Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Do you think the novel succeeded in its intent to create a “realistic” portrayal of life in space? At what point, if any, did the novel stretch your credulity? How might you compare this to other “hard” science-fiction novels, like The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu or Foundation by Isaac Asimov?

2. How do you feel about Mark Watney as a protagonist? Were you compelled by his characterization and voice? How did the science impact his narration and your personal engagement while reading?

3. How does this novel fare against Weir’s later novels, Artemis and Project Hail Mary? Considering that The Martian evolved from serialized blog posts, do you get the sense that this book is different from the novels he had written after his debut?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Share an experience in which a successful outcome might have been impossible for you to imagine. How do you face this challenge with insurmountable odds? How did you react to the situation?