Artemis: A gripping sci-fi thriller from the author of The Martian

Andy Weir's latest book is a bit different from his previous works in a few major ways. If you're expecting more of the same, you won't get it. What you will get is the science, the engineering, and the humanity. The book is written from the perspective of a snarky, not-altogether-likable female protagonist. There's a bit of "The Martian" in the voice he'd given her, so it sometimes borders on feeling like an attempt to affect the same tone. With the character being quite different, and with the style of story being entirely different, this doesn't always come across as a good fit. With that said, the story itself is interesting enough to grab your attention, and it certainly goes places. Like Weir's other works, it feels shorter than it is. Artemis is a quick read. While the setting is larger than in his other books, it still feels rather confined and limited. This makes the cast of characters small enough to easily track, and the it has the add-on effect of keeping things tight and focused. The protagonist is smart, insightful, and capable - so much so that other characters comment about it fairly often. This can land differently with different readers. Some might see her as a "Mary Sue" - the magic female with no growth, no flaws, and unearned, unexplainable "powers". Others might see her as the type of person who would naturally have a book written about her. I'm leaning towards the latter, as despite her intelligence and skill, she makes plenty of mistakes, she relies on others (including the men in her life), and things rarely (if ever) go exactly as she plans. As far as I'm concerned, the "Mary Sue" argument doesn't hold water. She may be harder to like. She's certainly a criminal. Her cleverness is often overcome by her character flaws, to be true. Even so, I figure most people will find the story, as told through her eyes, to be engaging enough to make the ride worth it. I can't rank this against Weir's previous works, as it's really in a different genre. If you like capers, you'll probably like this. Think "Outland" (the film with Sean Connery) mixed with "To Have and Have Not" (featuring Humphrey Bogart). Maybe add some science-core from Weir's own style, and throw in a modernized, rebellious Elizabeth Bennett for some Jane Austen fans. There are some offhand mentions of sexual notions and odd relationships, but this isn't a romance novel, nor is it pornographic in any way. In all, the characters are true to themselves and their motivations make sense, the science is spot-on, the pacing is quick, and the story doesn't disappoint. I'm certainly glad I read it.

Taught and engaging thriller set in an intriguing, demanding environment. Fun, fast read and a well-worked-out caper threaded through the technical constraints of its lunar setting. Another Weir home run. The excitement of Andy Weir's brilliant "The Martian" was the grinding technical challenges its protagonist had to meet, and his ingenuity in doing so. The plot was essentially nothing more than an extended series of DIY plans under conditions that seemed impossible. "Artemis" highlights the same technical mastery but works it into a more traditional story-line - essentially a heist caper set in the underworld of cutthroat corporate competition in the unusual setting of the essentially piratical economy inside the air domes of the first-ever lunar colony. This gives the book more of a sense of narrative flow, but also de-centers the technical material that so fascinated many of Weir's fans in the first book. Although this book works very well in melding its multiple avenues of background knowledge - technical, economic, cultural, and personal - they serve to dilute one another so that the detailed exegesis of welding in lunar vacuum is intercut with the dynamics of clan- and guild-based feudal economies, complicated by the intergenerational religious and personal politics of the protagonist's family, the developmental economy of a frontier outpost with no atmosphere, the chemistry and physics of smelting lunar ore, the protagonist's relationship with her ex-boyfriend's new boyfriend, the running of a smuggling operation between planets, and finally the basic plot of corporate sabotage. Readers who find one of these storylines more interesting than the others will find that 80% of the book is about extraneous issues. Neal Stephenson pulls this kind of complicated didactic narrative off with aplomb; Weir is a worthy runner-up, but this book doesn't have the heft of, say, "The Baroque Cycle" (which it very slightly resembles), or the light-hearted drive of "The Martian". The early-stage libertarian economy of the colony resembles that of Heinlein's "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress," but is worked out with much greater economic sophistication. The technical detail is fascinating and carefully considered (do you know how to light a welding torch in outer space? - read this to learn!). The unforgiving physicality of living in such a searing environment pervades every page (how do you control a fire, or an air leak, on the moon? - in both cases, by sacrificing however happens to be inside the closest airlock). Though I think it is less gripping than Weir's previous work, "Artemis" is a fun and exciting read, and the protagonist is a brilliant character with a sassy personality not unlike that of the main character of "The Martian". As to the actual plot: "Jazz" (Jasmine) is a menial laborer in Artemis, the first and only lunar colony. She works as a porter, hand-delivering packages between the handful of pressure domes that make up the city; this also gives her access to the cargo delivery shuttles, which she uses to operate a small side-business in smuggling. She is widely recognized as exceptionally smart and resourceful, but chooses to isolate herself and refuses any assistance from her father, a successful welding-business operator. She is approached by a wealthy resident with an offer of riches in exchange for helping him to acquire the ore-processing concession from the one major corporation in the city. How she goes about it, what the consequences are, exactly what technical processes are required at each stage of the complicated plot, and how she, and the city, came to be what they are, are gradually unfolded. In the end, Jazz is nearly dead and nearly broke, but has an exciting future ahead of her. It will be interesting to meet her again.

