I heard an interview with Andy Weir on the radio just before I listened to this audiobook, so I was a little bit spoiled and knew something of what was going on before the book revealed it, but I don’t think that took too much away from the experience.
Like The Martian (which I loved) this book has a lone man who has to use his intelligence and scientific knowledge to save himself and ultimately all of humanity (and beyond…..!). I like nerdy science stuff, and this book had a lot of that.
At the beginning of the story the hero wakes up in a medical room being cared for by robotic arms and a disembodied voice. He has no memory of who he is or where he is, but uses deduction and experimentation to work things out, and gradually his memory returns piecemeal and we discover with him the enormity of the task before him.
I really enjoyed the book – it had (as I said already) lots of fun science facts, but also a really likeable main characters and enough humour to keep things from ever getting bogged down or boring. It’s hard to say more without giving spoilers, but If you liked The Martian I would absolutely urge you to read (or listen to) this novel – it’s a cracker!
Sarah Wray Writer 