Casey and Andy
I first saw Andy Weir drawing and starring in the webcomic Casey and Andy. An appropriate sample strip is: http://www.galactanet.com/comic/view.php?strip=278
The Good
Proper science fiction. Manned missions to Mars exist, with 6 astronauts spending most of a year going there, a couple of months on the surface, and coming back, with tech level comparable to what we have now.
On the third mission, a dust hurricane forces an abort after six days, and the protagonist suffers an accident and the crew assume him dead and leave. He recovers, and tries to see if he can survive until the next mission, or find a way of contacting earth.
It's full of detail, about kilograms of this gas and that gas needed, and if it's possible to grow crops, and what it takes to extend the life of the habitat from two months to two years.
But is rarely dry. I couldn't put it down from when I picked it up until I finished it. There's a very realistic trajectory of progress and set-backs that feel genuine and kept me hooked wanting to know what was going to happen.
The Bad
Oh my gosh, the protagonist goes on about how he's a nerd and can't easily get women even though he's an astronaut, etc, etc. It's not necessarily unrealistic, but I'm sick of reading about that.
I don't know if all the details are accurate or not. They're the *sort* of thing that are accurate, the sort of things you'd have to think about and the sort of things that would go wrong with equipment which is incredibly well engineered, but can be safely extended for different amounts beyond its designated lifespan. But a few details bothered me, I don't know if it's actually realistic for Mars or not.
The nitpicks
( Read more... )
I first saw Andy Weir drawing and starring in the webcomic Casey and Andy. An appropriate sample strip is: http://www.galactanet.com/comic/view.php?strip=278
The Good
Proper science fiction. Manned missions to Mars exist, with 6 astronauts spending most of a year going there, a couple of months on the surface, and coming back, with tech level comparable to what we have now.
On the third mission, a dust hurricane forces an abort after six days, and the protagonist suffers an accident and the crew assume him dead and leave. He recovers, and tries to see if he can survive until the next mission, or find a way of contacting earth.
It's full of detail, about kilograms of this gas and that gas needed, and if it's possible to grow crops, and what it takes to extend the life of the habitat from two months to two years.
But is rarely dry. I couldn't put it down from when I picked it up until I finished it. There's a very realistic trajectory of progress and set-backs that feel genuine and kept me hooked wanting to know what was going to happen.
The Bad
Oh my gosh, the protagonist goes on about how he's a nerd and can't easily get women even though he's an astronaut, etc, etc. It's not necessarily unrealistic, but I'm sick of reading about that.
I don't know if all the details are accurate or not. They're the *sort* of thing that are accurate, the sort of things you'd have to think about and the sort of things that would go wrong with equipment which is incredibly well engineered, but can be safely extended for different amounts beyond its designated lifespan. But a few details bothered me, I don't know if it's actually realistic for Mars or not.
The nitpicks
( Read more... )