Humor In Andy Weir's The Martian

Andy Weir, a well known sci-fi author, once said, “A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow” (“Andy Weir Quotes” Brainy). Andy Weir is the author of The Martian, a hugely successful book about an astronaut called Mark Watney. In the book, Watney is left on Mars by his fellow crewmates who believe he is dead. The Martian describes what it would be like to survive on a desolate planet, but still somehow makes it interesting. The interest in The Martian is sometimes found in the author himself, but it is also widely found in the relatable humor and dramatic imagery both of which help the book seem more realistic.
The author, Andy Weir, had a many great opportunities in where he grew up, including a possible NASA Center. Weir was
Humor in The Martian is apparent often, either when something bad or funny happens, such as in the beginning of the book when Mark has first been left on Mars: Mark Watney says, “I [Mark Watney] wonder how the Cubs are doing” (Weir 13). This quote is talking about how lonely Mark is without any human contact, but he still makes something comedic out of it by mentioning a sports team. Another example of the good humor in The Martian is when Mark is feeling ready to start exploring Mars: Watney sets the scene with, “The time has come (ominous musical crescendo) for some missions!” (Weir 71). This quote is poking fun at the idea of movies and shows that make missions sound so dramatic, which adds an element of humor to an otherwise serious matter. Overall, humor in The Martian occurs quite often in the book, and is an important part of what makes the book
When Mark is just waking up after he has been left on Mars, he is trying to fix his newly damaged suit: “I got the breach kit. It’s nothing more than a funnel with a valve at the small end and an unbelievably sticky resin on the wide end” (Weir 6). This descriptive scene is describing what Mark is using to repair the hole made in his suit. Imagery is also used when Mark is describing the suits used to explore Mars: This line describing the different types of suits says, “Each crew member had two space suits: a flight spacesuit … and the much bulkier and more robust EVA suit to wear when doing surface operations” (Weir 8). The EVA (extravehicular activity) suit is being described as large and almost impossible to use without being uncomfortable, which sets the scene for what happens next. Overall, the descriptive imagery in The Martian is a huge part of its wonder, and many readers will, and should, value