Artemis by Andy Weir
Reviewed by: Jonathan Richardson, Reference Assistant
Genre: Science Fiction
Suggested Age: Adults, Teens
What is the book about?: In the near-future, humans have colonized the moon and turned the city of Artemis into a booming tourist attraction. Jasmine “Jazz” Bashara is one of the city’s permanent residents, scraping by after a few poor life choices. Jazz works as a courier, making deliveries throughout the city, not all of them exactly “legal.” Her reputation as the best smuggler on the moon leads to her being approached by a wealthy businessman with a fiendish plan, and the promise of a huge payout that would mean the end of her troubles. Of course, things never work out as planned…
My Review: Andy Weir’s first novel, The Martian, was a huge success, so there was a lot of excitement for Artemis long before it was released. The two books are similar: both books incorporate large amounts of scientific facts and current technologies to create a realistic and believable sci-fi story, both books focus mainly on a single, relatable character and their point-of-view, and both books throw a never-ending series of seemingly over-the-top complications in the protagonist’s path. However, I don’t think this book lived up to the hype surrounding it. There are a few instances where the plot is a tad generic (even if it *is* on the moon) or that you wish the characters were maybe a bit more complex. That said, it is still a good read. Weir does a great job of presenting how a lunar base would be designed, how its systems would function, and how its inhabitants would live. There are also plenty of moments where Jazz channels her inner MacGyver to get out of a sticky situation.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Nerdy, Fan-Fiction, Heist
Give This a Try if You Like… The Expanse (SyFy Television Series), Moon (2009 Movie), Michael Crichton novels, 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
Rating: 3.5/5
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About FDL Reads
Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!