This is the diary of an astronaut that gets stranded on Mars in the not-too-distant future. Working from only the limited resources one might realistically expect to find themselves with in such a situation, can he survive long enough to be rescued? It's a provocative question, and the author is ruthless in his presentation of the difficulties. Our hero pushes his knowledge of physics, chemistry, and biology to the limits, but will it be enough? Obviously, there is limited dialogue, but the author nevertheless presents a very readable story with suitable doses of humor, suspense, and tragedy. The apparent rigor in this story makes it readily applicable to real life (should you ever find yourself stranded on Mars). I loved it, and I can't wait for the author's next work.

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Some may find the science descriptions a little too in depth but when read with Mark's (the title character)sarcastic humor it all fits in nicely. The ability of Mark to overcome all the problems he is faced with keep the story line moving at a brisk pace.

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Great book! I loved the diary writing style and it flows well when we go back to the people not on Mars with Watley. It does get a little bogged down with technical descriptions, but not overly much. Humor keeps the diary entries light and makes the book move quickly. Glad my book club had this as a selection option or I would have missed it!

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4.5 out of 5 stars: There were a few moments that kept it from being perfect, but overall a very well written book. Enough science to make it feel like Heinlein, but not so much it felt like I was being beaten over the head.

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This was a great read! For the most part it's in a "audio log" format but this really pulls you into the story. You have to admire the inventiveness of the author in how he has his character work through the myriad of problems encountered and, for me, it was very believable. Each person experiences a story differently but this is one I will be wholeheartedly recommending to my friends.

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Perfect blend of science and humor. Loved it and will definitely read again.

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I saw the film first and loves it, which is why I bought the book. To start, this book was excellently written, the time and dedication put into the research to make this as scientifically accurate as possible is just amazing. That being said, a good bit of the science of it, while fascinating, was boring. If it weren't for the bits of humor thrown in as well as Wil Wheaton's excellent narration, I would have snoozed on this. Not a bad book, just not for me.

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