The Martian

The Martian was by far my favorite reading for this module. Weir sets up Mark Watney as the perfect person to be in such a situation. Watney is witty, clever, and probably the only member of the Ares 3 crew who could have survived alone on Mars. As a botanist and mechanical engineer, Watney essentially has the perfect skill set: he is not only technically-minded enough to fix the equipment on hand, but also has a background that enables him to grow crops on a planet with a thin atmosphere, cold temperatures, and decreased amount of sunlight.

The unfolding of events, as told by Watney’s log entries, is a brilliant way to present the story of Watney’s survival as an account that is realistic, entertaining, and compliant with the universal laws of physics. Mark uses the logs to outline his thoughts as he reasons out complicated or risky processes – like making water in the Hab! These details serve to make Mark’s survival tactics more plausible.

Most importantly, Mark’s log entries are truly his only way to stay sane throughout this ordeal and cope with the reality of his isolation. He admits the purpose of his detailed entries, stating, “I am having a conversation with someone: whoever reads this log. It’s a bit one-sided but…someone will know what I had to say” (100). Mark faces the very real possibility of dying alone on Mars, and consequently writes a detailed daily account of his survival attempts in the hopes that someone, someday, might read his log.

I was surprised, however, that Mark’s isolation and lack of true human interaction did not come up very often in his log entries. Such sentiments are generally inevitable when it comes to situations in which individuals are isolated or lost – or alone on another planet! Perhaps it’s because his logs are mostly accounts of his daily activities rather than philosophical ruminations?

 

“The Cold Equations”

This was a frustrating read! Okay – I’ve struggled with my fair share of physics problem sets, so I get that extra variables cannot just fit into equations derived from physically meaningful situations. I also get that the insertion of an extra term would invalidate universal physical laws.

But Godwin weaves in Burton’s emotional musings as he proceeds with the protocol for stowaways – and this is frustrating. Throughout the entire narrative, Burton beats around the bush, tries to avoid mention of “the ultimate end” (445), and treats Marilyn like a child (he even uses this term to directly address her!) – all because she is not an animal or man he could easily throw into the airlock. Burton views her presence as a burden on his conscience: he is conflicted because Marilyn has pure intentions, readily admits her faults, and is willing to pay for her transgressions.

He wants to work something out on account of her ignorance, innocence, and youth. Even Burton’s commander is willing to bend the rules and operate “contrary to regulations” (449) because “the subject is a girl” (448). On the one hand, including Burton’s sentiments allow the reader to sympathize with him (to some extent) and validate his very human struggle to comply with rules that just don’t make sense in every situation. At the same time, however, Godwin’s story is predictable in that the reader knows Burton will ultimately obey the universally decreed law.

I understand why Burton needed to ultimately comply with the law – after all, his violation of it would mean a violation of the internally consistent set of rules in Godwin’s intergalactic civilization. But he spends so much of her remaining time explaining his actions (because the law is “decreed” (450), “bluntly and definitely” (443), and is “not of men’s choosing” (443)), while also comforting Marilyn! He tells her, “Wherever you go, human nature and human hearts are the same” (456).

This statement, however, calls into question the universal nature of the physical law. If human emotions are universally existent, what value do they hold in a world where the physical law is supreme?  This prospect raises some interesting questions: How do science and progress in a civilization governed by the universal laws of physics undermine inherent human emotion or obligation? Does humanity/human instinct take a toll in the face of science and protocol?

 

“It’s Great to Be Back”

Heinlein’s work was a good read. Jo and Allan’s eagerness to be back “home” (104) on “their own native planet” (105) sets up Luna City and Earth as diametrically opposed civilizations. They liken Luna City to a “jail” (105) and long for green trees, blue skies, and opera, but they defend Luna City and take offense to jokes about living on the moon – I mean, in the moon – when they return to New York.

Heinlein further reiterates the stark contrast between living on the moon (in the moon!) and on Earth by the terms used to described colonials and Earthlings. Before their departure at the beginning of the story, Jo and Allan identify as “groundhogs” (105) and are ecstatic about their return. In the country, however, they regard the plumber as “the native” (112) and themselves as “Loonies” (113). Allan’s constant affirmation that “it’ll be great to be back” (115) bespeaks an inherent human quality of wanting what we lack. It makes me wonder they’ll miss about Earth when they return to Luna City…

 

“Down and Out On Ellfive Prime”

This reading was definitely least favorite favorite, to be completely honest. I lost interest mid-way through the story, and perked up again only when I got to the mudslide scene.

The story hinges upon the characters’ critical view of Earth and their dread of being “Earthsided” (184), feelings that ultimately engender a colonial subculture supporting illegal residents. Ing’s hostile descriptions of Earth as “cradle of mankind, cage for too many” (180) suggest that the colonies are a privileged place to stay. Furthermore, the “scam counterculture of Ellfive Prime” (184) reiterates the unfavorable views of Earth that the characters in Ing’s story hold. They execute this underground work solely to avoid being “Earthsided” (184).

After the mudslide, Zen learns that the “scams were coping better than legal residents” (192). This realization draws attention to the fact that Zen and the scam play a vital role in the survival of Ellfive Prime – even more so than Almquist! Torin Almquist’s recognition of this truth is the ultimate reason for letting Zen go at the end of the story. In fact, Zen’s ability to “live outside of the system” (191) is one that Almquist seeks to take advantage of when he is eventually Earthsided.

The premise of the narrative is an interesting one that calls into question the ‘relevance’ of Earth in the face of technologically-advanced space colonies. Will Earth go “out of style” or be the lesser of civilizations if there were intergalactic colonies? What advantages would these colonies have over Earth, if any?