The Martian – Andy Weir

When a strong windstorm forces the crew of Ares 3 to end their Mars mission sooner than expected, Mark Watney is left for dead after being hit by debris during the evacuation.  He manages to survive, and, using his skills as a botanist and an engineer, he finds a way to thrive, eventually growing a potato farm to extend his food supply.  With limited options to save him, NASA bets everything on a long shot, shooting his returning crew around the Earth and back towards Mars in a one-in-a-million shot to reconnect with their missing colleague.  He just needs to find a way to get to the future site of Ares 4 and hope he can meet his crewmates in orbit as they fly by.

I was familiar with the story of The Martian, having seen the film adaptation released in 2015.  Although I knew the overall beats, I still very much enjoyed the ride for a second time.  I’m looking forward to what else Andy Weir has produced.