Andy Weir has proven that he knows science. He can write a hell of an adventurous novel full of tension, fascination, and heart. And of course I HAD to read a book about a woman who is a smuggler living on the only city on the moon.

Jazz Bashera is a young woman living in Artemis, the only city on the moon, where there is an international community of residents working to support the city, and a constant stream of tourism because who the hell wouldn't want to visit the moon given the chance?! Being that literally every citizen is an ex-pat it allows for characters of a huge variety of ethnicities, races, sexualities, and religions which I LOVED. Here's just a sampling of the characters you get in this book:

Jazz - Saudi Arabian woman - insanely smart and so so sarcastic
Jazz's Dad - Saudi Arabian man - Muslim
Dale - Gay man - Jewish
Lena - Norwegian girl - Disabled
Ngugi - Kenyan woman - HEAD OF THE WHOLE DAMN CITY! YES!!
Bob - American man - Former Marine
Svobo - Ukranian man - insanely smart
Kelvin - Kenyan man - Resident of Earth

Just like in The Martian Weir's ability to make the science in his story fascinating and relatively easy to understand seriously amazes me. Although there were no space-ninjas in this book I was still able to grasp all the theories Jazz was having to deal with as she problem solves through them.

The book also transitioned really well through the use of emails between Jazz and her near life long pen pal Kelvin living on Earth in Kenya. Their correspondence made for a fantastic method of feeding the reader further information about Jazz's history.

Where Weir needs a bit more practice is in writing a female protagonist. From the beginning I went back and forth wondering if this was an adult novel or a YA novel because Jazz comes off as a 16-18 year old girl. I even tried to trace the events through her history to approximate her age and I still only got 19-20. I questioned it constantly throughout the book until about 60-70% into the book she finally says "I'm 26" and I was shocked!! There was no freaking way! She just did not come off as a woman in her 20's no matter how much she talked about sex. That being said her sassiness/assholishness was off the charts and I loved every minute of that!

So yeah, totally recommend this book, and I am definitely set to read every book Weir writes at this point! I would also appreciate a more books set in in the amazing city of Artemis!

Much appreciation to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel for an honest review.

Artemis is a captivating novel set on the moon and about a girl who is strong, gutsy, and takes no BS from anyone. I loved her strength and her snarky attitude. And just like The Martian, Artemis is a scientific goldmine. I simply could not get enough of all the science, it's what I loved best about The Martian.

Very fast-paced, exciting, set on the moon, featuring a likable rogue of a character. I enjoyed reading this, and look forward to his next book.

There was not as much peril saturation as in the Martian. Jazz was likable. Some of the humor was geeky, sexist and awkward. I think have the main character be female just allowed for Weir to include more sexual humor. Writing a character of the opposite gender can be difficult.

Artemis would make a good movie, and would need very little adjusting. There is an underlying stubborn faith in the goodness of humanity in Weir's books. So no matter the peril or hopelessness of the situation, the books remain positive and leave you feeling upbeat.

First, I want to thank Crown Publishing and NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy of this book!

After reading, "The Martian" last year and really loving it; I was excited to read Artemis! The setting takes place in a city built on the moon and the main character, Jazz, has committed a crime for her friend by blowing up and smuggling their main oxygen source to make a lot of money; what she doesn't anticipate is murder.

Okay, I found the setting to be really awesome; I mean it's city on the moon!! However, most of this book agitated me. Jazz was a very annoying character! She's 26 years old and has the mouth of a teenage boy. I could tell she was very bright scientifically (so much so it was a little over my head), but then when she tried to insult someone or just really converse in general she was so stupid! I think Andy Weir needs to stick with writing male characters.

This book comes out in November, so hopefully you guys will enjoy it more.

I have to admit that I’ve never picked up The Martian (I know, I know). I’ve heard great things about it but was skeptical about liking a sci-fi book—it’s not usually my go-to genre. However, I decided to give Artemis a try on the recommendation of a friend. I was pleasantly surprised!

