General Discussion

longship

(40,416 posts)

107. It is like Star Trek.

Sun May 17, 2015, 09:00 PM

May 2015

Once you get past the Warp Drive, which is just a plot tool to get the Enterprise to the next scene after the commercial, the rest of the narrative falls into place.

Here's the deal with "The Martian". If Mark Watney does not survive the first scene, there is no book. So give Weir a break and keep reading. It is a damned good read, and Weir generally gets the science dead on right.

My best to you.

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Stranded on a desert island: Which 4 would you choose? [View all] Are_grits_groceries May 2015 OP

I think you've about got it correct. longship May 2015 #1

Yeah, talk about resourceful Cal Carpenter May 2015 #25

I got turned off by the initial survival Warpy May 2015 #77

Well, there would not have been a novel if he didn't survive initially. longship May 2015 #80

Yes, but there had to be a better way than explosive decompression Warpy May 2015 #95

Well, did you read beyond the first chapter? longship May 2015 #100

I think I got to 4 or 5 before I got sidetracked. Warpy May 2015 #106

It is like Star Trek. longship May 2015 #107

Well, more like the transporter, Warpy May 2015 #110

That's the best book I've read this year - TBF May 2015 #89

first aid kit, water purifier, knife and matches cali May 2015 #2

The mirror by far Omnith May 2015 #3

Flare gun much better!! nt Logical May 2015 #37

Matches give you fire to create smoke B2G May 2015 #40

How many matches? Travis_0004 May 2015 #43

Hence my tent. B2G May 2015 #47

Water purifier, knife, mirror malaise May 2015 #4

I thought about matches, Are_grits_groceries May 2015 #5

you changed your cats! The one on the left is so funny. KittyWampus May 2015 #22

True - I need my matches malaise May 2015 #96

Knife, matches, tarp, flare gun Scootaloo May 2015 #6

Good ideas. Are_grits_groceries May 2015 #7

Spend enough time in the woods, you pick some things up Scootaloo May 2015 #8

Mirror signals AND helps build a fire. ChairmanAgnostic May 2015 #10

Mirror won't help build a fire Scootaloo May 2015 #11

Hmmm BigDemVoter May 2015 #9

knife, rope, pot, boots blogslut May 2015 #12

Mirror, knife, tent, water purifier n/t Jeroen May 2015 #13

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague May 2015 #14

Lol! Are_grits_groceries May 2015 #15

up until the ipod battery dies…. KittyWampus May 2015 #24

You'll need a solar power connection to charge your ipod battery. Initech May 2015 #51

That makes me laugh libodem May 2015 #54

rofl! Tsiyu May 2015 #84

ROFL malaise May 2015 #102

The only two I might substitute from your list... Although, you've chosen wisely. Hugin May 2015 #16

Assuming I expected to wait to be found: bemildred May 2015 #17

This message was self-deleted by its author RadiationTherapy May 2015 #18

I would choose edhopper May 2015 #19

Having seen your choices, I couldn't find any better four davidpdx May 2015 #20

That's what the ocean is for Yupster May 2015 #75

As long as I don't have to use my hand davidpdx May 2015 #83

Tarp, handsaw, rope, knife The2ndWheel May 2015 #21

After due consideration: avebury May 2015 #23

A mirror has to be concave to start a fire. nt Quixote1818 May 2015 #93

Why not a flare gun? nt Logical May 2015 #26

Are there seeds in the weed? Taitertots May 2015 #27

Lol! That was my thought, too. OnionPatch May 2015 #86

Knife, Matches, Fishing Rod, Tarp truebluegreen May 2015 #28

Ipod. Turbineguy May 2015 #29

Does the weed have seeds? n/t brewens May 2015 #30

Water purifier NV Whino May 2015 #31

It depends, do I have a chance for rescue.... daleanime May 2015 #32

Water purifier, knife, tarp, mirror. Marr May 2015 #33

Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Lawrence Ichingcarpenter May 2015 #34

