NP: The Martian

[Peter M. Fitzpatrick]

I tried to read the book when it first came out and could only get about
3/4 through. All first person and not too thrilling a first person it is,
being heavily weighted with Martian Survival Tactics 101 info-dumping
pretty much throughout. I just couldn't discern a good plot progression or
payoff beyond rescue blip end coming, so I moved on. I might watch the film
on DVD, just to see how they tackled the boredom factor, which the book
overwhelmed me with. (I do like science fiction).

On Mon, Nov 2, 2015 at 7:04 AM, David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com> wrote:

> A really good film in a somewhat similar vein is "All is Lost."  Robert
> Redford in a completely solo performance. If you haven't seen it, do.
>
> David Morris
>
>
> On Monday, November 2, 2015, John Bailey <sundayjb at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I heard a review that described it as 'competence porn' and I kind of
>> agree. It has no subplot, no subtext, almost no characterisation, the
>> plot never moves beyond the first act, but it certainly delivers on
>> the person-doing-their-job promise. Which seems to have proven
>> incredibly satisfying for a lot of viewers and most critics.
>>
>> While I was watching it I was wondering if it's Scott's reply to the
>> many, many haters of Prometheus. That film has absolutely no legs on
>> the literal level but operates wonderfully if you want to dig into the
>> symbolism of its cosmic body horror. The Martian is entirely literal
>> and gives you nothing more. In my opinion. It's good that it's only
>> one among several.
>>
>> On Mon, Nov 2, 2015 at 2:46 PM, Charles Albert <cfalbert at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> > Can anyone explain why Ridley Scott didn't pull an Allen Smithee on
>> this bit
>> > of dreck?
>> >
>> > love,
>> > cfa
>> -
>> Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l
>>
>
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