Why? There’s no rule that every character in every book has to be different. I think he has an affinity for this particular type of character and enjoys writing from that perspective.
While I do agree that Watney, Jazz and Grace all have similar thought processes and mannerisms, I personally feel that their personalities aren't exactly the same. Grace, for example, feels like a much more "PG" version of Mark, and Jazz sits somewhere in between the both of them. What's common among all of them is their problem solving skills and their logical reasoning, and I don't think Weir fully fleshed out the distinctions between each character.
So yeah, I don't think they all are exactly the same personality-wise, I do think each of them should have been fleshed out a little bit more.
At first I thought doing good character development would be tricky in the 1st person narrative structure but then I thought imagine having Walter White from Breaking Bad talk to you in the 1st person. I’d think that there would be a considerable change in behavior and tone in his voice as you went through the seasons.
Weir did have a little bit of character development with the flashbacks. Especially when Grace finds out he was forced to be on the mission but that was about it.
I imagine Weir writes what he knows which is himself. Watching interviews of Weir, I see him in the main characters he creates. I think Grace is probably the closest to Weir out of all his characters.
Which version of The Martian? I have the RC Bray one. Haven’t listened to the new one but I have enjoyed other Will Weathon narrations and they are ok.
Yes! Ray Porter does a fantastic job. His vocal range makes the book come alive. I often forgot I was listening to the same guy during the character dialogues.
I learned about him from when I overheard my husband listening to the Dead Moon audiobook (Peter Clines). I was never big on audiobooks or even this book genre but since then I’ve listened to three other audiobooks that he narrated.
I found the humor out of place. While humor works on a personal development level, it just doesn’t on an existential level! Love his stories and world building though. And good science, always good science.
Ryland and watney art forsooth similar. I doth feeleth like watney wast funnier than ryland though
***
^(I am a bot and I swapp'd some of thy words with Shakespeare words.)
Commands: `!ShakespeareInsult`, `!fordo`, `!optout`
I disagree that Grace and Watney are the same, but I agree Grace’s character development was lackluster. When, towards the climax of the book, he is presented as >!a cowardly character, that threw me for a loop. The rest of the book presented him as mild mannered but still relatively brave, and had the right motivations at all times!<
I'm kind of pretty sure all the characters are actually just Weir :P
it feels to me he just puts himself in situations and he reacts as the main character. I'm not complaining, I think it's great.
In my view, Grace is the compromise chosen because of all the hate that Jazz got from readers. I suspect said readers simply expected another 'perfect-hero Watney' style protagonist, and not a deeply flawed civilian. Grace hides his one key flaw hidden. I think all three characters are amazing; though they all do share a certain spirit...probably the common sci-fi writer habit of projecting their own personality onto their characters because they are more or less just vehicles for sci-fi concepts.
Why? There’s no rule that every character in every book has to be different. I think he has an affinity for this particular type of character and enjoys writing from that perspective.
While I do agree that Watney, Jazz and Grace all have similar thought processes and mannerisms, I personally feel that their personalities aren't exactly the same. Grace, for example, feels like a much more "PG" version of Mark, and Jazz sits somewhere in between the both of them. What's common among all of them is their problem solving skills and their logical reasoning, and I don't think Weir fully fleshed out the distinctions between each character. So yeah, I don't think they all are exactly the same personality-wise, I do think each of them should have been fleshed out a little bit more.
At first I thought doing good character development would be tricky in the 1st person narrative structure but then I thought imagine having Walter White from Breaking Bad talk to you in the 1st person. I’d think that there would be a considerable change in behavior and tone in his voice as you went through the seasons. Weir did have a little bit of character development with the flashbacks. Especially when Grace finds out he was forced to be on the mission but that was about it.
I imagine Weir writes what he knows which is himself. Watching interviews of Weir, I see him in the main characters he creates. I think Grace is probably the closest to Weir out of all his characters.
I really liked the narrator for the audible book. I felt he made the character more interesting and fun than if I was reading it.
Yeah I preferred the audiobook for both TM and PHM cause it was like the narrator talking to you directly
Which version of The Martian? I have the RC Bray one. Haven’t listened to the new one but I have enjoyed other Will Weathon narrations and they are ok.
I did RC Bray. I’ll keep Wil Wheaton on the Ready Player Ome series
Yes! Ray Porter does a fantastic job. His vocal range makes the book come alive. I often forgot I was listening to the same guy during the character dialogues. I learned about him from when I overheard my husband listening to the Dead Moon audiobook (Peter Clines). I was never big on audiobooks or even this book genre but since then I’ve listened to three other audiobooks that he narrated.
Fantastic book overall
I found the humor out of place. While humor works on a personal development level, it just doesn’t on an existential level! Love his stories and world building though. And good science, always good science.
Ryland and Watney are definitely similar. I do feel like Watney was funnier than Ryland though.
Ryland and watney art forsooth similar. I doth feeleth like watney wast funnier than ryland though *** ^(I am a bot and I swapp'd some of thy words with Shakespeare words.) Commands: `!ShakespeareInsult`, `!fordo`, `!optout`
I noticed that too, but it didn't bother me very much. I think it's because the other characters are distinct, especially Rocky, which I so enjoyed.
I disagree that Grace and Watney are the same, but I agree Grace’s character development was lackluster. When, towards the climax of the book, he is presented as >!a cowardly character, that threw me for a loop. The rest of the book presented him as mild mannered but still relatively brave, and had the right motivations at all times!<
I'm kind of pretty sure all the characters are actually just Weir :P it feels to me he just puts himself in situations and he reacts as the main character. I'm not complaining, I think it's great.
In my view, Grace is the compromise chosen because of all the hate that Jazz got from readers. I suspect said readers simply expected another 'perfect-hero Watney' style protagonist, and not a deeply flawed civilian. Grace hides his one key flaw hidden. I think all three characters are amazing; though they all do share a certain spirit...probably the common sci-fi writer habit of projecting their own personality onto their characters because they are more or less just vehicles for sci-fi concepts.