Considering that it has dwelled for significant amounts of time on best-seller lists both in Kindle format and in print, there is a good chance you may have heard of the science fiction novel The Martian. The already successful book received an even bigger boost in profile once it was announced that Ridley Scott would be directing a film adaptation to be distributed by 20^th Century Fox.

For those that have seen the trailers or read the hype but haven’t had a chance to experience the novel for themselves, I thought it might be worthwhile to explain what all the fuss is about before the movie hits theatres in October. I’ll try to avoid any spoilers, but it is important to recognize up front that the very premise of the story is such that explaining it in any way will reveal certain plot details.

I heard a short summary of the set-up for The Martian in late 2013, and it went a little something like this:

• A NASA astronaut is assumed dead after an accident on a mission to Mars, but is in fact alive
• The remaining crew are forced to abandon the landing site and depart to Earth without him
• Finding himself alone, he has no way to communicate with home and quickly discovers he has insufficient food to last until the next planned mission to Mars
• NASA subsequently discover the once-mourned Mark Whatney didn’t perish in the accident
• The story centres on Whatney’s journey to survive largely by his own wits, and NASA’s concurrent efforts to mount a dangerous rescue attempt.
• Much of The Martian consists of excerpts from Whatney’s periodic log entries

From the opening pages, it is clear this is a hard science-fiction book that is depicting a very realistic account of what manned exploration of Mars would entail. Author Andy Weir has a background in computer science and is a spaceflight enthusiast; he apparently did extensive research on physics, orbital mechanics and other technical disciplines in order that the story be as scientifically accurate as possible. The effort pays off, and speaking as a reader who tends to prefer non-fiction, the challenges presented in The Martian feel plausible: you’ll believe that it could really happen. While the passage of time during Mark Whatney’s plight is recorded, the mission is not dated (I think, deliberately) in a specific year. Combined with the use of technology that seems, to the non-expert ear, of current day design, it feels as though this is a tale that could take place in the very near future.

So close, yet soooo far.

With any novel, such as Robinson Crusoe, or movie, such as Castaway, wherein the action is going to focus primarily on a single protagonist for long stretches, it helps when you have a central character that is likeable, interesting and enjoyable to spend time with. While The Martian’s commitment to presenting space science in a genuine way is worthy of high praise, its greatest strength is undoubtedly in its hero: botanist and engineer, Mark Whatney. His intelligence is apparent right away, and hardly surprising, given even fictional astronauts must be remarkably talented to qualify for their jobs. Over the course of the novel, however, it is Whatney’s humour, resourcefulness and willpower that impress the most. Even after overcoming the initial obstacles to survival he is faced with, Whatney is under no illusions as to how poor his chances of getting home are. Nonetheless, he forges on, armed with sarcasm, a highly organized mind, and a steady, succeed or die trying attitude. This is a man you’ll want to cheer for, right to the end.

The author naturally seems to have injected some of his personal enthusiasm for science, engineering et cetera both into Whatney, and the course of the plot. You can almost sense the enjoyment he must have had in coming up with ways for particular malfunctions or mishaps to unfold in the most mathematically sound way, and how the hero would overcome them. Along with an assortment of nifty NASA gear, Whatney has a brain with a knack for problem solving – lucky for him, as getting off Mars in one piece will present him with an overwhelming list of problems.

It would be impossible to say much more in detail about The Martian without ruining the book further, so I’ll finish by giving it a strong, unreserved recommendation. You will not need to be a science fiction fan to enjoy this novel – it is as much a tale about perseverance and man vs. nature as it is about space and rockets, and the main character’s personality elevates it to a terrific page-turner.

Turning our attention to the upcoming film…well let’s say I was not at all shocked to hear a movie version was in the works. The book did very well and that predictably attracts the attention of Hollywood. Setting aside the challenge of depicting a convincing Martian environment for the action, which has already been adequately accomplished in past films like Red Planet (2000) and Mission to Mars (also from 2000), I predict the story will make for an easy translation to the silver screen. Teasers indicate there may be flashbacks or sequences of the mission and its crew prior to leaving Earth, which would set it apart from the novel somewhat. It is possible that this is simply trailer fodder, or future DVD extra goodies – I personally wouldn’t object too much to a minor shift in the starting point, provided the real action happens relatively early on.

An eagerly anticipated film adaptation.

The full trailer released some months ago now, is worth particular mention at this stage. I’m not saying anything controversial when I state that blockbuster films these days have a very bad habit of being proceeded by trailers that reveal far too much of the story. While The Martian won’t contain any mind-bending twists on the level of The Sixth Sense, I was greatly disappointed to see two important plot points brought up in the trailer that will spoil major developments. The trailer would have been in no way diminished by leaving these items out, and the viewer will now see some of what will happen coming in the second half of the film from light-years away as a result. If you haven’t watched the trailer by now and you intend to see this movie, don’t do it. Those familiar with the book will be largely immune but I think anyone outside that category deserves a chance to go in fresh.

I enjoy debating casting decisions as much as the next movie goer, and I can assure you I followed news on The Martian closely, and liked much of what I heard. Unfortunately, I would say that to spend much time discussing the merits of each selection would only open up more spoiler opportunities. One exception would be the lead, and as Matt Damon’s face is plastered all over the poster, it isn’t spoiling anything to talk about his role as Mark Whatney. Had this adaptation been made 15 to 20 years ago, undoubtedly Tom Hanks would have got the nod; since he’s played both an astronaut and a castaway in his career I’m sure he’d have handled it with aplomb. You need a likeable, funny Mark Whatney and Hanks has both traits in spades. In 2015 however, I think Damon was the obvious choice and one I approve of. This is the sort of film that benefits from star power, and Damon’s ability to handle humour (subtle or profane) and play the role of someone who’s both willful and brilliant makes him a perfect fit.

I’m looking forward to The Martian’s upcoming release and I highly suggest you try the source material, before or after. I’ll also be interested to see a sophomore effort from Andy Weir down the line, which could perhaps mean another book review in my future.