This was my first audiobook & my first book by this author. I had heard great things about Weir’s other book The Martian so I had high hopes for this one. Although I did enjoy this book, it fell short for me. I gave it 3 stars because I liked it but I didn’t love it or feel like it was special. (Potential plot spoilers in review) First, I would like to say that Rosario Dawson did a phenomenal job of narrating this book! Listening to her bring these sometimes flat and underdeveloped characters to life by utilizing different voices and accents was a joy. If it wasn’t for her lively narration, I don’t know if I would have finished this book. The premise for this book had so much potential. It sounds interesting enough, a colony on the moon with a strong female protagonist. We are introduced to Jazz, who is struggling to support herself financially. She is somewhat of criminal (a smuggler) who has a good business reputation for being honest which was instilled in her by her now estranged father. Although the reason for their estrangement was explained & the ending provided some resolution between Jazz & her father, their relationship and the significance of their estrangement was never fully explored. The plot is about Jazz being hired to sabotage a company so that her client can easily buy them out. Jazz is offered a lot of money to complete this dangerous and illegal task. Along the way she finds herself in trouble of deportation to Earth and her life is in danger from gangsters (yes actually mafia type thugs) for retaliation of her role in the company’s sabotage. We are given a glimpse into Jazz but we never really get to know her. She experiences some growth & personal changes but overall she remains guarded throughout the book. Jazz is a genius that can easily learn complex things in a short amount of time (a few hours for what typically takes the average smart person years of studying to understand at that level). Despite all of her intelligence and vast skill set, she is a self proclaimed F-up. She constantly uses sarcasm as a defense mechanism and her promiscuity is mentioned several times. This book has lots of excitement and action packed scenes which should keep readers on the edge of their seats, but they were always dulled and overshadowed by Weirs constant description of the mechanics and science behind everything (and I mean everything: from how the air is made and filtered for Artemis, how the residents are protected from space vacuums and radiation from the sun, to how and why you must use certain gases and metals during welding). Weir should have spent less time describing things that most lay people wouldn’t understand or even care to learn about and should have spent more time describing Jazz’s relationships (or lack there of) with the other characters. We are introduced to several characters that could have truly been intriguing, but like with Jazz, we are only given the barest of glimpses at them when they are interacting with Jazz. We are never given the opportunity to see what makes them tick. I would have liked to have learned more about a few of these other characters and to see Jazz’s relationships with them explored further. The last two chapters of the book were the best. I even got teary eyed at the end of chapter 16. The ending was not very believable, but I liked it because it left the door open for a potential sequel. Overall, I have mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook but if I had to read through all of the boring explanations about science & mechanics, this book would have been a DNF for me. I would have enjoyed the book more if it were easier to connect with Jazz & the other characters. If you like space themes & don’t really care for romance, you probably will enjoy this book (or audiobook).

