Artemis: A gripping sci-fi thriller from the author of The Martian

When I review books I do not reiterate what I read. I do not pick it apart to where there is nothing left for the would be reader to discover for themselves. I like to let the potential reader know if I liked it overall with a few extra details. So no worry on spoilers. I'll keep my thoughts on it as short as possible. I'll start by saying that I enjoyed The Martian for the humor and technical aspects of the science portrayed. The details brought me to an unfamiliar landscape with a situation I will likely never be in. I was entertained, it flowed smoothly, and it made me appreciate this writers style. Having said that, I bought Artemis without knowing anything about it other than who had written it. I did not know what to expect. When I began reading it, I could tell I was in for fun ride, so to speak. What a cool story, with interesting, fun characters. Once again science and an unfamiliar landscape drew me in, yet with situations just familiar enough to be able to relate. I could visualize the surroundings, I felt like I knew the characters, I was curious as to how the situation/s would resolve given that the norms of Artemis are wildly different than what we know of Earth. I just enjoyed the heck out of it. Furthermore, what I found is that I didn't want the story to end. Situations can resolve, but I want to be able to continue to observe the life of these people. There is so much story just given the setting. I would love to see more of these characters and more story to be told of this way of life. There is a lot of rich material to work from, and would absolutely be a wonderful way to delve deeper into all of it. I really hope this isn't a once and done story line/story setting. It was a gem of a read. Nicely done!

The Martian was my favorite book in 2016, and I was also a fan of the movie when I saw it in 2017. When I heard that Andy Weir was releasing a new book I was stoked and waited eagerly for its release. In November of last year, Artemis hit the shelves. The blurb revealed that it was another book set in space, but this time on the Moon. Wow. I couldn't wait to get a copy and delve back into Weir's universe. As with The Martian, the book does contain a lot of the author's trademark detail (ie. technical explanations etc), which I think is an asset in adding authenticity to the plot. It shows that the content is well researched and that what is happening is scientifically and technically possible. Artemis is a settlement on the moon, which comprises of a number of domes (named after famous astronauts) where a sizeable population of 2000 people live. Aside from the local mining industry, part of its economy is fed by tourism, where people wealthy enough come from Earth to visit the Moon for a vacation. Besides the obvious attraction of being on the Moon, the other main tourist spot is the site of the lunar landing. It reminded me of the mock-up that I went to at NASA in Florida, but instead of sitting in a theatre with a replica lander and special effects, the space tourists are at the real site looking through a thick glass wall at the actual landing module and astronaut footprints. The main character, Jazz, is a young woman who is making her humble living as a courier/ deliverer/ small-time smuggler. Although she seemed nice enough, I don't think I really got onboard with her. Maybe it's just me, but I think it's easier to connect with someone who is on the side of good, rather than someone who is on the side that we normally oppose. That said, we do love Han Solo, and he was a smuggler! I found the first half of the book very slow. I realize that it was all about setting up for the second half, but I didn't find it that engaging. Perhaps I was expecting too much, given how much I liked The Martian. I think that my memories of Weir's first book kept me going to see where it was all leading. Jazz is a strong woman, driven mainly by her need for cash and a want to improve her life. Maybe it was her self-focus that failed to click with me. In the first half of the book she makes some questionable decisions that definitely make her some enemies, and as such, it sets up for the ensuing plot line. Once we moved into the second half things got much better. The plot was thickening, the pace quickened, thrilling arrived, and there was a lot more happening. In order to move forward and try to fix things, Jazz needed to dig deep and find unique ways to deal with the situation she was in. This was reminiscent of what I liked about The Martian - making the most of what you have to keep going. Without giving too much away, there was a section of the plot in the second half that I thought would have been a much more exciting area to focus on and expand, instead of the amount of time allocated to the first half. I hope that makes sense. In my opinion, it would have made for a more exciting and thrilling story. In a Nutshell - Artemis is a good book, which gets better as you read more. If you find yourself lagging during the first half, hang in there and keep reading. Although it's not as good as The Martian, it should keep sci-fi fans entertained.

I thought for a while about why I didn’t like this novel as much as The Martian, which is a truly wonderful book. Artemis has the same sort of scientific realism in its imagining of the first colony on the moon, built near the Apollo 11 moon landing. Weir’s moon base has parts that are as gritty as the spacecraft in Alien and parts that are as sparkly as a hotel on Park Avenue. Weir is an expert at creating a setting that seems wholly real and possible, even though we haven’t seen anything like it yet. So, why is this novel something of a disappointment? Because, whereas the events of The Martian, though clearly fictional, felt like they could really happen; here, the entire plot is simply a typical thriller with an exotic scientific setting. Jazz is a great character and there are certainly some moments that provide intrigue and thrills. Ultimately, however, you never for a moment believe this is something that might actually happen in the future. It’s a believable, futuristic setting wasted.

Sehr gut. Ich liebe seinen Schreibstil und das Technische kann mal locker drüberlesen, weil nicht so relevant für die Story. Ich hoffe, er schreibt bald etwas Neues

I really enjoyed reading this book from start to finish. The characters are great and the plot very engaging, so I recommend this book for those looking for a sci-fi page turner.

If you enjoyed The Martian, Artemis is another entertaining science-fiction story packed with clever ideas and plenty of action. The novel is set in the late 2080s in Artemis, the first city on the Moon. The story follows Jasmine “Jazz” Bashara, a porter and part-time smuggler who gets pulled into a dangerous conspiracy that could change the future of the lunar colony. What makes the book enjoyable is the mix of humour, problem-solving and realistic science. Andy Weir once again focuses on how technology and ingenuity can help characters survive impossible situations, which was a big part of what made The Martian such a hit. The story moves quickly, with plenty of tension, clever schemes and unexpected twists. The setting of a functioning city on the Moon is also fascinating, giving readers a glimpse of what life, work and crime might look like in a future lunar colony. Overall, Artemis is a fun and engaging sci-fi thriller. It may not quite reach the same heights as The Martian, but it’s still a very enjoyable read for anyone who likes smart science fiction with a sense of adventure.

Andy Weir will be remembered as an author who brought optimism back to novels about a future in space. In this book, humans are so successful on the Moon there is room for a ripping old crime story! What plays out is a ‘comedy of errors’ with real heart. You can’t help but side with the hero/ villain and hope she comes good. But the book has deeper ideas that left me thinking about the contribution of the Middle East, Africa, morality and religious harmony to our future in space. The science reads pretty true to reality with the touch of largesse required for dark deeds to be perpetrated.

Adventures on the moon. Good follow up to "The Martian" Lots of details to figure out, but not as technical. I could see the set up then had to wait for the story to mix that into the plot. Main character is set up as clever, but then does many silly mistakes. Good adenture.