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[review] Artemis by Andy Weir

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  [review] Artemis by Andy Weir jdnicoll@panix.com (James Nicoll) - 2017-11-21 14:57 +0000
    Re: [review] Artemis by Andy Weir Default User <defaultuserbr@yahoo.com> - 2017-11-21 09:39 -0800
      Re: [review] Artemis by Andy Weir jdnicoll@panix.com (James Nicoll) - 2017-11-21 17:51 +0000
        Re: [review] Artemis by Andy Weir jdnicoll@panix.com (James Nicoll) - 2017-11-21 18:29 +0000
        Re: [review] Artemis by Andy Weir Default User <defaultuserbr@yahoo.com> - 2017-11-21 10:51 -0800
          Re: [review] Artemis by Andy Weir jdnicoll@panix.com (James Nicoll) - 2017-11-21 22:13 +0000
            Re: [review] Artemis by Andy Weir Default User <defaultuserbr@yahoo.com> - 2017-11-21 15:32 -0800
              Re: [review] Artemis by Andy Weir Greg Goss <gossg@gossg.org> - 2017-11-22 23:52 -0700
                Re: [review] Artemis by Andy Weir Default User <defaultuserbr@yahoo.com> - 2017-11-24 10:37 -0800
              Re: [review] Artemis by Andy Weir Default User <defaultuserbr@yahoo.com> - 2017-12-30 13:19 -0800
                Re: [review] Artemis by Andy Weir D B Davis <g@crcomp.net> - 2018-01-01 18:21 +0000
          Re: [review] Artemis by Andy Weir Robert Carnegie <rja.carnegie@excite.com> - 2017-11-22 18:41 -0800
            Re: [review] Artemis by Andy Weir Default User <defaultuserbr@yahoo.com> - 2017-11-24 10:46 -0800
              Re: [review] Artemis by Andy Weir Default User <defaultuserbr@yahoo.com> - 2017-11-24 11:38 -0800
    Re: [review] Artemis by Andy Weir mcdowell_ag@sky.com - 2017-12-30 22:35 -0800

#480958 — [review] Artemis by Andy Weir

Artemis by Andy Weir 

https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/the-criminal-kind
-- 
My reviews can be found at http://jamesdavisnicoll.com/
My Dreamwidth at https://james-davis-nicoll.dreamwidth.org/
My patreon is at https://www.patreon.com/jamesdnicoll

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#480963

On Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at 8:57:44 AM UTC-6, James Nicoll wrote:
> Artemis by Andy Weir 
> 
> https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/the-criminal-kind

Judging by the local library, it's pretty popular:

Artemis : A Novel
SCIENCE FICTION Weir Andy
Weir, Andy.
New York : Crown, c2017.
1st ed.
76 holds on first copy returned of 176 copies

I threw a hold a copy of the ebook, and I'm:

eBook
#134 on 43 copies


Brian

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#480964

In article <e2af04d7-7005-4b4d-b69e-c48279276e74@googlegroups.com>,
Default User  <defaultuserbr@yahoo.com> wrote:
>On Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at 8:57:44 AM UTC-6, James Nicoll wrote:
>> Artemis by Andy Weir 
>> 
>> https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/the-criminal-kind
>
>Judging by the local library, it's pretty popular:
>
>Artemis : A Novel
>SCIENCE FICTION Weir Andy
>Weir, Andy.
>New York : Crown, c2017.
>1st ed.
>76 holds on first copy returned of 176 copies
>
>I threw a hold a copy of the ebook, and I'm:
>
>eBook
>#134 on 43 copies
>
Welcome to my one man show, Nobody Cares Why You Hate Shakespeare, Leo. 

