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comment by OftenBen

Listened to Artemis by Andy Weir.

Wanted to really enjoy it and found myself rather disappointed.

I have high standards for this kind of fiction it seems. Without spoiling too much, the plot simply isn't believable for me.

The idea that someone living in an arcology on the moon would casually jeopardize the lives of everyone in it for a payday seems unbelievable to me, but then, I have high standards for colonists-to-be, and Weir's protagonist is distinctly lower-class, approximating that of a serf in feudal times.





johnnyFive  ·  2534 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I haven't read that one, but I know The AV Club's review was pretty dang harsh.

OftenBen  ·  2534 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Weir is capable of a lot more.

This book feels like pandering. Definitely not written for the same crowd as The Martian or The Egg.

johnnyFive  ·  2534 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I can believe it. It's got to be terrifying to hit it big the first time around, and I can imagine the temptation to try to make lightning strike twice must be overwhelming.

OftenBen  ·  2534 days ago  ·  link  ·  

It must be.

Which is why the reaction is to produce pablum I suppose.

I also need to stop holding every book about the moon to the standard of The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.