06-07-2014, 02:19 PM | #46 |
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After reading recommendations here, I added The Martian to my wish list at Amazon. I'm hoping someone will give me a copy. My local library has selected this book for the Book Club discussion for September. That gives me some time to borrow it from the library as well.
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06-14-2014, 09:55 AM | #47 |
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Seeing that the waiting list for the book through my library is huge, I just went ahead and purchased it. Despite the heavy tech in it I find the style really engaging and am really enjoying it right now.
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06-14-2014, 11:10 AM | #48 |
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Good book. Although "guy stranded on Mars" may not grab everyone's attention, it has enough ingenuity and humor to make it a memorable read.
I can just see a few Chemistry and Physics teachers use parts of this to liven up their lectures. |
06-14-2014, 04:35 PM | #49 |
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Got the audio book and so far it's just as humorous and enjoyable.
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06-15-2014, 10:06 AM | #50 |
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Ira Flatow mentioned the book on the summer science books segment of Science Friday on NPR.
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06-15-2014, 11:00 AM | #51 |
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Based on the recommendations found here, I also picked up the book and found it a very enjoyable read.
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06-28-2014, 04:26 AM | #52 |
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I finbished this a few days ago and I really liked it. Don't let technobabble steer you away from it. It's a great read, rather quick too, actually and very engaging.
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08-04-2014, 10:55 PM | #53 |
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A Fall of Moondust by Clarke is quite similar to The Martian and equally good.
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08-04-2014, 11:26 PM | #54 | |
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Quote:
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08-07-2014, 02:15 AM | #55 | |
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Quote:
recommend it enough, but I’m very much a fan of “hard” sci-fi. In fact I’m the sort that cringes at the phrase “Fantasy/Sci-Fi” because in my mind these genres are polar opposites. I was amazed to read “The Martian” because it is the only example of true honest-to-goodness hard science fiction, unmarred by a single element of nonsense or phlebotinum of any kind that I can think of. (Excluding a lot of "Golden Age" works which were pretty good by the science of their eras but have aged rather poorly) I’d love to find more books like this. As much as I enjoy science fiction which respectfully alters reality in order to allow a plot to proceed, finding a story set in a universe functionally indistinguishable from our own is a *very* welcome change. I think I recall “The Listeners” by James Gunn being pretty close - but it’s been a long time since I read it and there may have been some nonsensical bits in there that I’m forgetting about. |
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08-11-2014, 03:10 PM | #56 |
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The author Andy Weir is being interviewed by Leo LaPorte right now on TWiT on Triangulation. The episode is almost over but you'll be able to stream, download or listen to the audio version by the end of today (or any time) at:
http://twit.tv/show/triangulation |
08-11-2014, 05:36 PM | #57 |
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Thanks for that link. Just watched it and it was very interesting. Lot of fascinating insight.
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08-13-2014, 05:57 PM | #58 | |
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Quote:
It's more interesting for people who have read the book, to know that all of the science is fact-based, and all of the number crunching is based on reality--from orbital transit times to efficiency of solar panels to growth rates of potatoes. Last edited by curtw; 08-13-2014 at 07:26 PM. |
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11-19-2014, 03:53 PM | #59 |
actually it is /var/log
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There is an article on "The Martian" on Ars Technica. Being afraid of spoilers I havn't read it yet but it seems interesting.
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11-19-2014, 04:13 PM | #60 |
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I keep hearing about this book on the SecurityNow and MacBreak podcasts, and have had it on my wish list. I accidentally bought it one-click last week, but did a refund request, then today I got a price drop notification from eReaderIQ... maybe that's a sign that I should just buy it and read it!
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