Artemis by Andy Weir

ARTEMIS by Andy Weir is here and it’s great! That “snarky,” sarcastic, adventure-seeking attitude that we all enjoyed in The Martian is back in Weir’s newest novel.  Here, the main character is angrier and more rebellious, named Jasmine “Jazz” Bashara and is originally from Saudi Arabia, although she has spent almost her entire life living on the moon in the city of Artemis. [Weir refers to tourist-centered Artemis as a “frontier town” and there is a diagram of the interconnected double-hulled domes named for the first five men to walk on the moon (Armstrong, Aldrin, Conrad, Bean and Shepard) shown below.] Now in her early twenties and working as a porter, Jazz subsidizes her income by smuggling contraband.  It’s her ability to improvise that attracts the attention of a local businessman and government officials – with some dubious motives in mind.  

 

In further trademark style, Weir describes the lunar environment, the need for protective gear and everyday life on the moon all while leading us through an exciting caper to corner the market on an innovative technology. There is family conflict, a bit of romance, doses of humor, and plenty of scientific knowledge to share.  And don’t forget the roller coaster ride from one almost catastrophe to another. I loved The Martian because so many aspects felt new and different. ARTEMIS, too, entertains and educates; but includes a feisty heroine which makes it distinctive and adds yet another layer. For more background, see this interview with Scientific American where Weir reflects on Jazz’s evolution and his writing process. ARTEMIS deserves a place high on your “to be read” list and received starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal and Publishers Weekly.