What a ride! Someone described The Martian as "a lonely guy solves problems." Well, this one is more of the same, starting with "a total amnesiac solves math problems" trying to figure out who and where he is. If this doesn't appeal to your nerdy-geeky-techy side then you'd better skip this book. Oh, it develops into a lot more interesting topics but those would all be spoilers. The gradual recovery of memories is a sort of a gimmick to introduce flashbacks explaining the whole story to us and to our hero. Hero? Yes, because this lonely guy is the only hope to save life on earth from extinction. Anyway, thank you Andy Weir for another great story and--and this IS a spoiler-- for a happy ending!

Edited to add: I re-read it six months later and it was just as good! ( )

Awesome book! I loved [b:The Martian|18007564|The Martian|Andy Weir|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413706054l/18007564._SY75_.jpg|21825181] but I loved this one even more. #teamrocky ( )

Recommended by Greg

Human beings have a remarkable ability to accept the abnormal and make it normal. (157)

It's a weird feeling, scientific breakthroughs. There's no Eureka moment. Just a slow, steady progression toward a goal. (409)

I took a life-form I knew nothing about and used technology I didn't understand to modify it. Of course there were unintended consequences. (451)

This book is so good. I am sad it is over. It's nerdy, clever, funny and uplifting. I highly recommend. :) ( )

For a sci-fi novel, this book has something for everyone; it’s heartfelt, it’s funny, it’s definitely science-y with plenty of fiction, but overall, it’s a well-rounded, enjoyable read. Weir’s dry wit and humor that was prevalent in The Martian is back in full force. From the very beginning, I was laughing out loud and rereading passages to my husband because he wanted to know what was so funny. There isn’t much I can say in a review for fear of spoiling any of the surprises, but I’m anxious and excited for the movie version, since it’s already been optioned, because as much as I would love to see how they recreate some of my favorite scenes, part of me knows that they’ll undoubtedly fail to capture it in just the right way to satisfy my imagination. While the science talk can become a bit technical and would cause me to space out (pun intended) at times, most of it is written in a way that us laypeople can understand complex concepts and still remain interested and engaged. The structure of the novel, with well-placed flashbacks answering many of the questions that come up during the present timeline, keeps the story fresh and moves it along at a fair pace.

Everything about this story was fantastic and I cannot recommend it enough.

An advanced copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher. The opinions are my own. ( )