes a joke in a very serious situation. If Watney doesn’t complete this task, he will die. Even if he does complete the task, he still could die. Watney, being a very calm guy, instead of freaking out, he manages to always make a …show more content…
Of course there are a lot of complications leading to suspenseful moments, such as the Hab [Mark’s home on Mar’s] blowing up. “Everything went great right up to the explosion...One minute I was happily burning hydrogen; the next I was on the other side of the Hab , and a lot of stuff was knocked over. I stumbled to my feet and saw the Hab in disarray.” (Weir 43). At this point of the book, everything keeping Watney alive, perhaps just exploded, leaving the readers wanting to find out what happens next. A part towards the end of the book that is very suspenseful is when Watney descends to Schiaparelli, the impact crater Mark needs to get to so he can leave Mars. “The trailer plunged headlong into the soft soil and flipped over on its balloon-roof... The rover...continued tumbling down the hill, bouncing the traveler around like a clothes dryer…The traveler was alive, for now” (Weir 310). In this part of the book, Mark is trying to get himself, the rover, and the trailer to Schiaparelli. He then drives over an “invisible ridge” and lost control. This is followed by a lot of tumbling and snapping. This part of the book is especially suspenseful because the chapter ends without the readers knowing Watney’s condition. The suspense in The Martian is what makes this book a great