ARTEMIS by Andy Weir ⭐⭐⭐⭐

(Original review written July 9, 2019)

I’ll probably read anything by Weir after The Martian. I stumbled upon it randomly at my local library, and by chance picked it up based off the interesting cover and insert, unaware I was picking up a masterpiece. I’m not sure if I actually finished it before it blew up or if I wanted to think I did, but I loved the feeling of maybe being the first to discover it.

I wanted to wait until the initial hubbub around Artemis died down before diving in, maybe to recreate the feeling that I found something special once I finally started it. And while the beginning was somewhat shaky, it was worth the wait.

The first 100 pages feel like Weir is trying to find his voice through a completely different character to The Martian’s. The humor just didn’t land like it did with Mark Watney, and the brashness of Jazz was laid on a little heavy at the start to create her persona, to the point of near unlike-ability. The one thing that stayed solid was the scientific explanation and Weir’s ability to blend science fiction and reality. This signature blend reels everything in by the halfway point, and it’s smooth sailing from there. Not for Jazz or Artemis, but you get the point.