Jasmine Bashara, better known as “Jazz”, has lived on the moon in a colony called Artemis since she was six years old. Originally from Saudi Arabia, Jazz moved with her Father, a respected welder, to become part of the first and only lunar civilization. Artemis has 2,000 permanent residents, but relies heavily on rich tourists visiting from Earth. A spunky and often crass Jazz, a lower-class woman with a record of being trouble, uses her position as a porter to smuggle contraband to desiring citizens. Through her connections, she is sucked into a risky plan that will shift power in the community—one that comes with a payout large enough to get her out of poverty and into her dream life. However, things go awry and she finds herself entangled in a mess of assassins, murder and deceit. Luckily, she’s smarter than people assume.

This book was a fast-paced page turner. I actually didn’t realize that Jazz was a female at the beginning (I hadn’t read a lot about the book before starting) which made it a bit of a shock. She’s mouthy, feisty, sexually experienced and street smart. I have read a couple reviews that criticize Weir’s take on a female character and while I can see where people are coming from, I also think that her character isn’t completely unrealistic. I did think some of her lines were a bit overdone and stereotypical but overall found her to be pretty hilarious (at times she seemed more like a teenager than a woman in her 20s, though). I am curious if my opinion would change if I read The Martian.

There’s a ton of science talk going on but it’s mostly easy to follow. I am not even remotely a science person so there were definitely parts where my brain clouded over and I wanted to move on, but I imagine someone who cared about those topics would be thrilled. My major critique was that I didn’t see enough character development of the supporting characters—I just wasn’t invested in their storylines. There were a couple characters that almost seemed like filler at the end.

Overall, an enjoyable fast read infused with a ton of well-researched facts sure to draw in the science buffs amongst us.

Fantastic! Artemis is an incredible piece of science fiction - exciting, clever and even funny. Jazz Bashara is an incredible lead, fast thinking, creative, and delightfully devious.  When it comes to skirting the law on the moon, Jazz is one of the best even if her bank account doesn't reflect her intelligence or skill.  For the most part, she smuggles in items from Earth. Between that and her porter job she is just scraping by. But a big chance comes her way - 1 million credits to sabotage the ore harvesting machinery of Artemis’s aluminum processor. Of course Jazz didn't count on the complications resulting from her efforts.  On the run from a murderous cartel, Jazz has only one chance to save her skin and Artemis's future.  

Andy Weir’s characters were wonderful.  I absolutely loved Svoboda.  He was adorably geeky and his innocent enthusiasm was a perfect match for Jazz.  No matter how complex the situation becomes, Jazz is able to find a way forward.  Devious as she is, Jazz isn't one to take advantage or harm others.  Her word is her bond and a deal is a deal.

Andy Weir has given readers a fast paced science fiction caper with memorable characters, a thrilling plot, and a bevy of twists and turns that will keep you glued to the page.  I hope that readers will have the chance to see more of Jazz in future.

5 / 5

I received a copy of Artemis from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

Andy Weir has managed to write another sci-fi book that will appeal to people who "don't read sci-fi." The Martian was a crossover success, and I think this will be, too. There were definitely moments that were anxiety-inducing enough to make it difficult for me to read through, but of course it was worth it. I love the science. I love that he took on a woman's point of view. The attention to detail was great, as I would expect from Weir. Very entertaining, and I'm looking forward to recommending it to library patrons.

Artemis is the only city on the moon and Jazz Bashara is a luminary of its seedy underbelly. She smuggles in fun goodies (nothing dangerous: she's got standards) to supplement her meager porter's wages. When one of her regular customers offers her an obscene amount of money to add industrial sabotage to her repertoire, Jazz brings all her scientific knowledge and criminal acumen to the issue. A tiny error in judgment snowballs into complete catastrophe; add a conspiracy and she's running for her life. Jazz is roguish, smart, foul-mouthed, and funny, but it's a little off-putting how often she's labeled promiscuous. A fun caper with a solid scientific grounding.

It's no secret I like action filled plots.

This is an action filled plot!

So, yeah, I loved it.