-- 
My reviews can be found at http://jamesdavisnicoll.com/
My Dreamwidth at https://james-davis-nicoll.dreamwidth.org/
My patreon is at https://www.patreon.com/jamesdnicoll

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#480965

In article <ov1p2p$6hl$1@reader2.panix.com>,
James Nicoll <jdnicoll@panix.com> wrote:
>In article <e2af04d7-7005-4b4d-b69e-c48279276e74@googlegroups.com>,
>Default User  <defaultuserbr@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>On Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at 8:57:44 AM UTC-6, James Nicoll wrote:
>>> Artemis by Andy Weir 
>>> 
>>> https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/the-criminal-kind
>>
>>Judging by the local library, it's pretty popular:
>>
>>Artemis : A Novel
>>SCIENCE FICTION Weir Andy
>>Weir, Andy.
>>New York : Crown, c2017.
>>1st ed.
>>76 holds on first copy returned of 176 copies
>>
>>I threw a hold a copy of the ebook, and I'm:
>>
>>eBook
>>#134 on 43 copies
>>
>Welcome to my one man show, Nobody Cares Why You Hate Shakespeare, Leo. 

I deviate from the concensus where KSR and Paolo Bacigalupi are concerned, 
too. 
-- 
My reviews can be found at http://jamesdavisnicoll.com/
My Dreamwidth at https://james-davis-nicoll.dreamwidth.org/
My patreon is at https://www.patreon.com/jamesdnicoll

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#480967

On Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at 11:51:26 AM UTC-6, James Nicoll wrote:
> In article <e2af04d7-7005-4b4d-b69e-c48279276e74@googlegroups.com>,
> Default User  <defaultuserbr@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >On Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at 8:57:44 AM UTC-6, James Nicoll wrote:
> >> Artemis by Andy Weir 
> >> 
> >> https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/the-criminal-kind
> >
> >Judging by the local library, it's pretty popular:

> Welcome to my one man show, Nobody Cares Why You Hate Shakespeare, Leo. 

Okay, I guess. I didn't get the impression that you disliked the book (although some quibbles), and my notes on the popularity at the library weren't intended as a rebuttal. 

I had just checked to see if they had any copies, and was surprised to find out how many they had. Besides the 176 hardbacks and 43 ebooks, there's also 15 large-print copies. Sometimes the large-print is a stealth way to get the book faster.


Brian

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#480973

In article <06fbadf6-5607-4815-84bd-4f3f0d196449@googlegroups.com>,
Default User  <defaultuserbr@yahoo.com> wrote:
>On Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at 11:51:26 AM UTC-6, James Nicoll wrote:
>> In article <e2af04d7-7005-4b4d-b69e-c48279276e74@googlegroups.com>,
>> Default User  <defaultuserbr@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> >On Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at 8:57:44 AM UTC-6, James Nicoll wrote:
>> >> Artemis by Andy Weir 
>> >> 
>> >> https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/the-criminal-kind
>> >
>> >Judging by the local library, it's pretty popular:
>
>> Welcome to my one man show, Nobody Cares Why You Hate Shakespeare, Leo. 
>
>Okay, I guess. I didn't get the impression that you disliked the book
>(although some quibbles), and my notes on the popularity at the library
>weren't intended as a rebuttal. 

I didn't dislike it but I was a bit frustrated with how it could have
been written 40 years ago.

>I had just checked to see if they had any copies, and was surprised to
>find out how many they had. Besides the 176 hardbacks and 43 ebooks,
>there's also 15 large-print copies. Sometimes the large-print is a
>stealth way to get the book faster.

I .... never thought of that. Thanks!
-- 
My reviews can be found at http://jamesdavisnicoll.com/
My Dreamwidth at https://james-davis-nicoll.dreamwidth.org/
My patreon is at https://www.patreon.com/jamesdnicoll

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#480974

On Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at 4:13:29 PM UTC-6, James Nicoll wrote:
> In article <06fbadf6-5607-4815-84bd-4f3f0d196449@googlegroups.com>,
> Default User  <defaultuserbr@yahoo.com> wrote:

> I didn't dislike it but I was a bit frustrated with how it could have
> been written 40 years ago.

Ok. It'll bubble up on my loans eventually and I'll give it a try. The nice thing about the library is if it's not good, you didn't waste both time and money.

> > Sometimes the large-print is a
> >stealth way to get the book faster.
> 
> I .... never thought of that. Thanks!

