Speaking of pronouns, [review for [book:All Systems Red|32758901]]they are just one of many difficulties of acquiring a new language, let alone meetinSpeaking of pronouns, [review for [book:All Systems Red|32758901]]they are just one of many difficulties of acquiring a new language, let alone meeting intelligent aliens. For background: I loved The Martian, strongly disliked Artemis, and loved the short Randomize. Weir is really brilliant at creating a science puzzle and then showing how someone can arrive at a solution, both the thinking it through to a possible answer and the testing of the possible answer. This is not a trivial skill. Trying to explain science to the general public is something only half a dozen people are really good at, as witnessed by all the very bad writing about science there is.
So this is Weir playing to his strengths: we’ve got a smart guy who wakes up all alone in space and who has to figure out everything. Life and death stakes, dad jokes, so many puzzles, so much thinking them through. He’s a flawed guy, and over the course of the novel the reader comes to understand his flaws and respect his strengths and his efforts and want the best for him. So much science! New planets! New catastrophes! Nerds a plenty! New life forms! Things to quibble over for those so inclined. Fun for the whole family that doesn’t feel stupid. Provocative questions for your next awkward cocktail party type conversation.
I'm using this one for Lost in Space because how could I not?
This would have been a library copy, but the wait list at all of them is like three years long, so thank you, Bryon, for the loan! ...more
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