The Martian, by Andy Weir

Ares 3

On Earth

Mark Watney – stranded on Mars Commander Melissa Lewis – husband Robert Beth Johanssen Rick Martinez – piloted MDV, wife Marissa, son David Alex Vogel – wife Helena Dr. Chris Beck Hermes – rocket ship MDV – Mars Descent Vehicle MAV – Mars Ascent Vehicle Hab Sol – One day on Mars, 24 hours and 39 minutes earth time

Venkat Kapoor – director of Mars operations, handled all direct communication with Watney Teddy Sanders – NASA administrator Mandy Park – monitoring satellites around Mars, discovered Watney alive Annie Montrose – director of media relations Bruce Ng – director of JPL Mitch Henderson – Ares 3 flight director Rich Purcell – astrodynamicist, plan to send Hermes back to rescue Watney Cathy Warner – CNN reporter Dr. Irene Shields – flight psychologist China: Guo Ming – director National Space Administration Zhu Tao – under-director

For Discussion:

NOTE: The page numbers are from the paperback edition.

1. The crew were four months into their trip back to earth before they were told that Watney was alive back on Mars.   Should they have been told sooner?
2. Consider Mark Watney.  How realistic do you think his character was?    Were his problem-solving skills realistic?   Was it realistic that he was able to maintain his sense of humor?
3. Previously this summer we read Moon Shot, by Deke Slayton and Alan Shepard, and Endurance, by Scott Kelly.  What did you read or learn in these books that added to your understanding of this fiction book?  When Watney needed some encouragement as he was getting ready to leave to meet crewmates, he asked himself, “What would an Apollo astronaut do?” (page 268).
4. Did you understand Teddy Sanders decision to not try the “Rich Purnell Maneuver” to save Watney?  What would you have decided and why? 

5. The crew did not hesitate about their desire to go back and rescue Watney.  Were you surprised? How do you think you would react if you were in their families’ position?   Discuss the different reactions of their families:
1. Robert, Lewis’ husband said, “I understand why you’re doing all this.  Still, from a selfish point of view, I miss my wife” (page 243).
2. Marissa, Martinez’s wife, said, “You volunteered to extend the mission five hundred and thirty-three days…asshole” and “your son…won’t have any memories of you” (page 249).
3. Johanssen’s father asked her, “Why would you do that to your mother?” (page 251).
6. Johanssen was picked to be the one to survive if there was a catastrophe because she was the youngest and smallest and would need the least amount of food.  It was revealed she would be expected to eat her crewmates if it came to it.  What did you think about that?
7. At the end, the author changed style twice.  On pages 309 and 310 he told the story in the third person, referring to Watney as “the traveler.”  On pages 323 and 324 he again wrote in the third person and referred to Watney as “the astronaut.”  Was this an effective writing device?  Did you like it or not?
8. How realistically do you think the novel portrayed Mars explorations and the personalities of all people involved?
9. In the last seven paragraphs, Watney addresses the issue of the cost of rescuing him.   Did you like this ending of the book?

*****

First Semester Success: 2nd edition, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available as an eBook and hardcopy from amazon.com and hardcopy from wordassociation.com.