I love the premise of a community on the moon, and think this is a fast read. Jazz is entertaining but a little hard to like. I like the science of the moon and the dust and rocks and EVAs, great engaging detail. But sometimes it was too jam-packed with research and not enough action. I enjoyed it, but not as much as The Martian.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When I heard Andy Weir had a new book coming out, I couldn’t wait to read it because, like pretty much everyone else, I thoroughly loved The Martian. Artemis is not The Martian so I don’t want to compare them.
Pros:
I enjoyed the humor in this book, lots of sarcasm and snark, quite a few grins and laugh out loud moments too. I did enjoy the relationships as well, this book showed how relationships can get messed up easily and are much harder to mend. I also enjoyed all the problem solving we saw and how science works to solve a lot of these issues. It was interesting to see HOW people could live on the moon, not just saying on the first page “I live on the moon somehow, don’t ask me…science or something”. We really got to see all the issues that have to be dealt with in order for humans to live on the moon in reality.
Cons:
I feel like the characters, even the main one, could have delved a little deeper. Some were a little flat for me and I could have used a little more insight and motivation for these characters. Also, as much as I feel the author “dumbed down” most of the science and physics for the layperson, like myself, I still got slightly glassed over eyes now and then. It wasn’t too distracting, I just tried really hard to understand or just kept going with the plot.
To me, Artemis is a good book about solving problems, from small ones, to life-threatening ones, to relationship-threatening ones. What I took from this book is that any problem can be solved, you just have to look for the solution.
*3.5 Stars*

Having read Weir's The Martian a few years ago (much like everyone else 😀), I was really looking forward to his next book.  After a hugely successful debut, a lot of times readers can be disappointed when a follow up is different than the book that introduced them to the author.  Artemis is different than The Martian, but I think a lot of the most charming "Weir-y" things from The Martian are still there. 

Artemis is about a smuggler with a heart of gold, Jazz (Jasmine) Bashara.  She is intelligent, intuitive, scrappy, but (as most people will tell her), she has not lived up to her potential.  The action takes place on the moon colony - the eponymous Artemis, which has a tourist attraction at the original moon landing site, a small city with different domes (neighborhoods) which correspond well to the right and wrong sides of the proverbial tracks.  Finally, there is a smelting and iron ore operation, which provides power and oxygen to the city and the landing site.  

Jazz seems to enjoy her "work" as a smuggler.  She's a complete sponge for knowledge of any type even if she doesn't notice or care about it.  When she is asked with breaking into the smelting works and destroying their machines, she comes up with a rather elaborate and scientifically intelligent plan to do so.  When that goes a bit wrong, she has to gather an Ocean's 11 rag tag team of people to finish the job and save the colony.  

Artemis is a fun spacey adventure like The Martian, but I think the points of interest that will bring Martian lovers over are the science and the intelligent scrappy heroine.  Jazz has had some hard times and is working towards a mysterious goal.  I really think readers will find in her someone they can relate to in some ways and admire in others.  

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the premise of a heist on Mars involving science. But the characters, especially Jazz, felt stilted and awkward at times. Jazz just didn't read like a women in her 20s. It just felt unnatural which dampened my enjoyment of the novel.

Good read, but not quite what I was expecting. I liked the character Jazz, but there was a lot of filler in the story about the science behind everything so that made it hard to get through for me.

Favorite quote:
“It’s all part of the life-cycle of an economy. First it’s lawless capitalism until that starts to impede growth. Next comes regulation, law enforcement, and taxes. After that: public benefits and entitlements. Then, finally, overexpenditure and collapse.”“Wait. Collapse?”“Yes, collapse. An economy is a living thing. It’s born full of vitality and dies once it’s rigid and worn out. Then, through necessity, people break into smaller economic groups and the cycle begins anew, but with more economies. Baby economies, like Artemis is right now.”“Huh,” I said. “And if you want to make babies, somebody’s got to get fucked.”

Artemis by Andy Weir Is another out of this world read! This novel takes place on the moon and features the main character of Jazz. Jazz is a bit of a rebel. She operates a smuggling operation with the aid of her long time pen pal who lives in Kenya. Jazz is asked to mess with some important moon equipment in exchange for a large sum of money. This is where her troubles begin. Jazz sets off a chain reaction of events that will put not only her life in danger but also the lives of the 2000 citizens of Artemis. This tale concludes with a riveting ending that will have you up reading all night in order to see what Jazz's fate is. Read and enjoy!

