Artemis

When I review books I do not reiterate what I read. I do not pick it apart to where there is nothing left for the would be reader to discover for themselves. I like to let the potential reader know if I liked it overall with a few extra details. So no worry on spoilers. I'll keep my thoughts on it as short as possible. I'll start by saying that I enjoyed The Martian for the humor and technical aspects of the science portrayed. The details brought me to an unfamiliar landscape with a situation I will likely never be in. I was entertained, it flowed smoothly, and it made me appreciate this writers style. Having said that, I bought Artemis without knowing anything about it other than who had written it. I did not know what to expect. When I began reading it, I could tell I was in for fun ride, so to speak. What a cool story, with interesting, fun characters. Once again science and an unfamiliar landscape drew me in, yet with situations just familiar enough to be able to relate. I could visualize the surroundings, I felt like I knew the characters, I was curious as to how the situation/s would resolve given that the norms of Artemis are wildly different than what we know of Earth. I just enjoyed the heck out of it. Furthermore, what I found is that I didn't want the story to end. Situations can resolve, but I want to be able to continue to observe the life of these people. There is so much story just given the setting. I would love to see more of these characters and more story to be told of this way of life. There is a lot of rich material to work from, and would absolutely be a wonderful way to delve deeper into all of it. I really hope this isn't a once and done story line/story setting. It was a gem of a read. Nicely done!

As many have noted, I loved The Martian. So I was prepared to like Artemis. Unlike some others, I was not disappointed. Reviews such as "pretty standard suspense yarn" could have easily been written for The Martian as "pretty standard survival yarn." I would disagree on both counts.

I was very pleased with the detailed background Weir created for the Artemis installation, both from an engineering aspect and from the economic point of view. People love to describe fully developed lunar and space colonies in their works, never bothering to deal with whether or not they could ever have been built within realistic economic models. As Weir notes in an afterward, he put a lot of thought into how such a city could be built from the economics standpoint. Made the whole thing drip with a realistic background.

I also believe this work hangs together so well from the storytelling angle that it will make an excellent feature film. I don't think Weir did this deliberately, since The Martian also had this structure and feel. It's just that all of us who grew up on media like TV and movies tend to structure stories in our heads in TV/movie formats. This shows in this tale.

As for the viewpoint character being female, I agree that this was not a story about gender issues, it was a story about how economics can create impetus for organized crime takeovers and murders. It deals with the real way in which cities get built, doesn't skip past them with energetic arm-waving that ought not be needed, when the economics of such things are pretty well known. So, yeah, the gender of the POV character was simply not important to the story. I like to read about a future where that's the case -- that it doesn't matter if you're male or female, gay or straight, you're still a human being with problems to solve and issues to address. A good story about the future, in my opinion, ought to be more gender-neutral. Weird uses Jazz's gender in totally logical ways, and her inner narrative voice isn't degraded by thinking of gender issues first and the story second, again as is the case in too many works trying to "make a point."

Overall, it held my interest and I greatly enjoyed it. If I had one criticism -- and this would be of Weir and not the book -- it would be that he doesn't seem to know how to write a POV character who isn't the world's biggest smart-ass. Maybe he doesn't have to, that may be his niche in the literary world. But the only repetitive thing I noted here was the level of smart-ass that Mark Watney and Jazz Bashara share. In fact, in the author interview portion of the afterward, when asked what would happen if Watney and Bashara met, Weir says they would have a contest to see which was the biggest smart-ass. I'd love to read that...

Artemis is not a sequel to The Martian. I love the book but it is a totally different story. That is what I expected. I did not expect a Martian “themed” new story. I expected Andy Weir to tell a new, different science fiction story based in the near future and based, as much as possible, on real technology and science. Something not yet developed in 2018 should be a technology that is in the realm of believable possibility, like ZAFO.

This story is about survival but it is not a survival novel. It is sort of a crime thriller set on the moon in the not too distant future. Our protagonist, Jazz, is a young Saudi woman who struggles to make ends meet and supplements her income by smuggling. She is full of piss and vinegar, fiercely ambitious, extraordinarily intelligent and occasionally makes poor life choices. Just a blast to hang out with.

