The Martian

A very Scientific Science Fiction



==The Martian (the Book ) / Andy Weir New York : Crown Publisher, (c) 2014.==

Summary
Mark Watney is an American astronaut with NASA. He has been sent to Mars on the Aries 3 mission only to be abandoned when his fellow crewmates have to evacuate during a massive storm. He was hit by a satellite dish and was presumed dead, but it turns out he wasn’t so dead. He has to try and survive until NASA can rescue him and creates a log of his experiences interspersed with glimpses of what is happening at NASA and on the Hermes spacecraft his crew mates are on.

This story is a gripping well researched tale of how one man in an impossible situation faces it down one step at a time. On NASA’s required reading list, this book shows how attitude and thinking outside of the box makes all the difference.

 Characters

Mark Watney (astronaut, Martian)

·         A botanist and mechanical engineer with high intelligence and a great sense of humour.

·         Played a lot of Dungeons and Dragons in High School.

·         Attended University in Chicago.





<h4 class="MsoNormal">Commander Lewis (Female Commander of Aries 3 mission)

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l6level1lfo6"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">        Commander and geologist

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l5level1lfo5"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">    <span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA"><span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">     Had a memory stick of 70s TV shows and disco among her personal possessions

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<h4 class="MsoNormal">Martinez (Crewmate)

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l9level1lfo4"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         Piloted MDV to Mars surface

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l9level1lfo4"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         Formerly air force

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l9level1lfo4"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         A devout Catholic, brought a wooden crucifix among his personal items

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l9level1lfo4"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         Son turned 3 while he was returning home on Hermes

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<h4 class="MsoNormal">Johannsen (Crewmate)

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l7level1lfo10"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         Communications

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l8level1lfo8"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         Brought Beatles music among personal items

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l8level1lfo8"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         Career software engineer

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l8level1lfo8"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         The last person to see Watney before hit by satellite dish

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<h4 class="MsoNormal">Vogel (Crewmate)

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l10level1lfo11"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         Chemist

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l9level1lfo4"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         Helped Watney set up solar panels

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l9level1lfo4"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         German, international participant

<h4 class="MsoNormal">Beck (Crewmate)

<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l9level1lfo4"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         Mission’s doctor

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<h4 class="MsoNormal">Venkat Kapoor (NASA)

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l9level1lfo4"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         Director of Mars operations

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l9level1lfo4"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         Doctorate in Physics

<h4 class="MsoNormal">Teddy Saunders (NASA)

<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l9level1lfo4"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         Administrator of NASA

<h4 class="MsoNormal">Mindy Park (NASA)

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l9level1lfo4"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         Works in SatCon monitoring Mars satellites

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l9level1lfo4"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         First one to realize Mark Watney was still alive

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l9level1lfo4"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         Put in charge of tracking Watney

<h4 class="MsoNormal">Annie Montrose (NASA)

<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1level1lfo9"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         Director of Media Relations

<h4 class="MsoNormal">Chuck (NASA)  scientist specializing in communications

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<h4 class="MsoNormal">Morris (NASA)  scientist specializing in communications

<h4 class="MsoNormal">Mitch Henderson (NASA)

<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1level1lfo9"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         flight director for Ares 3 mission.

<h4 class="MsoNormal">Bruce Ng (NASA)

<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1level1lfo9"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         Director of JPL

<h4 class="MsoNormal">Jack Trevor (NASA)

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1level1lfo9"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         Works in software engineering

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1level1lfo9"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         Found a way to update systems so they could communicate with Watney

<h4 class="MsoNormal">Cathy Warner (CNN )anchor for the CNN Mark Watney Report a show following all breaking information

<h4 class="MsoNormal">Marty West (NBC)-reporter

<h4 class="MsoNormal">Jill Holbrook (BBC)-reporter

<h3 class="MsoNormal"> Setting 

<h4 class="MsoNormal">The year: 2035

<h4 class="MsoNormal">Mars- mainly Acidalia Planitia, (a plateau where their mission was to take place)

<h4 class="MsoNormal">Hab-tent like structure filled with breathable environment

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<h4 class="MsoNormal">NASA-Johnson Space Center.

<h4 class="MsoNormal"> MAV-(Mars Ascent Vehicle)

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l9level1lfo4"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         A space craft that shuttles astronauts from the surface of Mars to Hermes

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l9level1lfo4"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         Held the 3 back up communications systems

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l9level1lfo4"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">

<h4 class="MsoNormal">   Hermes

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l9level1lfo4"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         Space Craft- transports crews from earth to Mars and back

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l9level1lfo4"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         Powered by ion engines <h4 class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l9level1lfo4"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA"><span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">           MDV-(Mars Descent Vehicle) <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:72.0pt">

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l9level1lfo4"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA"><span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">           <sup style="text-indent:-18pt;">1 A big can with some light thrusters and parachutes attached. Its sole purpose is to get six humans from Mars orbit to the surface without killing any of them.

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<h3 class="MsoNormal"> The Author 

2Andy Weir-
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1level1lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         The son of a particle physicist

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1level1lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         Background in computer science

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1level1lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         Started writing the book in 2009 and self-published in 2011. Audiobook rights purchased Jan/2013 by Podium Publishing, Rights to the book were purchased Mar/2013 by Crown Publishing and was republished in 2014 then made into a major motion picture in 2015. The book appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list March 2014 and won the 2015 Alex award.

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0level1lfo1"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;mso-ansi-language:EN-CA">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"TimesNewRoman";">         Studied orbital mechanics, astronomy, and the history of manned spaceflight

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