The first time I got a large-print it was because the hardbacks were all checked out. At first it was weird, but I got used to it and liked it. Easier to read for aging eyeballs. Now if I'm going to get a print version I look for LP first. With the ebooks of course you can make the type whatever size you like.


Brian

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#480996

Default User <defaultuserbr@yahoo.com> wrote:

>
>The first time I got a large-print ... At first it was weird, but I got used to it and liked it. Easier to read for aging eyeballs. Now if I'm going to get a print version I look for LP first. With the ebooks of course you can make the type whatever size you like.

My aging eyeballs don't read 4 point anymore, but I'm still happy with
fairly small print unless I'm also tired.

I once tried reading a book on the txt reader on my non-smart 2008
phone with the 2.2 inch screen.  It might have gone better if the
notepad software was more capable.

I'm comfortable enough on my standard shirt-pocket phone that I've
stopped reading bulky paperbacks entirely.  (Nokia X8, MagiCube (that
even Google had never heard of), MotoLuxe, Samsung S2, Samsung S5).
The Nokia 5310 was a failed experiment.
-- 
We are geeks.  Resistance is voltage over current.

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#481041

On Thursday, November 23, 2017 at 12:53:23 AM UTC-6, Greg Goss wrote:
> Default User <defaultuserbr@yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> >
> >The first time I got a large-print ... At first it was weird, but I got used to it and liked it. Easier to read for aging eyeballs. Now if I'm going to get a print version I look for LP first. With the ebooks of course you can make the type whatever size you like.
> 
> My aging eyeballs don't read 4 point anymore, but I'm still happy with
> fairly small print unless I'm also tired.
> 
> I once tried reading a book on the txt reader on my non-smart 2008
> phone with the 2.2 inch screen.  It might have gone better if the
> notepad software was more capable.
> 
> I'm comfortable enough on my standard shirt-pocket phone that I've
> stopped reading bulky paperbacks entirely.  (Nokia X8, MagiCube (that
> even Google had never heard of), MotoLuxe, Samsung S2, Samsung S5).
> The Nokia 5310 was a failed experiment.

I use an iPad mini, which is an 8 inch screen. I can hold it in one hand but I can't hit page advance with the same hand. It fits in my front pants pocket for carrying, but it's not terribly comfortable sitting that way.

It's works pretty well and was free (well in return for 35 years service to Megacorp).


Brian

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#483771

On Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at 5:32:07 PM UTC-6, Default User wrote:

> Ok. It'll bubble up on my loans eventually and I'll give it a try. 

Bubble up it did and I finished it yesterday. In general I found it to be a decent read. There were some sections with descriptions of how she was doing something or the other where I skipped some of the text (using the "read a few words of the start of a paragraph" method).

Brian

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#483885

Default User <defaultuserbr@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at 5:32:07 PM UTC-6, Default User wrote:
>
>> Ok. It'll bubble up on my loans eventually and I'll give it a try.
>
> Bubble up it did and I finished it yesterday. In general I found it to
> be a decent read. There were some sections with descriptions of how she
> was doing something or the other where I skipped some of the text (using
> the "read a few words of the start of a paragraph" method).

That's an excellent technique. IIRC the first sentence of a paragraph's
supposed to be the most important. If there's nothing of interest in it
you may-as-well skip ahead to the next paragraph.
    Your technique will be used to speed up the slog next time a book
turns into a bog. (My eyes furtively glance at a nearby copy of
_Spy Catcher_ (Wright).)

Thank you,

--
Don

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#480988

On Tuesday, 21 November 2017 18:51:35 UTC, Default User  wrote:
> On Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at 11:51:26 AM UTC-6, James Nicoll wrote:
> > In article <e2af04d7-7005-4b4d-b69e-c48279276e74@googlegroups.com>,
> > Default User  <defaultuserbr@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > >On Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at 8:57:44 AM UTC-6, James Nicoll wrote:
> > >> Artemis by Andy Weir 
> > >> 
> > >> https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/the-criminal-kind
> > >
> > >Judging by the local library, it's pretty popular:
> 
> > Welcome to my one man show, Nobody Cares Why You Hate Shakespeare, Leo. 
> 
> Okay, I guess. I didn't get the impression that you disliked the book (although some quibbles), and my notes on the popularity at the library weren't intended as a rebuttal. 
> 
> I had just checked to see if they had any copies, and was surprised to find out how many they had. Besides the 176 hardbacks and 43 ebooks, there's also 15 large-print copies. Sometimes the large-print is a stealth way to get the book faster.

