The Martian

-Space Opera

For this read I took a jab at reading The Martian by Andy Weir. Being set in the not so distant future of 2035, this take on space travel take a very realistic and conventional approach to space travel. This book in my term successfully makes science cool and enjoyable as much of the conflict that stems from the story is much of Man vs. Environment. The landscape and events are all working against him to kill him. The book deliberately goes into every detail of Mark Watney’s struggle against time and mortality. Although The Martian isn’t a grandiose space opera like Starship Troopers or Star Wars but it contrasts them by being very down and humble. Everything that Watney does for survival Is explained in every possible detail/step that works to inform the reader of the scientific thought/processes that propagate throughout the book. Much like our previous week’s take on contemporary urban fantasy I feel that this book/story fits more as a contemporary space fantasy. While not quite on the scale of imagination as its peers it successfully approaches the space genre through the lens of reality and pragmatism (Even if the situations and solutions the main character finds himself carrying out is theoretical). An example of this is Watney’s approach to farming, although somewhat simple and easy to grasp on Earth on the Martian surface it is nearly impractical and the challenges and difficulties faced in it are numerous. The book goes into almost gross detail of how he must create manure/fertile soil in order to grow potatoes to eat. The book goes through every process, from farming to acquiring water for the farm. In his words, “I'm going to have to science the shit out of this.”