Book review: Artemis, by Andy Weir

Artemis, by Andy Weir

Andy Weir has a pretty reliable book formula: use science to both complicate, and then resolve, problems for the protagonists in his books. Sprinkle in some humor for warmth, and voila. A best seller. Even a movie or two.

“The Martian” and “Project Hail Mary” are two of my favorite sci-fi reads ever.

But in “Artemis,” Weir’s tried-and-true formula misses the mark.

The concept for Artemis is interesting enough: a crime caper on a moon settlement, complete with mobsters, government corruption, and corporate misbehaviors. But the main character, a young porter and smuggler named Jasmine "Jazz" Bashara, seems awfully adept at metallurgy, space welding, and advanced off-planet ventilation concepts for someone who works as a porter and smuggler.

On the moon, Weir’s jokes don’t land as smoothly as the Apollo 11 once did. And Weir’s characteristic scientific rigor is here, as always. But there’s too much exposition this time. I’m just not that interested in how various gases behave, or the industrial process behind melting metal.

Artemis isn’t awful. It just isn’t as compelling and funny as what I’ve come to expect from Weir. The story languishes as scientific explanations drag on, and while Jazz has some good moments firing off smart one-liners, she’s just too overpowered to be believable.