"I'm not much of an astrophysics person, and I wondered what could be so appealing about an astronaut stuck on Mars. I might skim an article about it, sure, but an entire book? No way. Well, how wrong I was. I've been reading it every chance I get for the past couple of days, and I just had to tear myself away from it in order to write this post."
"Now that I'm midway through, I see why it works so well. It has all the ingredients for success: an extremely likable protagonist in an impossible situation, with that situation made possible through sheer determination and ingenuity, both his own and that of people across every rung of the ladder at a space organization. Throw in some international cooperation, some serious sci-fi chops, and you have the recipe for an irresistible read."
A reader initially felt skeptical about enjoying a space-set novel due to limited interest in astrophysics but became fully engrossed, reading whenever possible. The narrative centers on a likable protagonist stranded alone on Mars who survives through determination, ingenuity, and collaboration across a space organization and international partners. Survival dramas appeal because human cognition prioritizes survival-relevant details and people empathize by mentally simulating protagonists’ choices. Resourcefulness, humor, and cooperative problem-solving enhance resonance. The genre’s tendency toward hopeful outcomes contributes to its appeal, prompting reflection on whether bleak endings would retain the same attraction.
Read at Psychology Today
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