Artemis is a city of about 2000 located in the Sea of Tranquility. Tranquility Base, the Eagle’s Decent stage and the bits left over from that first landing on the moon have become a huge tourist draw. Specially trained EVA masters take the tourists out to experience a walk on the moon and to have a close-up experience of it all. It is a well-paid job and that is what Jazz wants to become, an EVA master. She is constantly hustling to improve her circumstances. Then she is presented with an offer she cannot refuse. It involves criminal activity at a much higher level than she is used to but the money it just too good to walk away from. It will require skill, deception and a lot of high level intellectual activity.

As Jazz works hard to pull-off this caper and earn her money she discovers a startling truth. She discovers that the life she has come to know and love on the moon is threatened. It could all radically change. Powerful sinister forces are at work and now Jazz must put all of her talent to work. She is not alone. Jazz has convinced a small group of fellow Artemisians to help save their lunar city. Now it is no longer about the money but if she and her fellow conspirators succeed the money is still there.

Andy Weir has created a wonderful character in Jazz and placed her in a gripping and interesting tale. Even though there are some holes in the plot I found them to be minor enough to easily overlook. With a novel my measurement of reading enjoyment is based on how long I will stay distracted with the story. This story is one of those I could have happily stay wrapped-up in for the duration had life and responsibility not intervened.

It is wonderful to find out that a screen writer has been chosen for the film adaptation. Should make a great movie.

I haven't yet read other Andy Weir books, though most of my friends have - and so will I now that I've read Artemis. It's easy to get into the character, especially since she's quirky and smart. It's a believable viewpoint of a young adult growing up where they live, this case the moon. I'd recommend this even if you've read his others and didn't like them. It's unique, not too deep, good science, believable characters.

The Martian was my favorite book in 2016, and I was also a fan of the movie when I saw it in 2017. When I heard that Andy Weir was releasing a new book I was stoked and waited eagerly for its release. In November of last year, Artemis hit the shelves. The blurb revealed that it was another book set in space, but this time on the Moon. Wow. I couldn't wait to get a copy and delve back into Weir's universe.

As with The Martian, the book does contain a lot of the author's trademark detail (ie. technical explanations etc), which I think is an asset in adding authenticity to the plot. It shows that the content is well researched and that what is happening is scientifically and technically possible. Artemis is a settlement on the moon, which comprises of a number of domes (named after famous astronauts) where a sizeable population of 2000 people live.

Aside from the local mining industry, part of its economy is fed by tourism, where people wealthy enough come from Earth to visit the Moon for a vacation. Besides the obvious attraction of being on the Moon, the other main tourist spot is the site of the lunar landing. It reminded me of the mock-up that I went to at NASA in Florida, but instead of sitting in a theatre with a replica lander and special effects, the space tourists are at the real site looking through a thick glass wall at the actual landing module and astronaut footprints.

The main character, Jazz, is a young woman who is making her humble living as a courier/ deliverer/ small-time smuggler. Although she seemed nice enough, I don't think I really got onboard with her. Maybe it's just me, but I think it's easier to connect with someone who is on the side of good, rather than someone who is on the side that we normally oppose. That said, we do love Han Solo, and he was a smuggler!

I found the first half of the book very slow. I realize that it was all about setting up for the second half, but I didn't find it that engaging. Perhaps I was expecting too much, given how much I liked The Martian. I think that my memories of Weir's first book kept me going to see where it was all leading. Jazz is a strong woman, driven mainly by her need for cash and a want to improve her life. Maybe it was her self-focus that failed to click with me. In the first half of the book she makes some questionable decisions that definitely make her some enemies, and as such, it sets up for the ensuing plot line.

Once we moved into the second half things got much better. The plot was thickening, the pace quickened, thrilling arrived, and there was a lot more happening. In order to move forward and try to fix things, Jazz needed to dig deep and find unique ways to deal with the situation she was in. This was reminiscent of what I liked about The Martian - making the most of what you have to keep going.

Without giving too much away, there was a section of the plot in the second half that I thought would have been a much more exciting area to focus on and expand, instead of the amount of time allocated to the first half. I hope that makes sense. In my opinion, it would have made for a more exciting and thrilling story.

In a Nutshell - Artemis is a good book, which gets better as you read more. If you find yourself lagging during the first half, hang in there and keep reading. Although it's not as good as The Martian, it should keep sci-fi fans entertained.

Taught and engaging thriller set in an intriguing, demanding environment. Fun, fast read and a well-worked-out caper threaded through the technical constraints of its lunar setting. Another Weir home run.

