October 13, 2017sarahylockwood

Artemis by Andy Weir – November 14, 2017

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Rate: 4.5/5

Medium: Kindle

Of Note: Happy (Belated) Release Day for Artemis! As promised in my initial review of Weir’s highly anticipated novel, below you’ll find my spoiler laden additional insight section that was previously withheld.

Overview (No Spoilers):

It has been quite a long time since I’ve been so absorbed within a book that I was compelled to literarily devour it from cover to cover within twenty four hours. Artemis, chock full of action from page one, will quickly draw the reader in for an out of earth adventure on the moon colony that shares the name of the novel. Weir’s second novel doesn’t disappoint, especially having to follow up the wild success of his debut novel, The Martian. The Martian was my first book every reviewed on The Critiquing Chemist, and I hesitated to link my review because my formatting has evolved so much from day one. It almost makes me want to reread The Martian so I can update the formatting of a book I so thoroughly enjoyed. Regardless, based on my initial love of Weir’s work, I was ecstatic to be sent an ARC copy of his sophomore novel. Taking the place of the memorable Mark Watney is the spunky, funny, equally innovative and intelligent Jasmine Bashara, a.k.a. Jazz, whose foul mouth ranges the full spectrum of cringe worthy to literally causing the reader to laugh out loud. The supporting cast is equally delightful, including a Ukrainian scientist that contains all of the stereotypical tendencies that are associated with that career, and a head of security that dresses like a Mountie with the law enforcement philosophy of a Wild West sheriff. Toward the end of Artemis, I found myself having comparable exasperated feelings as when I read The Martian, with regard to the myriad of disasters our protagonists would find themselves in only to have just the right tool or the right problem solving epiphany in the knick of time. Overall, Artemis was a highly amusing read that will keep readers enthralled throughout as they embark on a harrowing adventure taking place within a city that calls the moon home.

Additional Insight (Spoilers Abound):

I’ve made the decision to postpone publishing my additional insight until the release date. The spoilers are far too juicy! Please see back on November 14th for my spoiler laden thoughts!

Vocabulary Builder:

When reading it is common that I encounter words that I’m not privy to the exact definition, however it is easy to infer the meaning of the aforementioned word based on the context of the sentence and story. As such, relatively new to the Critiquing Chemist, you’ll find an additional section that includes vocabulary words that I encountered upon reading the book being reviewed and either had to look up the definition or it is a word in which I would like to add to my repertoire. This endeavor is easier when in the Kindle format, and potentially impossible with audiobooks, however I’m going to attempt to continue this section for all future book reviews. I’ll be using the definitions from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

Recompense: to give something to by way of compensation (as for a service rendered or damage incurred)

Ambiguity: a word or expression that can be understood in two or more possible ways

Actuation: to put into mechanical action or motion

Collet: a metal band, collar, ferrule, or flange

Exudate: the material composed of serum, fibrin, and white blood cells that escapes from blood vessels into a superficial lesion or area of inflammation

Maelstrom: a powerful often violent whirlpool sucking in objects within a given radius

Conglomerate: made up of parts from various sources or of various kinds

Eddy: a current of water or air running contrary to the main current

Pedantic: narrowly, stodgily, and often ostentatiously learned

Sintered: to cause to become a coherent mass by heating without melting

Aplomb: complete and confident composure or self-assurance

Attenuation: to lessen the amount, force, magnitude, or value of

Machiavellian: suggesting the principles of conduct laid down by Machiavelli; specifically :marked by cunning, duplicity, or bad faith

Collate: to collect, compare carefully in order to verify, and often to integrate or arrange in order

Reprobate: to condemn strongly as unworthy, unacceptable, or evil

Caper: an illegal or questionable act or escapade

Capacitance: the property of an electric nonconductor that permits the storage of energy as a result of the separation of charge that occurs when opposite surfaces of the nonconductor are maintained at a difference of potential

Grommet: an eyelet of firm material to strengthen or protect an opening or to insulate or protect something passed through it

Pneumatic: moved or worked by air pressure

Provisional: serving for the time being

Convoluted: involved, intricate

Occlude: to close up or block off

Askance: with disapproval or distrust

Docent: a person who leads guided tours especially through a museum or art gallery

Ergonomic: an applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely

Ilmenite: a usually massive iron-black mineral that consists of an oxide of iron and titanium and that is a major titanium ore

Olivine: a usually greenish mineral that is a complex silicate of magnesium and iron used especially in refractories

Moor: to make fast with or as if with cables, lines, or anchors

Anorthite: a white, grayish, or reddish feldspar occurring in many igneous rocks

Monopropellant: a rocket propellant containing both the fuel and the oxidizer in a single substance

Borscht: a soup made primarily of beets and served hot or cold often with sour cream

Credenza: a sideboard, buffet, or bookcase patterned after a Renaissance credence

Regolith: unconsolidated residual or transported material that overlies the solid rock on the earth, moon, or a planet

 

35 comments

  3. Glad to see Weir’s career taking off, since although I haven’t yet read The Martian, I can vividly remember being completely head-over-heels in love with his short story, “The Egg.” (Man…time flies). It seems like I’m running out of excuses to continue putting The Martian – and now this book – off.

    I’d also like to thank you for your vocabulary sections. I have a word doc full of fancy words I come across while reading, and thanks in part to you it’s almost 400 items long.

    And finally, the real question is: how high is the Hollywood bidding war gonna get?

    Thanks for the review! c:

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    • Thank you Mr. Sax!

      You should definitely read The Martian! It is one of my favorite books! Wonderfully done.

      I haven’t read any of his short stories. I really should look them up! And I agree! This book will definitely be made into a movie.

      I’m so happy you enjoy my vocab list. I enjoy picking them out, although it is almost impossible with audiobooks!

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  7. I appreciate the spoiler-free review because I totally would have read the spoilers – sometimes I just can’t help it. Have you read Hidden Figures yet? The adult version had quite a lot of new-to-me vocabulary. I also like the free rice game – on the higher levels, the specialized jargon is pretty challenging!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thanks! I couldn’t decide on posting spoilers or not but I didn’t want to ruin it for anyone!

      I loved Hidden Figures however I read it through audiobook which is really difficult for me to make vocab lists from.

      Thanks for recommending the Rice Game! I can’t wait to play it more! I’m already hooked!

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  11. At first, I thought I had misread the date, that it was 14 October, and I was nearly half-way to the bookshop when I realised …..
    I don’t do audiobooks (they’re too slow for me) but I enjoyed The Martian so much that I’ll definitely buy this one in hard copy.

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