The Martian - Andy Weir

Being stranded in outer space seems like a terrifying predicament to be in, especially when you must survive out there on your own. The telling of Mark's story and how he was able to survive out on space alone is both impressive, yet jarring.

I find it incredibly interesting that one event can lead to an outcome that is completely different relative to if that even were to not take place, Mark nearly dying being the event in question. Him being abandoned not only brings out the best in him in his attempts to remain alive, but also influences the entire issue that the story revolves around. Considering possible solutions that could have used in order to prevent the issues of the story from taking place, one of them being Mark getting carried alongside his crew, it's fun to realize that that a single decision in the short-term can influence many things in the long-term.

While reading the book and considering the dilemma of the novel, I couldn't help but also relate the book to one of my favorite game franchises, Dead Space, which also involves being stranded out in space. However, aside from simply having to stay alive and try to call for help, you must also fight against an infestation that's constantly trying to kill you. Although this isn't the case in the Martian, I found that there were a lot of very similar motifs occurring between both works, aside from simply being stranded in space. The most valuable motif being Communication, which I think everyone takes for granted here on planet Earth (as opposed to being on any other planet). Without being able to call for much help, if any, both heroes are forced to resort to a somewhat contemporary yet primal instinct of utilizing their knowledge and surrounds to survive.