Another thing I love is kick-ass heroines. Jazz Bashara is tough, smart, snarky, *fist pumps air* yet there's a soft, caring side to her that is beautifully feminine. Major kudos to Andy Weir and the wonderful women in his life that helped him write this amazing character.

She is not the only memorable character. Everyone I met was unique and interesting. Various nationalities are portrayed well. We also get a captivating love triangle with two gay men. I just want to gush on about all the different characters and scenarios in this story. But I don't want to give anything away. I want everyone to read and experience it first hand.

The story is fast-paced. Did you expect anything less from Weir? I had a movie reel running in my head the whole time I was reading.

Expected publication in November, 2017. Mark your calendars!

Jasmine Bashara grew up in the lunar city of Artemis, where she works as a porter and smuggler. After a job for one of her clients goes terribly wrong, Jazz finds herself hiding from a Brazilian crime syndicate, attempting to determine the importance of a mysterious item called "ZAFO," and scheming to protect the future of her city. Jazz is a very likeable narrator, a clever young woman with a sense of humor and, despite her profession, a strong ethical core. Artemis is populated by a variety of interesting characters, and the description of the workings of the city is fascinating and seems believable. This novel is a fun read that should appeal to science fiction and thriller fans as well as those who enjoy adventure and heist stories.

I was really looking forward to this book but what a disappointment. Too much science and technical information and the action really did not get going until the last third of the book. The premise was certainly good but something got lost I the execution.

Jasmine “Jazz” Bashara has made some poor life choices ever since she and her father immigrated to the first and only moon colony, “Artemis” when she was just a young girl. Now at the age of 27, she is a porter, a low-paying job that consists of carting stuff all over the multi-domed colony of 2000 people. However, it’s a great cover for her real profession: smuggler. She is motivated by money in order to lead a higher quality of life so when an opportunity drops in her lap to sabotage a major aluminum processing plant in order to help shift the balance of power…well, it’s the high paycheck that coaxes her into taking on the risky job.

That effort leads to a domino effect of one thing going wrong after another and eventually leads to dire peril, not only for herself but for every person in the colony. The story is told through Jazz’s first person point of view and despite her profession, her humorous and snarky outlook are enduring and we find ourselves rooting for her success, especially when she realizes what and who she is really up against.

Inevitable comparisons will be made between this novel and The Martian. I’m sure Andy Weir felt enormous pressure to avoid a sophomore slump and follow up such a phenomenally successful debut novel with another great book. I think he succeeded amazingly well although, frankly, his task was impossible. How can lightning ever be captured in a bottle twice? But having said that, I think he approached the task perfectly. He kept to his strong points by having his main POV character extremely intelligent and able to think through one disastrous problem at a time using scientific knowledge and insight. The use of humor as a tension-tamer is prevalent and also serves as a way to help us identify with Jazz. The stakes get extremely high in this novel and the action is edge-of-your seat intense. I love the way the author weaves real science into his stories, and let us learn without realizing it. It is clear he has a clear and vibrant understanding of how a moon colony would work, how life would be like in lunar gravity, as well as the economy of such a place. And we get to understand all of that as well, along with the myriad of ways things can go wrong.

But Andy Weir also ensures that this is not the same novel in any way, shape or form as The Martian. While there are similarities in style, the plot and the characters are refreshingly new. It’s also cool to see how multi-cultural the city of Artemis is. In fact, Jazz, herself is Arabic and the accomplished leader/CEO of the colony is Kenyan. The book can easily stand on its own as a wonderful novel in its own right. If forced to choose, I would still have to pick The Martian, but only because that one is in a class by itself. Based on this effort, I feel comfortable that Andy Weir is not just a one-shot wonder, but a novelist whose work I will seek out in the future with great anticipation.

Highly recommended.

Like many people I absolutely loved "The Martian", and so I was excited to see that Andy Weir was coming out with a new sci fi novel. "Artemis" didn't grab me quite as much as "The Martian", but it is highly entertaining and features some excellent world building.

"Artemis" takes place in the first city located on the Moon. Our main character Jazz (Jasmine) has lived in Artemis since she was a small child, and is now working as a courier and smuggler with the hope that she can make enough money to buy her own apartment--one that is a bit bigger then the bunk where she currently sleeps. When she is offered a lot of money to take on a high risk--and highly illegal--job, Jazz agrees, and we are launched into a sci fi heist.