I imagine they would not enjoy your company. Probably kill you. nt Logical May 2015 #38

knife, pot, first aid kit, matches. dilby May 2015 #35

Boiling salt water does not make it drinkable. Travis_0004 May 2015 #44

Yeah would never expect to boil seawater. dilby May 2015 #68

Thatch will collect water and run it off too. nolabear May 2015 #73

Depends on the nature of the island. NuclearDem May 2015 #36

Yep jberryhill May 2015 #111

Tent, water purifier, knife, matches B2G May 2015 #39

No duct tape or WD40??? catnhatnh May 2015 #41

pot, tent, knife, matches Marrah_G May 2015 #42

Tarp, pot, fishing rod, boots XemaSab May 2015 #45

Alternate suggestion: raft, fishing rod, water purifier, flare gun XemaSab May 2015 #46

Looks like I'm the only tent person B2G May 2015 #48

Hand saw, rope, matches and First Aid Kit... fadedrose May 2015 #49

Tarp, Knife, Compass, and Rope Jamastiene May 2015 #50

You can learn directions from the stars, sun, etc. nt Are_grits_groceries May 2015 #82

True. Jamastiene May 2015 #94

OK, I'll play-- Jackpine Radical May 2015 #52

why is beer not on this list? giftedgirl77 May 2015 #53

Flare gun, first aid kit, knife, water purifier applegrove May 2015 #55

Would have to go with the gun imnew May 2015 #56

Trade the Water Purifier for the cast iron pot. bvar22 May 2015 #57

I agree, also if you find a spring you don't need to purifie the water Quixote1818 May 2015 #92

Tarp, Knife, matches, pot Calista241 May 2015 #58

My choice would be Aerows May 2015 #59

Boots, saw, raft and matches. TeeYiYi May 2015 #60

the mirror is most important for rescue. I would choose mirror, matches, first aid kit, hammock Liberal_in_LA May 2015 #61

For me Zo Zig May 2015 #62

Tent, first aid kit, matches, knife mvd May 2015 #63

Can you pick the same thing four times? panader0 May 2015 #64

Pot, knife, tarp, rope Arugula Latte May 2015 #65

4 volleyballs. zappaman May 2015 #66

tarp, knife, water purifier, matches. lumberjack_jeff May 2015 #67

Pot, water purifier, tarp, knife Exilednight May 2015 #69

How big is the island and where is it located, temperature, other land masses, etc? uppityperson May 2015 #70

Knife, matches, rope. I thought it was just three. morningfog May 2015 #71

Pot, fishing rod, knife, matches nolabear May 2015 #72

tent, knife, ohheckyeah May 2015 #74

Knife, tarp, first aid kit, anything else optional Warpy May 2015 #76

The obvious question here is bluegopher May 2015 #78

I ain't surviving shit out in the wild Islandurp May 2015 #79

Tarp, water purifier, knife, and first aid kit. KitSileya May 2015 #81

Tarp, fishing pole, knife and raft jmowreader May 2015 #85

iPod, hammock, weed, water purifier. Fuck it. I'm chillin'. cherokeeprogressive May 2015 #87

Raft, flashlight, sunscreen & flare gun - TBF May 2015 #88

Would depend on the Island. Size of Island? Trees? Hills? Types of Folra? Cave? BlueJazz May 2015 #90

knife, flare gun, pot, saw. Not the water purifier since I have a pot Quixote1818 May 2015 #91

Before I answer...what kind of pot??? nt U4ikLefty May 2015 #97

Rope, knife, tent and matches nadinbrzezinski May 2015 #98

Weed, matches, hammock, and ipod. AtomicKitten May 2015 #99

Some of it would depend on the flora and fauna of the island. Binkie The Clown May 2015 #101

Knife, rope, matches, first-aid kit. Buns_of_Fire May 2015 #103

. AuntPatsy May 2015 #104

fishing rod, knife, raft, water purifier Kip Humphrey May 2015 #105

Why is there not a towel on this list ;) Hestia May 2015 #108

Tarp, Pot, Hiking Boots, Hand Saw. CK_John May 2015 #109

what good is a fishing rod without hooks? I would want a first aid B Calm May 2015 #112

Rod, Knife, Matches ileus May 2015 #113

survival objets mayanlongcount Jul 2015 #114