I expected great things of Artemis, having thoroughly enjoyed The Martian. I was ready for space moon adventures, with a colorful supporting cast, and a new, plucky, heroine! I was looking forward to Andy Weir giving Jazz, our protagonist, a refreshingly unique voice as he had done for Mark Watney in The Martian! And, course, I was ready for more science! Oh the potential, the expectations!

And yet, here I am, trying to think of something better to say than “Well, it had an interesting premise”.

Jazz Bashara, a genius who hates to apply herself and despises the “but you have such potential” hang wringing from all of the adults in her life, is supposed to be a 26 year old woman, but is written like a petulant, tween-aged boy. On one hand, she’s a small-time smuggler, looking to make ends meet in the baby economy of Artemis, the lunar city; on the other hand, she’s secretly running the entire smuggling business from Earth to the moon with the help of her childhood pen-pal. She’s such a genius that she can learn complex engineering and chemistry in an afternoon, but it’s heavily implied that she refuses to apply herself either because she’s too busy seducing anything that moves or because she’s still heartbroken when the love of her life turned out to be gay.

Spare me.

Nor can the other characters save this novel; although the ensemble cast is diverse, each one feels like a cardboard cutout only meant to interact with Jazz at key moments. They are plot devices, not people, who show up to lecture Jazz (and by extension, the reader) about what’s happening now, serving as exposition, and telling, rather than showing.

The science at the heist itself was definitely entertaining, and as I did with The Martian, I enjoyed Weir’s more detailed glimpse into the details of why everything worked (or didn’t). And while that was certainly a small saving grace, it couldn’t carry the weight of the whole novel, even in moon gravity.

(I’m sorry I felt compelled to include that joke.)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I found the plot to move quickly, and it sucked you in from the very beginning. I loved how much science (although I have no idea whether any of it was correct or not) was woven into the plot. The only thing that came to annoy me (and the reasoning for a 4 star, rather than a 5 star review, was that the main character's voice started to annoy me by the end of the book. Because she and her thoughts drove so much of the plot, it felt like there was never any change, and her voice was very distinctive and very strong. I can imagine that it will turn some readers off from the book.

Before I started reading this book I snuck a peek at some of the reviews on Amazon. Of course there were negative reviews and so I thought, hmmm should I or shouldn't I read this. I did read The Martian (Loved it!!) and that alone convinced me to read this book. I really enjoyed reading this book, sometimes the main characters inner language bugged me, a bit too snarky for my taste. Other reviewers have commented on the plausibility of some of the events that take place, and I say "who cares". Read the book for the poor enjoyment of reading a fun read, that takes you to the moon, keeps you on edge with a cast of colorful characters. I recommend this book.

I really wanted to like this book. The premise is awesome, and I loved The Martian. But something about this book was just off. The science facts were still cool and intriguing, but it felt like the snarky humor I enjoyed in The Martian was missing in Artemis. And while I love that Jazz has a lot of technical and scientific know-how, the way she talks and thinks felt more like a teenage boy than a woman in her 20's and was really off-putting.

The actual plot was intriguing not just because of the action but also because of the politics moving behind the scenes. Weir clearly can world-build and seems to have considered many of the day-to-day problems living on the moon would entail. And the pacing and surprises were great. I just wish Jazz had been written as the adult she was supposed to be.

Another winner by Andy Weir. There was plenty of sharp, witty dialogue as well as a suspenseful plotline. One point deduction for the scientific jargon that I found myself skimming through. Otherwise, a very enjoyable read that I highly recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

Artemis is a fun romp from the author of the bestselling novel The Martian. Weir’s book is dedicated to the Apollo astronauts who flew to the moon but didn’t get to land and walk on it, a nice touch.

The world building is good. I totally believed in a city on the moon. There are a number of ambiguous characters, neither good nor bad. The science seemed real enough to this non-scientist. I liked how currency worked on the moon and also how justice for minor infractions was handled by former Canadian Mountie Rudy. I’m not a big map person but the maps at the front of the book helped me visualize the layout of Artemis.

Weir has a way with words: “If my neighborhood were wine, connoisseurs would describe it as ‘shitty, with overtones of failure and poor life decisions.’” (p. 5 of the advance reader copy)

Although I’m sure I didn’t get them all, I enjoyed the references to pop culture (e.g., "Don't get me wrong, this wasn't the farthest I'd been from the Shire or anything....But this was the farthest I'd ever been from safety." (p. 102 of the ARC).

Artemis is not a perfect book. I kept forgetting the narrator was a woman; I don’t think Weir quite nailed a female inner voice. Although I applaud his attempt to add diversity to science fiction, Jazz also didn’t seem credibly Saudi Arabian. She acted and talked like a snarky American. (Although, who knows, maybe we’ll all think and talk like that in the future when we have a city on the moon.)

Jazz is on the run at one point and dresses up like a prostitute, which seemed like a clichéd choice. Also, there is romantic/sexual tension with a number of different men, and yet she is hung up on the gay ex-boyfriend who left her for another man.

The book was slow starting as Weir did his world building but once the action started it really drew me in. The biggest issue for me was probably the amount of science. I totally believed that scientist Mark Watney knew all the stuff he knew in The Martian, but Jazz is a porter and smuggler. Although several characters comment on how she has so much potential and could be doing more with her life, I had a hard time believing she understood all the complicated science that comes in to play by the end.

So, I can’t say Artemis is as good as The Martian, but it’s an enjoyable science fiction read if you think you’d enjoy a story about a slightly implausible adventure that contains a lot of detailed factual information about staying alive in a city on the moon.

I read an advance reader copy of Artemis. It is scheduled to be published in mid-November. It will be available at the Galesburg Public Library in print, as an audiobook, and as an ebook.

What a fantastic book! I tore through it in just 2 days. Andy Weir tells a story chocked full of science but makes it so fun that you can't even tell. The book makes me want to pack up and take a ride on the next shuttle out to the moon. I absolutely loved Jazz and friends and foes. This is a must read for anyone who loves a great sci-fi novel.

While the characters felt very weak, the story and the science behind it were very enjoyable and it was a quick read that kept me involved. I look forward to the audio version coming out as I feel that a narrator might help give more life and likability to the characters that fell flat in print for me, particularly the main character.

Enjoyed this more than The Martian. The story was way more engaging and the characters were more interesting to me than those in The Martian.

This is pretty much a caper novel set on the moon in a lunar city. The lead character, Jazz, is smart, funny, subversive, and a bit cheeky. Personally I enjoyed getting to know Jazz's character and Weir handles writing a young woman pretty well.

The book itself is a fast paced ride. Once the story gets going and the caper begins, everything moves quickly. There are quite a few surprise turns of event after which I found myself thinking "How will they get themselves out of this one??" but Weir makes it work. There is quite a bit of welding information in this book. For readers who aren't familiar with welding Weir does a good job of explaining most things. For those that are familiar with welding, you may be annoyed by the neverending explanations of welding terms. Can't please everyone.


I couldn't put this book down and I look forward to reading more about Artemis.

Weir easily and quickly engages the reader with his storytelling, but the excessive use of profanity was disappointing and off-putting.

This was an action packed book about a woman who lives on the moon. She is gritty and does what it takes to get by and get ahead. Jazz is presented with an opportunity to commit a big crime that will give her the money she always dreamed up getting so she could finally live comfortably on the moon. This opportunity comes with more complications than she could expect and Jazz has to think around all these problems to get her big paycheck.

This book is a delightful romp on the moon that is a much more casual read than The Martian.

I was so excited about receiving this ARC from Netgalley after reading (and loving) The Martian. Andy Weir has a very unique voice and that was evident all the way through this novel as well. There are obvious comparisons to The Martian to be made. The language of Jazz (the protaganist) and the flippant remarks and sarcasm is very reminiscent of the comments of Mark Watney in The Martian. In the case of this book, however, the attitude grew tiresome and seemed forced perhaps because there was nothing to break up Jazz's dialogue with a different perspective. Everything is from her POV rather than having interludes of another voice.

Although the action felt a little contrived in this book, I still got caught up in the moon-walking, sabotage and entrigue of the city on the moon concept. It was refreshing after a series of "just OK" reads lately to get one that I couldn't put down. It's a solid 3.5 star read rounded up to four for enjoyability.

First off I have not yet read "The Martian" or any of Weir's other novels so I cannot compare Artemis to them. However, I feel that it lives up to the hype that Weir now has. 

