Went to see The Martian last night. It was as good as various people have said, so thanks for the recommendations! Full of competent people competenting which I like
( Read more... )
I've not seen the film, so I don't think how many things they've changed things, but according to the book, "Why bring a botanist to Mars? After all, it's famous for not having anything growing there. Well, the idea was to figure out how well things grow in Martian gravity, and see what, if anything, we can do with Martian soil. [....] One of my tasks for the mission was to see how plants grow here, in various combinations of Earth and Mars soil and atmosphere." Therefore he went to Mars armed with some Earth soil and some grass and fern seeds - "the most rugged and easily grown plants on Earth, so NASA picked them as test subjects."
It also says that his principal role in the mission was as mechanical engineer, with botany as the secondary skill. He was "the fix-it man who played with plants."
Aha! OK, if his seeds were ferns and grasses, I suppose that would explain why he grew the Thanksgiving potatoes. I assume that the movie makers took out the bit about the soil to simplify things a bit and put the emphasis on the poo. :-D
He does say that he only has enough soil for a window box, so there's plenty of poo in the book, too. Thus proving what we have learnt through experience: that the most important thing in space travel is the toilet arrangements.
I'd forgotten the Elrond reference, but just checked, and yes, it's there in the book. I guess it's more memorable in the movie, given the presence of Sean Bean. :-)
Curses. I enjoyed the book, and meant to see the film, but forgot, and it's now gone from the island.
Comments 8
It also says that his principal role in the mission was as mechanical engineer, with botany as the secondary skill. He was "the fix-it man who played with plants."
Reply
Is the Council of Elrond joke in the book?
Reply
I'd forgotten the Elrond reference, but just checked, and yes, it's there in the book. I guess it's more memorable in the movie, given the presence of Sean Bean. :-)
Curses. I enjoyed the book, and meant to see the film, but forgot, and it's now gone from the island.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment