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4.49 AVERAGE
4.49 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is definitely not without its issues but the storytelling is solid and it managed to be compelling the whole way through. Also it made me weirdly emotional at times, like why did I care so much about the little alien crab spider? And yeah okay, the ending got me.
I loved the premise of having to find and destroy space algae that is literally sucking the energy out of the sun, leaving the earth to essentially go into an Ice Age and all humanity would likely die. Great setup. And, the protagonist, Dr. Ryland Grace, is a snarky smart Junior high science teacher who gets sucked into the whole mess. The science is sound, though a bit much for my taste, and I marvel at Weir's imagination. Of course, Grace must save the planet on a solo mission, where he finds an alien whom he befriends, and together they put their science minds together through to save both planets and all earthly and alien life. Weir even developed the alien's language, and they had to figure out how to communicate with each other....another great concept.
I enjoyed this book. I laughed through this book. I marveled at this book. It's very cute and very clean, appropriate for all age groups. But after a while, I felt it became very repetitive, and I just want to skip to the end about halfway through because it seemed to just drag.
I will say - this will end up making a great movie, though, which I think Weir had in mind as he was writing it.
I enjoyed this book. I laughed through this book. I marveled at this book. It's very cute and very clean, appropriate for all age groups. But after a while, I felt it became very repetitive, and I just want to skip to the end about halfway through because it seemed to just drag.
I will say - this will end up making a great movie, though, which I think Weir had in mind as he was writing it.
FIVE STARS FIVE STARS FIVE STARS FIVE STARS
Never thought a spider alien that sings in robot notes called Rocky could make me laugh, cry, and love this book so much. Heck, made my math hating ass almost want to study physics. 10/10, Andy Weir is a legendary author. Absolute favorite.
2/24/2024: almost three years later, still an absolute pleasure to listen to
Never thought a spider alien that sings in robot notes called Rocky could make me laugh, cry, and love this book so much. Heck, made my math hating ass almost want to study physics. 10/10, Andy Weir is a legendary author. Absolute favorite.
2/24/2024: almost three years later, still an absolute pleasure to listen to
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
At first I thought I was in for 800 something pages of one man’s contemplations on the origins of life and the scientific method. Thankfully, Rocky, the intrepid extraterrestrial on a mission to save his (but really, how do we know his/her/their gender?) planet just like Dr. Grace, was the conversation partner the book needed. Aside from adding the curiosities of alien biology and language, the interspecies friendship elevated the story from one about saving humanity to one about being human.
A captivating read cover to cover. Weir does incredibly well to manage a non-chronological timeline without giving away any of the mystery, and juggles the comedy well without diluting the dramatic (maybe bar the ending). The scientific elements are exciting and each step forward hooked me more than the last. It is not a short book by any means, but I was not able to put it down even once.