Book Review: Artemis, by Andy Weir

I absolutely LOVED The Martian - both the novel, and the Ridley Scott film adaptation.  So, naturally, I needed to read Weir's next book.  This is quite a different story.  While there are some science based elements to the story, and I learned something new about moon dust that I had never heard before, it is nowhere near the level of The Martian, which is almost like a documentary of the near future.  Artemis may have more in common with Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, than any other story which I've read - both are about colonies on the moon, and involve a struggle for control of the colony.  At least, as far as I can recall - I never finished the Heinlein book, as the pace was too slow for me, and the elements weren't as interesting (plus the fact that I'm very hit or miss with Heinlein - some I really liked, and others I hated with a passion).

Anyway, Artemis is about Jazz Bashara - a criminal of sorts who grew up on the moon after moving there when she was at the age of 6 with her father.  She has a typical poverty-level job (if I remember correctly, a delivery person for some kind of UPS-like organization), and makes extra money on the side by smuggling things into Artemis.  Nothing dangerous, like drugs or weapons, just things that people desire which may not be allowed, so by that standard Jazz is hardly a criminal.  And, she's inventive and prosperous - by undercutting all her competition, she's the only game in town, and people are willing to pay handsomely - money which Jazz is saving to somehow make a business which will make her wealthy.

As it turns out, there are three kinds of people on the moon.  The poverty-stricken, who do all the work locally, those who have become wealthy by offering services which have made them wealthy, legitimately or otherwise, and the super wealthy, who are typically tourists to who can afford to pay anything to take a vacation on the moon in luxury.

All of a sudden, Jazz's dream of being wealthy seems possible.  She is asked to perform a task that will make one of her wealthy customers more wealthy, while making herself rich as well.  Her task is a difficult one, but she formulates an excellent plan to pull it off.  And then, she finds herself pulled into a struggle for control of the moon's economy, and people are out to kill her.  The stakes continue to escalate, and ultimately Jazz isn't sure who she can trust.

I don't want to reveal too much, as it will spoil the story.  I will say that Jazz somewhat reminds me of the character Tavi in Jim Butcher's Codex Alera fantasy series, particularly in Book 1, Furies of Calderon.  Tavi is quite clever, and so is Jazz.

While not as scientifically riveting as The Martian, this is still a very entertaining and creative tale.

Highly recommended!

I really interested in what Mr. Weir will be doing next.