I have trouble finding sci fi I like. It seems like about 1 or 2 out of every ten books I read or try reading, works for me. This was a pretty good read, and I finished it in a couple days, so thanks for that. The author talked about Jazz living her whole life on the moon and would have a lot of trouble with Earth's gravity if sent back. Would have been nice if someone had invented artificial gravity and were able to keep the city of Artemis at one Earth g. That would solve a lot of problems. Technologically the story wasn't deep at all, but had enough things going to be interesting.

At times I felt like I was living on the moon. Makes me think that the story was backed up by facts. The more I read the more I felt like it was someone's diary. It was exciting and realistic. I would enjoy reading another story as realistic as this one. It is the second Andy Weird novel I've read and I'm ready for more.

Artemis is not a sequel to The Martian. I love the book but it is a totally different story. That is what I expected. I did not expect a Martian “themed” new story. I expected Andy Weir to tell a new, different science fiction story based in the near future and based, as much as possible, on real technology and science. Something not yet developed in 2018 should be a technology that is in the realm of believable possibility, like ZAFO. This story is about survival but it is not a survival novel. It is sort of a crime thriller set on the moon in the not too distant future. Our protagonist, Jazz, is a young Saudi woman who struggles to make ends meet and supplements her income by smuggling. She is full of piss and vinegar, fiercely ambitious, extraordinarily intelligent and occasionally makes poor life choices. Just a blast to hang out with. Artemis is a city of about 2000 located in the Sea of Tranquility. Tranquility Base, the Eagle’s Decent stage and the bits left over from that first landing on the moon have become a huge tourist draw. Specially trained EVA masters take the tourists out to experience a walk on the moon and to have a close-up experience of it all. It is a well-paid job and that is what Jazz wants to become, an EVA master. She is constantly hustling to improve her circumstances. Then she is presented with an offer she cannot refuse. It involves criminal activity at a much higher level than she is used to but the money it just too good to walk away from. It will require skill, deception and a lot of high level intellectual activity. As Jazz works hard to pull-off this caper and earn her money she discovers a startling truth. She discovers that the life she has come to know and love on the moon is threatened. It could all radically change. Powerful sinister forces are at work and now Jazz must put all of her talent to work. She is not alone. Jazz has convinced a small group of fellow Artemisians to help save their lunar city. Now it is no longer about the money but if she and her fellow conspirators succeed the money is still there. Andy Weir has created a wonderful character in Jazz and placed her in a gripping and interesting tale. Even though there are some holes in the plot I found them to be minor enough to easily overlook. With a novel my measurement of reading enjoyment is based on how long I will stay distracted with the story. This story is one of those I could have happily stay wrapped-up in for the duration had life and responsibility not intervened. It is wonderful to find out that a screen writer has been chosen for the film adaptation. Should make a great movie.