The excitement of Andy Weir's brilliant "The Martian" was the grinding technical challenges its protagonist had to meet, and his ingenuity in doing so. The plot was essentially nothing more than an extended series of DIY plans under conditions that seemed impossible. "Artemis" highlights the same technical mastery but works it into a more traditional story-line - essentially a heist caper set in the underworld of cutthroat corporate competition in the unusual setting of the essentially piratical economy inside the air domes of the first-ever lunar colony. This gives the book more of a sense of narrative flow, but also de-centers the technical material that so fascinated many of Weir's fans in the first book. Although this book works very well in melding its multiple avenues of background knowledge - technical, economic, cultural, and personal - they serve to dilute one another so that the detailed exegesis of welding in lunar vacuum is intercut with the dynamics of clan- and guild-based feudal economies, complicated by the intergenerational religious and personal politics of the protagonist's family, the developmental economy of a frontier outpost with no atmosphere, the chemistry and physics of smelting lunar ore, the protagonist's relationship with her ex-boyfriend's new boyfriend, the running of a smuggling operation between planets, and finally the basic plot of corporate sabotage. Readers who find one of these storylines more interesting than the others will find that 80% of the book is about extraneous issues. Neal Stephenson pulls this kind of complicated didactic narrative off with aplomb; Weir is a worthy runner-up, but this book doesn't have the heft of, say, "The Baroque Cycle" (which it very slightly resembles), or the light-hearted drive of "The Martian". The early-stage libertarian economy of the colony resembles that of Heinlein's "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress," but is worked out with much greater economic sophistication. The technical detail is fascinating and carefully considered (do you know how to light a welding torch in outer space? - read this to learn!). The unforgiving physicality of living in such a searing environment pervades every page (how do you control a fire, or an air leak, on the moon? - in both cases, by sacrificing however happens to be inside the closest airlock). Though I think it is less gripping than Weir's previous work, "Artemis" is a fun and exciting read, and the protagonist is a brilliant character with a sassy personality not unlike that of the main character of "The Martian".

As to the actual plot: "Jazz" (Jasmine) is a menial laborer in Artemis, the first and only lunar colony. She works as a porter, hand-delivering packages between the handful of pressure domes that make up the city; this also gives her access to the cargo delivery shuttles, which she uses to operate a small side-business in smuggling. She is widely recognized as exceptionally smart and resourceful, but chooses to isolate herself and refuses any assistance from her father, a successful welding-business operator. She is approached by a wealthy resident with an offer of riches in exchange for helping him to acquire the ore-processing concession from the one major corporation in the city. How she goes about it, what the consequences are, exactly what technical processes are required at each stage of the complicated plot, and how she, and the city, came to be what they are, are gradually unfolded. In the end, Jazz is nearly dead and nearly broke, but has an exciting future ahead of her. It will be interesting to meet her again.

The book was an enjoyable hard science romp. It was too short for me to spend a rainy Saturday living with one of Mr. Weir’s (normally) fully developed characters. The hero here is not terribly likable, and something about the inner monologue felt rushed, as if details were skipped, which caused me to be less invested in the outcome than in his other fabulous novels.

Do be sure to read the afterward: A Conversation with Andy Weir. It provided a lot of the science I was hoping to find in the story. I get it, people don’t normally discuss basic facts with themselves, like the cost to ship a human to translunar orbit, and it would have dragged the book down. I’m not sure how Mr. Weir managed to do that in the other books but I sure enjoy those worlds.

I’m a big fan of Andy Weir. Loved The Martian and in my opinion Hail Mary was even better. When I got around to reading Artemis I had reservations after reading the blurbs on it but it turned out to be entertaining. Not as good as Martian and Mary but well worth my time. Andy may have went a little heavier on the colorful language than necessary but still ok.

I really wanted to like this book. I read the opening sample given here, and was intrigued enough to buy the book. I bought it from one of the "used book store" listings here, and I'm glad I bought the book this way. If I'd paid full price, at the end of the story, I'd think I overpaid for what I'd just read.

The Martian set a very high standard for Andy Weir. Or, it's a tough act to follow. Artemis doesn't get close to matching The Martian. Period.

