Discussion
Zoobeef said:
How, when the ship had accelerated towards earth (or just sling shotted round it), did they get the supply ship up to the same speed by just launching?
The speed differential between the two craft would not have to be that great. The Hermes would have been looping around Mars travelling at a speed low enough for it to be pulled in towards the planet and to have its path changed. But it would not be travelling slow enough for it to be captured by Mars' gravity and entering orbit around Mars. The escape velocity for Mars is only 11,200 mph which compares to 25,000 mph for earth. Therefore, any craft taking off from Mars does not need to be anything like as powerful as one lifting off from earth.
I'm now reading the book and enjoying it. However, what it does seem to lack is a little bit of literary grandeur. Even if I was the only man on Mars struggling to stay alive, now and then I would still stop and pause every so often to take in the view and appreciate where I actually am - and gaze in awe.
There is very little of that in the book. In fact, one of the best parts of the film for me was the visual interpretation of what it is like to actually stand on Mars and contemplate the view. The Marscapes were very well done. The book lacks this "big vision".
Andy Weir won't win any literary prizes for his prose writing.
There is very little of that in the book. In fact, one of the best parts of the film for me was the visual interpretation of what it is like to actually stand on Mars and contemplate the view. The Marscapes were very well done. The book lacks this "big vision".
Andy Weir won't win any literary prizes for his prose writing.
Myself and my good lady went to watch this at weekend and both really enjoyed it. Matt Damon plays a great part!
I told my OH that I fancy reading the book, so I came home last night from work and to my surprise she had bought it me. I'm looking forward to getting in to it for a comparison!
I told my OH that I fancy reading the book, so I came home last night from work and to my surprise she had bought it me. I'm looking forward to getting in to it for a comparison!
Eric Mc said:
I'm now reading the book and enjoying it. However, what it does seem to lack is a little bit of literary grandeur. Even if I was the only man on Mars struggling to stay alive, now and then I would still stop and pause every so often to take in the view and appreciate where I actually am - and gaze in awe.
There is very little of that in the book. In fact, one of the best parts of the film for me was the visual interpretation of what it is like to actually stand on Mars and contemplate the view. The Marscapes were very well done. The book lacks this "big vision".
Andy Weir won't win any literary prizes for his prose writing.
having not seen the film yet but read the book I can see how that might play out but he's an experienced astronaut so what might inspire awe in us he sees as a danger to his life and he becomes mission centric, that mission being to survive.There is very little of that in the book. In fact, one of the best parts of the film for me was the visual interpretation of what it is like to actually stand on Mars and contemplate the view. The Marscapes were very well done. The book lacks this "big vision".
Andy Weir won't win any literary prizes for his prose writing.
if he were a space tourist i'd expect more langorous descriptions of mars vistas but i didn't feel it lacked for it imho.
my thoughts would be that Wier just wanted to draw you into his submersive world given that the exploratory nature of the mission had ended - hadn't he been there a while anyway by then? I can't recall. if so I'm sure he would have done all of his sightseeing by the time he tears his suit....
:-)
Nom de ploom said:
having not seen the film yet but read the book I can see how that might play out but he's an experienced astronaut so what might inspire awe in us he sees as a danger to his life and he becomes mission centric, that mission being to survive.
if he were a space tourist i'd expect more langorous descriptions of mars vistas but i didn't feel it lacked for it imho.
my thoughts would be that Wier just wanted to draw you into his submersive world given that the exploratory nature of the mission had ended - hadn't he been there a while anyway by then? I can't recall. if so I'm sure he would have done all of his sightseeing by the time he tears his suit....
:-)
Very few "real" astronauts have been so mission focused that they weren't impressed by what they were doing and where they were. And that says a lot for mission orientated military test pilots - who made up the bulk of the early astronauts. Watney is not only an astronaut, he's also a scientist - and most scientists will observe and comment on their surroundings. In fact, getting Jack Schmitt to stop yakking about what he was looking at was really difficult. if he were a space tourist i'd expect more langorous descriptions of mars vistas but i didn't feel it lacked for it imho.
my thoughts would be that Wier just wanted to draw you into his submersive world given that the exploratory nature of the mission had ended - hadn't he been there a while anyway by then? I can't recall. if so I'm sure he would have done all of his sightseeing by the time he tears his suit....
:-)
I'm only half way through the book so maybe later he might take a bit of time out to look out the window.
I like Watney's sense of humour though.
garyhun said:
Maybe it's watching the film first that makes you think that, Eric.
I read the book a couple of years ago and the book had me engrossed all the way through. I was more concerned, as I'm sure he was, with staying alive than the views
To be honest, maybe you are right. The Mars vistas in the movie are stunning. They are completely absent in the book.I read the book a couple of years ago and the book had me engrossed all the way through. I was more concerned, as I'm sure he was, with staying alive than the views
So far, the movie is ahead of the book in my estimation because of that. Even if Watney ISN'T that impressed with his surroundings, perhaps the author could have described the majesty of the Martian landscape for the readers - as a matter of setting context. I'm still enjoying the book.
I don't usualy "do" sci-fi, but having seen the clip everyone else has seen on TV chat shows in the last few weeks, I went with a mate on Fri (he's a proper sci-fi geek!), and I was surprised how much I enjoyed the film.
"I'm officially the best botanist on this planet!"
...and a pirate.
"I'm officially the best botanist on this planet!"
...and a pirate.
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