Book Review: The Martian

Ilustration by Matt Taylor

I am a self-proclaimed science geek, and I am not ashamed of it. I have lived and breathed science since first grade, well until the year that I finally ditched the prospect of studying medicine in exchange of pursuing the road to my first love - aviation (well, it's still science, right?).

I started reading sci-fi novels at a young age of nine, starting with Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park. Since then, read most of his sci-fi novels. Timeline, State of Fear, Next, and Airframe were my four ultimate favorites. Until his untimely death in 2008, I thought that no sci-fi novels will ever surpass his works. Until James Rollins came. To be fair, both were good and they have different styles in presenting science to their novels.

Prey (Michael Crichton): Book Review

Prey is one of Michael Crichton’s techno-thriller novels. It tells the story about Jack Forman, a father of three, jobless and the lovely husband of Julia Forman, who embarks on a quest to solve the series of mishaps of the latest scientific innovation of nanotechnology. The novel was indeed compelling, the plot was delivered in a straightforward manner and the facts were presented evidently.


We all lived in a cynical world and reading this novel makes you realize that a small mistake would lead into a catastrophic disaster. Small things, like the programmed nanoparticles can coalesce with each other and wreak unimaginable havoc to humans. It’s an eye opener for us, and gives us an opportunity to take a peek on to the possible drawbacks of science and technology.


I think Biology, Computer Science and Biotechnology majors could relate or even love this novel. Imagine the intricate courses like Biology, Computer Science and Genetic Engineering in just one book.




A great book, kudos to the late Michael Crichton.


One of my favorite authors (I love Robert Ludlum too!). Sigh.

After Dark - Haruki Murakami

After Dark is Haruki Murakami's much celebrated novel of the world. The story is broken down in small chapters of varying length. An added element of interest—and perhaps a post-modern reference—is the fact that the book has a 'real-time' timeline, beginning at the early hours of the night.



The book is truly an ensemble piece. Alienation, a recurring motif in the works of Murakami, is the central theme in this novel set in metropolitan Tokyo (though this is not explicitly stated) over the course of one night. Main characters include Mari, a 19-year-old student, who is spending the night reading in a Denny's. There she meets Takahashi, a trombone-playing student who loves Curtis Fuller's "Five Spot After Dark" song on Blues-ette; Takahashi knows Mari's sister Eri and insists that the group of them have hung out before. Meanwhile, Eri is being watched in her sleep by someone sinister. Eri also suffers from social withdrawal, a condition often referred to as hikikomori.

Mari crosses ways with a retired female wrestler, now working as a manager in a love hotel (whom Takahashi knows and referred to Mari), a Chinese prostitute who has been beaten and stripped of everything in this same love hotel, and a sadistic computer expert.

The story takes place in a world between reality and dream.

While reading the book, I thought some of the chapters didn't make sense. But no. As you go deeper with this book, you will sense something unusual - a feeling of surrealism, realizations and enlightenment. This is the most "modern" novel that I've ever read. I love the camera view point in some chapters of the book. Also, it presents that the world is a profound place and everything happens simultaneously. Such events don't choose an appropriate time - a spontaneous activity.

The surrealistic approach of this novel prevents me to skip chapters (I rarely do this thing though).

If you're utterly bored, grab this book. I recommend to read every words of this novel. It's only 244 pages and even if you're a slow reader, you'll finish this in less than 48 hours. You'll be immersed with this book once you started flipping from the first place. You'll end up craving for more of Murakami's work.

I want to read After Quake. Salamat Joie.