There is the "science drives the plot" element seen in The Martian. In Artemis, I think it becomes a case where some piece of technology, or some science fact, suggests where the plot should go, not the plot wants to go in some direction, and there's scientific information to support that choice.

One piece of science connected to basic description of Artemis completely baffles me. The atmosphere there is low pressure oxygen. This in spite of welding, sparking, illicit smoking going on. IIRC the Apollo 1 catastrophe began with a spark in a low pressure, oxygen rich atmosphere. What part of the explanation of Artemis' atmosphere did I sleep through?

Economics plays a significant part of the later part of the story. (no spoiler here -->) At one point, Artemis, the lunar city/colony, is described as a giant Ponzi scheme. It took some thought to work out the reasoning behind that statement (although, once understood, it makes sense). If a "Ponzi scheme" sounds like something from Happy Days, parts of the story will probably be hard sledding.

Andy Weir set himself a significant challenge in writing the story from a female point of view. Having a personal "work in progress" that started with "let me see if I can write a story from a female point of view", I have some sense of how challenging that is for a male writer.

The few people, my wife included, who read pieces of the novel, said, "You? Write as a female? Hah! Never going to happen!". I never got back a "no woman would ever do that", or "yeah, that makes sense". I wonder what input Andy Weir got from the women he listed. OK, enough about that.

The start of the story, looked good in the excerpt, turned into "get on with it, do something that matters!". The story wanders around, trying to lay out a foundation for the ending, but doesn't move the story in the process. Most of the story is that way. Elements move in one direction, then move in another direction, and in yet another direction, while the overall story takes too much time to advance.

Usually, when I start a book that's caught my attention, I tend to binge on the book. At one point I set Artemis down, and didn't feel a need to immediately pick it up again. Not a good sign...

I like The Martian. Project Hail Mary (released after Artemis) got four stars (see my review there). Artemis lags far behind the two other books.

Overall, would I recommend this book to someone interested in science fiction with a strong amount of science fact? I guess so.

SPOILER ALERT!!! SPOILER ALERT!!! SPOILER ALERT!!! SPOILER ALERT!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!

Jazz... I'd like to like her, but there's far too much "smartass" to really warm up to. There are some points, notably with her father, that do move Jazz towards being relatable. Her behavior with Dale and Svoboda (read the book to know who they are) is far too "smartass".

The interactions with Rudy (Artemis' constable) don't hold together - if this is so, than that must follow, but instead the interaction, again, wanders around. Why does Administrator Ngugi often refer to Jazz as "dear". It's like a king or queen calling a subject "pal" or "dear". It doesn't hold together.

Why, why, why does Svoboda invent a technological condom(!)? Does it save the day for Artemis? No. Is it a running joke? Vaguely. It's... "why are we spending time on this?".

"Lefty", the mob hitman, essentially materializes, with no back-story filling in "how did he get here in the first place".

The handling of the story about Jazz and Kelvin is... each message exchange just doesn't fit into how the story's running. At the end of the book, the Jazz/Kelvin messages, and the main story line meet, but it takes a long time to get there. The basic plot line of Jazz and Kelvin is, in some regards, handled better than the main plot line.

A plot point that had my "Oh, really, c'mon, that doesn't make sense" alarm ringing is Trond's giving Jazz the job of destroying four autonomous ore harvesters. The "why" sort of makes sense, maybe, the "who" and "how"? Doesn't make sense or lacks plausibility. A) this plot element is too early in the story, B) it's far too "our plucky 'smartass' gal is going to take a walk across the moon to blow the harvesters up with some clever science factoids". The story unravels from there. The story does get pulled back together, mostly, later. The "Jazz blows up stuff" doesn't really work.

One last point that bugs me. Through an unfortunate set of events and circumstances, far too "deus ex machina", Artemis' atmosphere is contaminated with chloroform. Of course there are only X minutes to save Artemis. After "The Nap", it's reported that nobody died, and there were only a few cardiac cases, all now OK, but need watching. Really???

H U G E S P O I L E R ! !

Points to Jazz for Taking A Bullet for Artemis. Why am I not surprised that Science saves her, even though she was, for three minutes, on the moon's surface without a suit. The book's like that.

There's a lot more I could say (I'm told it's one of my better traits NOT), but I think the above supports my conclusion that Artemis is just not a book with a compelling story, and characters worth wanting to know more about. (Exception: Billy the bartender- what's his story? It's probably a good one.)