The Martain (audio)

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars.

Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there.

After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive.

Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first.

But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?

I can't believe it too me so long to get to this audiobook!  I originally had it in print, but  switched to audio when RC Bray got rave reviews on his narration.  You feel like you are right there with Mark as he tells the story.  I absolutely loved his humor, snark and how he "scienced the sh*t" out of his situation.   The other characters - those back at NASA and the crew that left him behind were just as compelling. The technology, terminology did not distract from this wonderful listening experience.Wondering how and if he would be rescued was on the edge of your seat listening.  Do yourself a favor and listen to this book.  

Is the movie as good as the book?

Micro

In a locked Honolulu office building, three men are found dead with no sign of struggle except for the ultrafine, razor-sharp cuts covering their bodies. The only clue left behind is a tiny bladed robot, nearly invisible to the human eye.

In the lush forests of Oahu, groundbreaking technology has ushered in a revolutionary era of biological prospecting. Trillions of microorganisms, tens of thousands of bacteria species, are being discovered; they are feeding a search for priceless drugs and applications on a scale beyond anything previously imagined.

In Cambridge, Massachusetts, seven graduate students at the forefront of their fields are recruited by a pioneering microbiology start-up. Nanigen MicroTechnologies dispatches the group to a mysterious lab in Hawaii, where they are promised access to tools that will open a whole new scientific frontier.

But once in the Oahu rain forest, the scientists are thrust into a hostile wilderness that reveals profound and surprising dangers at every turn. Armed only with their knowledge of the natural world, they find themselves prey to a technology of radical and unbridled power. To survive, they must harness the inherent forces of nature itself.

I have not read a Crichton book since Jurassic Park, he started this book before he died and it was finished by Richard Preston. The story and characters interested me enough to keep listening. The action is fast paced and things happen quickly, so don't get attached to any character! At times it was a bit over the top, but not enough to put it aside. John Bedford Lloyd was an excellent narrator.

Author: Michael Crichton and Richard Preston
Published: November 2011
Genre: Fiction:  Suspense/Thriller
Source: HarperCollins Audio
Finished: 2/29/12



3 Bears

This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from Beth Harper an HarperCollins Audio and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

Virals

Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan, is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage "sci-philes" who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever.

As the friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their new found physical gifts to solve a cold-case murder that has suddenly become very hot if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer's scent.

Fortunately, they are now more than friends they're a pack. They are Viral

This is, I hope, the beginning of a YA series. There was almost too much going on in this first book: learning the stories of the characters, the mystery of what is going on at the research lab and why, and the mystery of a missing girl wrapped up in non-stop action that leaves some unanswered questions.  I enjoyed this YA, but prefer her adult Temperance Brennan series.

Author: Kathy Reichs
Published: November 2010
Pages: 464
Genre: YA Science Fiction/Mystery
Source: Library
3 Bears