The Martian (Weir novel)
A stranded astronaut survives on Mars using ingenuity.
Andy Weir’s first published novel, *The Martian*, came out in 2011. Weir initially put the story online as a serial on his blog, self-publishing it before Crown Publishing Group bought the rights and re-released it in 2014. The plot centers on Mark Watney, an American astronaut and botanist-engineer, who gets left behind on Mars in 2035 after a storm forces his crew to evacuate. Stranded alone, he relies on his wits to stay alive. A movie version, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon, hit theaters in October 2015.
In 2035, the Ares 3 mission lands at Acidalia Planitia for a month. After just six Martian days, a windstorm threatens to knock over their Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV), which would trap everyone. During the scramble to leave, a loose antenna impales Watney, a botanist and engineer, and knocks out his spacesuit’s radio and life-signs monitor. The wind flings him out of sight, and the crew assumes he’s dead. With the MAV wobbling dangerously, Commander Melissa Lewis has no choice but to launch without finishing the search.
Watney survives with a minor injury. He has no long-range radio, so he can’t call for help. His approach is to “work the problem” one step at a time. Food is a pressing issue, so he starts growing potatoes inside the crew’s habitat, the Hab. To get water for the plants, he uses an iridium catalyst to split hydrogen from leftover hydrazine fuel, then burns that hydrogen with the Hab’s oxygen.
NASA discovers Watney is alive when satellite images show signs of activity at the landing site. Officials begin planning a rescue but keep the news from the Ares 3 crew—who are heading back to Earth on the *Hermes*—to avoid distracting them.
Watney decides to drive 3,235 kilometers (2,010 miles) to Schiaparelli Crater, where the Ares 4 mission is set to land in four years and where an MAV is already waiting. He modifies one of the rovers, adding extra solar cells and a battery. After a three-week test drive, he retrieves parts of the old Pathfinder lander and Sojourner rover, bringing them back to the Hab so he can contact NASA. Flight Director Mitch Henderson persuades NASA Administrator Teddy Sanders to let him tell the Ares 3 crew that Watney is alive. They’re overjoyed, except for Lewis, who feels guilty for leaving him.
Repeated use of the same airlock tears its canvas, causing the Hab to depressurize and nearly killing Watn
- Author
- Andy Weir
- Published
- 2011 (self-published), 2014 (Crown re-release)
- Genre
- Science fiction
- Protagonist
- Mark Watney
- Setting
- Mars, 2035
- Adaptation
- Film released October 2015
Lore & Background
Andy Weir, the son of a particle physicist and electrical engineer, has a background in computer science. He began writing the book in 2009, researching orbital mechanics, astronomy, and the history of human spaceflight to make it as realistic as possible. Weir had previously used the concept of humans stranded on Mars in his webcomic Casey and Andy. After being rebuffed by literary agents, he put the book online in serial format one chapter at a time for free on his website. At the request of fans, he made an Amazon Kindle version available at 99 cents, which rose to the top of Amazon's list of best-selling science-fiction titles, selling 35,000 copies in three months. This led to Podium Publishing signing for audiobook rights in January 2013, and Crown buying print rights in March 2013 for over US$100,000.
Reader's Guide
The Martian became a significant cultural and commercial success, demonstrating the viability of self-publishing and serialized online fiction. Its realistic portrayal of problem-solving and survival on Mars, grounded in existing technology, resonated with readers and critics. The book debuted on the New York Times Best Seller list in March 2014 and spent multiple weeks at number one in trade paperback format. The 2015 film adaptation, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon, brought the story to a wider audience. The novel's emphasis on science and engineering inspired interest in space exploration and highlighted the potential for human ingenuity in extreme circumstances. Its publishing journey—from free blog serial to bestseller—also serves as a notable case study in modern publishing.
Did You Know?
- The book was originally self-published on Andy Weir's blog as a serial.
- The Kindle edition sold 35,000 copies in three months at 99 cents.
- The novel's plot involves a 'Rich Purnell Maneuver' using a gravity assist to rescue the astronaut.
- The film adaptation was directed by Ridley Scott and released in October 2015.
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