The Martian was my favorite book in 2016, and I was also a fan of the movie when I saw it in 2017. When I heard that Andy Weir was releasing a new book I was stoked and waited eagerly for its release. In November of last year, Artemis hit the shelves. The blurb revealed that it was another book set in space, but this time on the Moon. Wow. I couldn't wait to get a copy and delve back into Weir's universe. As with The Martian, the book does contain a lot of the author's trademark detail (ie. technical explanations etc), which I think is an asset in adding authenticity to the plot. It shows that the content is well researched and that what is happening is scientifically and technically possible. Artemis is a settlement on the moon, which comprises of a number of domes (named after famous astronauts) where a sizeable population of 2000 people live. Aside from the local mining industry, part of its economy is fed by tourism, where people wealthy enough come from Earth to visit the Moon for a vacation. Besides the obvious attraction of being on the Moon, the other main tourist spot is the site of the lunar landing. It reminded me of the mock-up that I went to at NASA in Florida, but instead of sitting in a theatre with a replica lander and special effects, the space tourists are at the real site looking through a thick glass wall at the actual landing module and astronaut footprints. The main character, Jazz, is a young woman who is making her humble living as a courier/ deliverer/ small-time smuggler. Although she seemed nice enough, I don't think I really got onboard with her. Maybe it's just me, but I think it's easier to connect with someone who is on the side of good, rather than someone who is on the side that we normally oppose. That said, we do love Han Solo, and he was a smuggler! I found the first half of the book very slow. I realize that it was all about setting up for the second half, but I didn't find it that engaging. Perhaps I was expecting too much, given how much I liked The Martian. I think that my memories of Weir's first book kept me going to see where it was all leading. Jazz is a strong woman, driven mainly by her need for cash and a want to improve her life. Maybe it was her self-focus that failed to click with me. In the first half of the book she makes some questionable decisions that definitely make her some enemies, and as such, it sets up for the ensuing plot line. Once we moved into the second half things got much better. The plot was thickening, the pace quickened, thrilling arrived, and there was a lot more happening. In order to move forward and try to fix things, Jazz needed to dig deep and find unique ways to deal with the situation she was in. This was reminiscent of what I liked about The Martian - making the most of what you have to keep going. Without giving too much away, there was a section of the plot in the second half that I thought would have been a much more exciting area to focus on and expand, instead of the amount of time allocated to the first half. I hope that makes sense. In my opinion, it would have made for a more exciting and thrilling story. In a Nutshell - Artemis is a good book, which gets better as you read more. If you find yourself lagging during the first half, hang in there and keep reading. Although it's not as good as The Martian, it should keep sci-fi fans entertained.

I read this because I loved the Martian, but I loved this too. If you’re expecting it to be even close to the same style/vibe as the Martian you will be disappointed. But it has its own voice and the main character is likable and spunky, if somewhat stubborn and infuriating. Twists and turns, a murder mystery, and an unexpected love. 10/10 one of my favorite sci-fi’s of the year!

I really enjoyed reading this book from start to finish. The characters are great and the plot very engaging, so I recommend this book for those looking for a sci-fi page turner.

This book was excellent. Jazz is a bubbly character with lots of interesting friends.shes a smuggler and a comical character. When one of her friends offers her a deal she can't refuse things start to go south, including danger and death. I enjoied this book more than Project Hail Mary. While there is still some science included it's alot easier to understand and not as current. This was Andy Wier's second book and I can see how he had everything perfected by the Martian. This book was entertaining and full of action and comedy. I loved it .

Fabulous, great read

Adventures on the moon. Good follow up to "The Martian" Lots of details to figure out, but not as technical. I could see the set up then had to wait for the story to mix that into the plot. Main character is set up as clever, but then does many silly mistakes. Good adenture.

Artemis marks a clear shift from Andy Weir’s usual formula. After The Martian and Project Hail Mary, both centered on isolated protagonists, this novel introduces a main character with an actual social circle. Unfortunately, that change exposes one of Weir’s weaker areas: writing human interaction. The dialogue and relationships often feel naïve or awkward, as if the author is stepping outside his natural comfort zone. The science, however, remains classic Weir — plausible, detailed, and engaging. Fans of engineering‑driven sci‑fi will still find plenty to enjoy. The plot moves quickly, and the lunar setting is imaginative and well‑constructed. Where the book stumbles is in character depth and problem‑solving logic. Skills appear conveniently when needed, and some late‑story resolutions feel chaotic or underdeveloped. The tone leans younger than Weir’s previous work; I’d place this closer to a teen‑friendly adventure than a mature sci‑fi drama. Still, Artemis is an enjoyable read if you adjust your expectations. It’s not as tight or emotionally resonant as Weir’s earlier novels, but it offers a fun, accessible story — and part of the charm is watching the author experiment outside his usual solitary‑genius template.