Jazz is an engaging main character and I definitely enjoyed her voice in this story. The best way I can describe her is a sarcastic little shit. Which I mean as a compliment. She is a porter but has a side hustle as a smuggler, which is a nice touch.  Jazz is the epitome of a genius but is so lazy. It reminds me of someone I know *side eyes my best friend*. She also messes up a lot, but always tries to make good on her mistakes. As shown with her actions in the climax, she will do anything to protect the innocent. There is quite a bit of diversity in this book, which was nice to see people from all walks of life live together. 

 The main plot of the story involves Jazz pulling off an interesting scheme for a lot of money.  It kind of reminds me of Six of Crows, especially towards the end of the book, only make it on the moon. The pacing is exciting and the writing was humorous. I was not bored at all; I just wanted to keep reading. I did not see any of the plot twists coming except for the first one, which I consider very good.  

As for Artemis, it is now on my ever-growing fictional bucket list of places to visit. And though Artemis is small, around 2,000 citizens not including the hordes of tourists, it has a lot going for it. Speaking of tourists, I now want to go to the moon and run around in one of those hamster balls! Weir does a great job at the world building. He includes little details about life on Artemis, like slow internet and how there are no cars, that it feels like a fully fleshed out city. 

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this novel and I recommend it to fans of science fiction, heists, and anyone who wants to read something entertaining with a cup of science on the side. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for sending me a copy to review. This in no way affected my review. 

Favorite Quotes 

Disclaimer: These are from an ARC and therefore they might change slightly from the final print. So for the time being just enjoy these quotes until I can check them against the final copy. 

"I stared daggers at [him]. He didn’t notice. Damn, I wasted a perfectly good bitchy glare." - 12

“Paper?” He held the schematics like they were a urine sample. “You wrote them on paper?” - 49 

"But no idiot proofing can overcome a determined idiot." - 59 

" “Shit! Damn! Crap! Ass! Son of a bitch!” It’s important to vary your profanities. If you use the same one too often it loses strength. " - 100 


“On a scale from one to ‘invade Russia in winter,’ how stupid is this plan?” -178

I signed up at NetGalley on a whim the other day and applied for the ARC of this book. Got approved in less than 24 hours! Very cool. Read it at my desk at work while waiting for my coworkers to finally finish a patch.

Now, on the subject of the book itself:

I really liked it (3.5). It was not a complete departure from The Martian, so I think that anyone who liked that would probably like this. It was a super fast read, fast-paced and exciting.

Things I liked:

1. The world-building was good. I believed that life on the moon could actually be exactly the way he described - astronauts as "local" heroes whose names are plastered all over everything, a bustling tourist economy, and a thriving immigrant community. I had trouble wrapping my head around the scale, though - how could a town of 2000 support so many different neighborhoods? Why would they even consider building living quarters you couldn't even stand up in?

2. I think Weir did a pretty good job on the future science, and there was clearly a lot of thought put into it, but he showed his hand a couple of times:
Reactors on Earth dump heat into lakes or rivers. We're a bit dry here on the moon, so we dump our heat via infrared light emitted into space. It's century-old technology, but we haven't come up with anything better.
Who, exactly, couldn't come up with anything better?

On the whole, The Martian was a touch science-y-er. This book, instead, took a sharp left turn into gumshoe, intrigue, conspiracy territory.

Things I didn't like:

1. Andy Weir is fucking terrible at writing a female perspective. Firstly, in the beginning, Jazz didn't really read as male (which is fine, maybe she and I are different). But then Andy Weir felt the need to keep underlining that she was, indeed, a woman - "My plan was working! I giggled like a little girl. Hey, I'm a girl, so I'm allowed."

2. I loved Jazz's cast of handy friends, but her relationship with Svoboda was kind of weird. I think that he is supposed to be some kind of love interest? The whole time, though, Svoboda was just kind of crossing boundaries and calling Jazz a slut, then Jazz would just shake her head and be all "Oh Svoboda, Imma give you GIRL lessons one of these days!" Weir also never ever describes his appearance. I think that she probably had more chemistry with Rudy, and that never went anywhere at all. The whole "hot for Jazz" bit probably could have been dropped in its entirety.

3. "You learned all of this today?! You'd make a great scientist[!]" "You're such an intelligent girl, Jasmine. If only you'd apply yourself[!]" "You made a three-meter-long airtight weld while wearing an EVA suit. You really could have been a master[!]" Show. Don't. Tell.

4. If I have to read about someone picking up a "good head of steam" one more time, I will give up on reading entirely.