Suspense In Mark Watney's Survival By Andy Weir

Mark Watney is an astronaut who was abandoned by his crew on Mars.

He was on a mission for NASA to collect samples of things and to test them out. The problem is that after a big dust storm, the leader radioes everyone, and Mark Watney is the only one who does not respond. The crew automatically thinks he is dead, something normal people would most likely do. Andy Weir, an award-winning author, weaves humor and suspense into this climatic story.

Andy Weir had an interesting young life. He was born June 16, 1972 (Miscellaneous Crew). Weir was first hired as a programmer for a national laboratory at age fifteen (“Menu” Andy Weir). His hobbies include relative physics, orbital mechanics, and researching the history of manned spaceflight (“Menu”

The author uses a great technique as he weaves suspenseful moments into The Martian. “‘Yes, he’s alive,’ Teddy [A worker at NASA] said. ‘But if my math is right, he’s doomed to starve to death before we can possibly help him. I’m not looking forward to the conversation.’ ‘Crap,’ Annie [Another worker at NASA]said thoughtfully. (Weir 58). This dialogue has suspense because it lets readers know that NASA does not think that they can get to Mark in time. The next conversation excerpt has more information on what NASA thinks. This can also be classified as humor. “Chuck [A worker at NASA] shrugged. ‘Never occurred to us. We never thought someone would be on Mars without an MAV [Mars Ascent Vehicle].’ ‘I mean, come on!’ Morris [A worker at NASA] said. ‘What are the odds?’ Chuck turned to him. ‘One in three, based on empirical data. That’s pretty bad if you think about it’”(Weir 60). The author does a great job of including suspense at NASA, when the readers know what is going to happen with Watney from his point of view. He also incorporates the humor aspect of it. It is neat how Weir works suspense into this book in both perspectives, both the NASA workers’ perspective, and Mark Watney’s

Weir often uses humor in the circumstances that are completely unnecessary. He tends to use it when Mark is an exceptionally bad situation: “Somewhere in the phone booth-sized airlock, a small breach was letting air escape. He [Mark] listened intently to the hiss, then he touched his broken faceplate. Then he looked out the window again. ‘You kidding me?’” (Weir 157). This makes people picture Mark just standing there inside the airlock, listening until you hear this “You kidding me?” as if he was talking to the airlock itself. The next Conversation is coming from between two workers at NASA. “Mike [Rich’s partner at NASA] sighed. ‘You know what, Rich [Mike’s partner at NASA]? I think now would be an ideal time for you to take a vacation.’ ‘Great!’ Rich smiled. ‘I’ll start right now.’ ...Mike rubbed his eyes. ‘Okay. Whatever. About those satellite orbits…?’ ‘I’m on vacation,’ Rich said without looking up” (Weir 181). Apparently, in this instance, Rich decides not to go home for his vacation. What makes it funny is that as Mike is starting to say something about the satellite orbits. Rich keeps doing whatever he is doing and reminds Mike that he (Rich)is on vacation. The humor in The Martian is the type of humor that will make some people laugh until you cry in some scenes. Weir balances his humor and suspense so that you get a good