The greatest strength in this book is the obvious thought that Weir has put into how a city on the Moon would operate. Everything from city design, construction, maintenance, and economics has been logically put together to create a believable view of humanities first non-Earth city. I can't verify how close to possible all of the technological ideas are, but they all seemed plausible, and judging by the research he put into "The Martian" I'm guessing that the technology of "Artemis" is also as fact based as possible.

Jazz is not always a completely likeable main character, but she is smart and resourceful, and it's entertaining to watch her figure out how to extricate herself from various disasters. There is obviously more of a supporting cast then we saw in "The Martian" since Jazz lives in a city and is therefore able to interact with friends, family, and law enforcement in a way that Mark could not. It is also clear that Andy Weir put a lot of effort into making sure that his cast of characters was realistically diverse. Jazz is Arabic, one of her best friends is gay, one of the other important characters is disabled, and there are several other non-white characters in the main cast. I appreciated this diversity, although it does sometimes seem like Weir is trying really hard to make us know how diverse the cast is (having Jazz remind us that the gay character is gay all the time for example).

If you liked "The Martian" you will probably like "Artemis" as well. If Mark Watney's flippant tone in that book annoyed you, then I would worry a bit since that tone is extremely evident here. The dialogue and humor in the two books is very similar. Overall this book is a lot of fun and should be a good quick read for fans of near future sci fi. It is also likely to make a very fun movie one of these days.

If you were a fan of the wit and general humor in The Martian, you will not be disappointed here. Artemis was full of quotable, laugh out loud moments. Even in more serious times, the main character usually has a way of keeping things a little lighter without drawing away too much from the tension buildup.

Jazz definitely uses her sarcasm and humor as a defense mechanism. This is great for the most part. I will admit though, that come about the last 20% of the book, her sarcasm and badly timed jokes scraped against my nerves a little. In these moments, she went from a strong, independent woman to just seeming a tad too childish. I would just prefer that in a time sensitive situation she didn't get petty. That is probably my only real complaint.

Another great thing about this book is that it includes so many nationalities, races, and religions. For example, Jazz and her father are immigrants to Artemis from Saudi Arabia. It's very logical to not just assume that Artemis would be an American city on the moon. I think I can safely say, without giving anything away, that the earth organization behind Artemis isn't even in the states.

As to be expected, this book has a lot of scientific terminology. However, it is done in such a way though that explains everything as it goes without feeling like a boring lecture. It's not at all hard to follow what is going on.

Overall, this was a very clever and enjoyable read. I can't wait to see the movie and how it translates to the big screen! I highly recommend this book to sci-fi fans in general. Also, I think that if you enjoyed The Martian, chances are, you're going to like this too.

It's hard to read this book and not compare it to The Martian which was an amazing story.
This book is good and a fun read.
Jazz lives on the moon. She is a porter and a smuggler where being a porter comes in handy. One of her customers offers her a lot of moon money to sabotage the aluminum plant on the moon..It goes wrong. Then there is a double murder that is tied in.
Like The Martian there is a lot of science which I tend to skip over...maybe too much science. Like I said, it's a fun read and kept me reading.

Considering the widespread success of The Martian, Andy Weir is clearly a gifted storyteller. Unfortunately for me, I'm not as keen on the grittier elements of the first-person POV. So, while I am sure this would be a good story for many others, it is not quite my cup of tea (pun intended for those who will read the book).

From the author of The Martian comes another scientific space story that features a young Saudi woman, Jazz Bashara, as the main character. I couldn’t wait to dive into another epic science fiction story rooted in actual science. Unfortunately, Weir’s inability to write a believable female character is a huge disservice to the story as a whole.