I assume this is at several library locations.

In the United Kingdom, some locality library services 
are starved of support to the point of just mailing books
to whoever wants them, and not being particular about
getting them back, as there may not be a place soon to
send them back to.

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#481042

On Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at 8:41:54 PM UTC-6, Robert Carnegie wrote:
> On Tuesday, 21 November 2017 18:51:35 UTC, Default User  wrote:

> > I had just checked to see if they had any copies, and was surprised to find out how many they had. Besides the 176 hardbacks and 43 ebooks, there's also 15 large-print copies. Sometimes the large-print is a stealth way to get the book faster.
> 
> I assume this is at several library locations.

Right. Looking at the details, I think every branch has some copies and a few of the bookmobiles. The St. Louis County system is fairly large. There are also some "best-seller" copies, which are ones that are only available for physical checkout, no holds. I'm not sure if that counts in the 176 copies or not.

I mostly order my paper books online to have them picked up at my branch.


Brian

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#481046

On Friday, November 24, 2017 at 12:46:33 PM UTC-6, Default User wrote:

> There are also some "best-seller" copies, which are ones that are only available for physical checkout, no holds. I'm not sure if that counts in the 176 copies or not.

I have determined (by copying the list and pasting into a spreadsheet) that those are included in the 176.


Brian

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#483791

On Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at 2:57:44 PM UTC, James Nicoll wrote:
> Artemis by Andy Weir 
> 
> https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/the-criminal-kind
> -- 
> My reviews can be found at http://jamesdavisnicoll.com/
> My Dreamwidth at https://james-davis-nicoll.dreamwidth.org/
> My patreon is at https://www.patreon.com/jamesdnicoll

I got this for Christmas and have just finished a first read - I liked it a lot. I do feel that Weir is sort of recapitulating the evolution of Science Fiction. The Martian read to me like a classic early SF puzzle story - not much interaction between characters, but a series of puzzles for the hero to solve to stay alive. Artemis has a moon colony, with tourists, and businessmen, and unions, and crime, and you get to see all of the people involved in this interacting. This may not be a startling innovation in literary form, but if Weir is happy to write excellent reproduction Golden Age SF, I will probably be happy to buy them (or - even better - be given them).

There are some modern (medieval?) influences, though. Our hero, Jasmine (Jazz) Beshara is actually a Saudi citizen, although she has been on the moon since she was six. The cop James mentions dispenses justice pretty informally, but that's not the only informal dispute resolution. Unpopular bad behaviour gets you a visit from the "Morals Brigade" - a name reminiscent of Islamic morality police which in fact covers a group of self-appointed citizens coming round to beat up the miscreant. I've never been to an enclave of modern development in a third world country, staffed with a varied mix of transplanted contractors, but this Moon colony feels like it borrows from that, rather than from Heinlein's libertarianism or millionaire projects.

(Anybody here gone contracting in Saudi Arabia or similar? I'd love to know if Artemis rings any bells)

The Moon colony is a sort of free city backed by Kenya as a way of getting money from the corporations that have premises there. The whys and wherefores of the viability of this are a bit of a spoiler, but tourism is a major contributor, which explains naming the domes after Astronauts, the visitors centre, and perhaps some of the Heinlein tributes.

Artemis is deliberately not a very likeable character - she's very bright but lazy, and hangs around with the wrong crowd. Some of the science seems unconvincing, if only because it is so convenient for the plot. But for all that, I did find the book very entertaining, and - although I did manage to put it down now and then - it is definitely a page turner.

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