Submitted by chunky_snick t3_zudptj in books
I had zero expectations when I picked up this book, but it blew me away to outer space. Have to give it up for Andy Weir for creating a masterpiece of an interstellar voyage, with ample twists and a touching storyline.
I was slowly getting my feet wet as the book starts, but dove right in when Grace realizes he's not in our solar system, but in a distant one. The writing is phenomenal as the protagonist pieces together his foggy past while racing against time in the present. I didn't expect Grace would be encountering Rocky, much less collaborating with him to save humanity. It is a refreshing change from conventional novels where aliens are hostile for dramatic purposes.
I was able to relate a lot with Grace. The position that he was put in, the sacrifice he wasn't willing to make, his unwillingness to take risks rang a lot of familiar bells in me. I was rooting for him. Felt like a wake up call. Instead of gigantic aliens, we got a tiny organism which spelt doom for Earth. It packed such a punch, that mankind decided to harness it to destroy it's effects on Earth. Love the irony. It warns us that, if the next world war were to happen, it would be for food and water.
As they say, a good book or a movie needs a compelling start, a meaty middle and a biting finish, this book nailed all those aspects and more. It manages to reiterate the fact that when humans put their minds together, no problem is insurmountable. It's just that we're quite often bogged down by numerous invisible constructs like borders, languages, religion etc. I remain hopeful, that one day we'll rise above them and act on what truly matters.