So after reading The Martian where
are you going to go? How about to the Moon? Space tourism is just one
way to make money up there, along with mineral extraction and air
production. Because a city needs air. Artemis is the lunar city where
Jazz Bashara lives, works and does her smuggling. She's originally
from the Middle East, but because she's lived on the Moon since the
age of six, she can no longer cope with Earth's gravity. It is really
important that she doesn't get caught and deported.
In ARTEMIS, Andy Weir presents us
with his trademark hard sci-fi in a sequence of physics,
chemistry lessons, pressure escapes, and desperate dashes. While the
domed city has no view of the outside, tourists want to walk on the
surface and pay well to be guided around, and Jazz hopes to quadruple
her income by being approved as a tour guide. A leaky suit valve blocks
her certification, but the fact that she now has a pressure suit sets her
up for a series of dangerous escapades. I was reminded of classic SF
books like Have Spacesuit Will Travel and The Stainless Steel Rat, in
particular. Having a female lead was the best way to establish
individuality.
Physics and lunar setting aside, are readers supposed to like Jazz? Is
she a good daughter or girlfriend? Her dad is a welder who has taught
her everything he knows and happens to be a Muslim, though Jazz
didn't absorb much of his religious teachings. She even drinks. We
learn there have been boyfriends, but a broken heart caused her to
swear off relationships for a while. The other women in the book are
tough cookies, however refined and scientific or economically trained.
However, I was frustrated with a young teenage woman, who is on the
Moon for her health. I kept wondering if Weir could have invented
something better for her mobility than just crutches! Additionally, I
would have liked more descriptive passages about the outdoors; I kept
visualizing the brownish Martian landscape and yellow sky instead of
the grey and black of the Moon. Nonetheless, we also find a mix of
cultures and social standings, with the odd film or book reference
thrown in, because the colony has to import all its entertainment.
If you loved The Martian, then you'll enjoy ARTEMIS. Whether you will like this completely different
story better, will be up to you. I am sure Jazz will be back for more
exciting exploits.
Jasmine Bashara never signed up to be a hero. She just
wanted to get rich.
Not crazy, eccentric-billionaire rich, like many of the
visitors to her hometown of Artemis, humanity’s first and
only lunar colony. Just rich enough to move out of her
coffin-sized apartment and eat something better than
flavored algae. Rich enough to pay off a debt she’s owed
for a long time.
So when a chance at a huge score finally comes her way,
Jazz can’t say no. Sure, it requires her to graduate from
small-time smuggler to full-on criminal mastermind. And it
calls for a particular combination of cunning, technical
skills, and large explosions—not to mention sheer brazen
swagger. But Jazz has never run into a challenge her
intellect can’t handle, and she figures she’s got the
‘swagger’ part down.
The trouble is, engineering the perfect crime is just the
start of Jazz’s problems. Because her little heist is
about to land her in the middle of a conspiracy for
control of Artemis itself.
Trapped between competing forces, pursued by a killer and
the law alike, even Jazz has to admit she’s in way over
her head. She’ll have to hatch a truly spectacular scheme
to have a chance at staying alive and saving her city.
Jazz is no hero, but she is a very good criminal.
That’ll have to do.
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