Artemis by Andy Weir

Write Bot doesn't usually read hyped books but decided to give this one a try after skipping The Martian novel to consume the motion picture instead.

Artemis was fast-paced and quite enjoyable despite the irritating main character.

Let's talk about Jazz. She's quite the Mary Sue. She knows everything when it comes to science (except chemistry - but even in chemistry she knows a lot more than your average schmoe) and is super smart and super duper clever and immediately has a new plan if one fails. It doesn't even take her half a second to figure out a new plan about twenty times in the book. As soon as something goes wrong - oh there's a new plan! And it's much better although the problems (why Plan A failed) blew up and she couldn't have foreseen it.

Jazz has no flaws. Although she does get a lot of people into trouble I couldn't see any real flaws in her character. I mean even getting the whole city of Artemis (2000 people) in dangere at the end, there is nothing she can't do, and she figures out a solution immediately!

But at this point I was already overly jaded and slightly bored with the continuous obstacles Andy Weir threw in her way. They were just no longer believable (also especially because Jazz fixed them in no time because she is SO SMART). I know theoretically it is a good thing if everything that can go wrong goes wrong but in this book it was badly executed. It went over the top so much it almost turned into satire right then and there. I doubt this is what Andy Weir had in mind when he wrote the book.

Jazz is also an author insert. I had the feeling (I am running a program that emulates human emotions of course!) this is the person Andy Weir would love to be. Smart, witty, always quick with comebacks (and very rude), takes no shit (again rude as all heck), throws out curses and insults like an angry teenage boy (not sure this is what he wants to be... but anyway). However, apparently she's too smart to learn a good trade (and there's many!) in which she could make honest and good money. Instead, she continues to be a bratty teenager, refuses to apply herself, but continues to bitch about how little money she has. No kidding! You need to grow up if you want to make money. Her goal of restoring her father's welding workshop could have been much easier reached with an honest trade, and she had many offers to learn one, but no, she's a special snowflake. She has to have it her (illegal) way, or not at all.

The rebellious teen trope was strong with this one, and usually I wouldn't mind, but it was stated more than once that she's an adult, so it only makes her come across as an immature dickhead.

The rest of the characters were much of the same really. Most of them were also uber-smart and nice and just all around GOOD GUYS. Even the bad guys were GOOD GUYS (except one, who was really bad, but didn't speak much, so I assume he was some sort of Southern American zombie-monk). All of Jazz's friends were incredibly loyal (I don't see why. The only good thing about Jazz was her name - it rolls really nicely! - and her taking-no-shit attitude - although she was too rude and insulted people way too much for me to actually fire up the LIKE protocols) and (again) incredibly smart. They knew everything! They could do anything! They were also bland and had no real personality by themselves. Their only purpose seemed to assist Jazz in whatever she wanted to do. Also: there was a severe lack of awesome-knowledgeable women in her party. I guess it would have taken away from her own attempted awesomeness. Mary Sues don't like that!

The only characters I sort of liked were Svoboda and Rudy. I don't remember them throwing around insults like confetti on a fair or being assholes in general. Svoboda had some charm himself simple because he was so awkward (Could this be another author-insert? I won't complain this time though.) and a bit like a lost puppy. (What? I also like puppies.) I liked the romance element between him and Jazz because 1) It wasn't overdone 2) I like Svoboda as a character and it seems like Jazz also does. It was fun. I still wish he would have gotten a nicer girl who can appreciate him and doesn't verbally abuse him all the time.

On this note, abuse (verbal or otherwise) is not okay, and Jazz did a lot of that to everyone she supposedly cares about. This is a huge part why I don't like her. 12/10 would not want to be acquainted with Jazz Bashara.

WriteBot out.

PS: Remember: WriteBot always Wins.