Photo by Nicolas Lobos on Unsplash
The Martian by Andy Weir presents an interesting example of the scale of change in a story with multiple parallel story lines. It shows how the true scale of both the problem and solution can unfold gradually:
Initially, when Mark Watney finds himself alone, it seems like it’s just his survival problem. This begins as a character portrait focusing on the specific actions he takes to “work the problem,” e.g., generating water to grow potatoes.
But once people at NASA learn he’s alive, it becomes the agency’s problem too. Leaders begin considering how to rescue him (while initially not updating his colleagues on the Hermes). This becomes a community tapestry, focusing on group tactics NASA leaders consider, including the plan to intercept him with the next mission.
But when Watney’s plants die after a depressurization accident, there is no way he’ll survive until the next mission. It becomes an international cooperation problem within a larger community. The tapestry expands as China agrees to provide a booster to deliver food to Mars to save one person.
But when the rocket explodes and there is no way to provide food, it becomes a problem for the crew of the Hermes (with an assist by Rich Purnell and Mitch Henderson). Now we see we’re looking at a world story focusing on universal relationships between individuals, groups, and the entire universe. Ultimately, the story explores the question of human values and what we're willing to risk to save one life.
The gradual revelation of the true scale of the story also shows how each scene involves processing different aspects of the problem: One of our own (colleague, employee, fellow citizen, fellow human) has survived a dangerous accident, but he is alone and will die if we do nothing.
Physical survival (air, food, water, shelter)
Technical challenges (communication, equipment)
Connection and belonging (choosing whom we empower)
Respect (identity and how we see ourselves and how we are seen)
Psychological endurance (isolation, maintaining hope)
Moral/philosophical questions (risk vs reward, individual vs group)
Each of these aspects forces Mark and others to confront their assumptions about what's possible and what matters most. The initial incident (being stranded) seemed to be about physical survival, but through processing all these aspects, they discover it's really about humanity's capacity for cooperation and sacrifice.
This post is part of a 75-day writing challenge and experiment. From September 9 through November 22, I'll be posting daily thoughts on writing, storytelling, and creativity based on recent readings or reflections. While my intention was to keep them very short—250 to 400 words—I've found that this range doesn't give me enough space to cover these topics adequately. I aim to keep them brief enough to be read quickly, but they will often be longer than 400 words.
At the end of the challenge, I will organize and revise the material with intention. For now, the object is to explore and share.