Andy Weir: Artemis (2018, Del Rey)
Published Jan. 1, 2018 by Del Rey.
Really did remind me of [b:The Martian|18007564|The Martian|Andy Weir|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413706054l/18007564.SY75.jpg|21825181] with plans in space that go wrong and then some more wrong. The main character feels witty but flawed, and all together a fun read.
'The Martian' but on the moon. An amusing caper as expected by Weir, he delivers on his core competency of creative action and laying tons of plausible technical detail into the plot. This one got a bit adolescent with its depictions of sexuality, but not enough to spike it for me. Solid read. If you liked the Martian this was a good, fun, quick read.
Rating this book is not easy. After having loved and sped through the Martian two years ago, I was really excited when Artemis was finally released. I finished it with almost the same speed and dedication as the Martian, though it fell a bit short. It was not bad - I would not have finished it that quickly then - but it wasn't awesome either.
The main character - Jazz Bashara - seems to have a similar personality and "writing style" as Mark Watney from The Martian (though this time the book is not in the form of a diary but written from the view of a first-person narrator): they both like puns, sarcasm and colourful language - even in the most desperate and even life-threatening situations. I can imagine how some people might see this as very off-putting.
The actual story is mostly believable, however in some cases the …
Rating this book is not easy. After having loved and sped through the Martian two years ago, I was really excited when Artemis was finally released. I finished it with almost the same speed and dedication as the Martian, though it fell a bit short. It was not bad - I would not have finished it that quickly then - but it wasn't awesome either.
The main character - Jazz Bashara - seems to have a similar personality and "writing style" as Mark Watney from The Martian (though this time the book is not in the form of a diary but written from the view of a first-person narrator): they both like puns, sarcasm and colourful language - even in the most desperate and even life-threatening situations. I can imagine how some people might see this as very off-putting.
The actual story is mostly believable, however in some cases the actions and results of actions seem a bit contrived. This would have been more of a problem if the book were longer.
Apart from the writing style that takes some getting used to (for some people) and the awesome (though a little contrived) plot, this book is a really nice read. Especially for people who liked The Martian (and/or sarcasm + puns). And if that does not convince you: The story is set in a city on the moon!