Jazz Bashara is a 26-year-old woman living on the moon working as a delivery person. She’s made a lot of mistakes in her past and is doing everything she can to right those wrongs, even if it means bending the rules. Jazz’s character is intriguing and works, theoretically. Unfortunately, Weir’s obvious inability in writing a female main character ruins everything that he was trying to accomplish. The science and actual plot sometimes takes a backseat to Jazz’s cringiest moments. Most of the time her internal monologue comes off as a 15-year-old boy. So, Weir’s attempts at creating a cohesive and sexual female character failed miserably because Jazz ends up being a caricature of a woman.

The other characters weren’t fleshed out and only existed to serve the plot at different moments. Some of them would have been interesting had they been developed more and some of them were just flat-out annoying. However, the most developed character, apart from Jazz, was a character the reader never sees because Jazz has an e-mail only relationship with him. I came to enjoy their interactions by the end of the novel, but that was after I overcame how random the e-mail exchanges were placed in the story. Had the exchanges been organically added it would have improved Artemis tenfold.

Artemis features a heist on the moon with Jazz leading the charge. It’s fun and exciting, but comes off as more of a mindless action movie than a story rooted in science. The beginning of the novel is where most of the science is featured because it explained how Artemis works and what it’s like to live on the moon, but as the story progresses the further away Weir veers from the science. This isn’t necessarily a negative, however the reason I enjoyed The Martian so much was because it was deeply root in science. So, if you didn’t enjoy the science lesson of The Martian but want to read a realistic science fiction novel then Artemis is for you. But, if you enjoyed that lesson than you may find yourself underwhelmed by Artemis.


Overall, I didn’t enjoy Artemis nearly as much as The Martian. Perhaps if Jazz had not sounded like a 15-year-old boy Artemis would have been success. Maybe Weir should just stick to writing male characters in the future.

Remember that guy who wrote The Martian and it became a bestseller & a movie? Well, he just wrote a new book called Artemis about a young smuggler. She’s 26-years-old, Arab, slightly criminal, and one of the more intelligent characters I’ve read in a couple of months. Oh, and did I mention she lives on the moon?

Jasmine Bashara (Jazz) is just your average twentysomething with eyes full of stars and an empty wallet. Profession? Porter and small time smuggler. Who said living on Moon’s first civilization was easy? Unless you’re a rich tourist or billionaire, most citizens are just trying to make it. Problem? She’s far more intelligent than your typical Moon citizen, and when she gets the chance to commit that perfect crime, Jazz can’t help but try to pull of the impossible. Money is money. Unfortunately for her, there’s no such thing as “the perfect crime” and soon she finds herself caught in the middle of a conspiracy as opposing forces fight to control Artemis.

Overall, this novel was fun. Jazz has a hilarious, likable personality, and uses humor as much as she can to tell the story. Weir definitely captures the typical millennial struggle of wanting to wander in life comfortably. I loved Jazz’s diverse background, her relationship with her father (despite it being strenuous), and entertaining perspective. I’m not sure if it was just me, but I just craved more. We got bite-sized information about Jazz’s past (some of it through e-mails), and a little bit about her present, but I would’ve loved some more character building. She’s the caricature of a kick-ass woman without the onion layers. And her promiscuity seemed to be her only descriptor at times which bugged me. I’d also have loved some world building. Don’t get me wrong. Artemis was described, for sure, but like Jazz, we only got to see the top layer. We got the rundown of the bubbles, the architecture of the city, but didn’t interact with anyone besides the main characters. If you want an action-packed, plot-heavy novel though, this one’s for you.

This book is similar to Weir’s other book in the sense that all the characters need to apply scientific knowledge in order to survive the challenges thrown at them. Is it sad that even with Jazz’s interesting and understandable (aka dumbed down) explanations, I still struggled to understand what the hell was happening? I’d say that I’m generally an intelligent person, but I had to re-read paragraphs in this novel a couple of times just to understand the physics, chemistry, and economics of it all. I got the gist, but not with ease. It made me question whether this was a YA or adult novel. It’s skimpy enough to be a YA novel, but a little to heavy on the science to really fit that category.

In a nutshell: A cool new addition to the sci-fi section and worth the read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. And it all happened on the moon! I loved it. Artemis was well written and exciting! Absolutely entertaining!

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.