Mini-review: Calling Major Tom

The Martian meets northern kitchen sink drama in this quirky tale of family, friendship, loss and ultimately hope. In many ways, it feels like a typically British response to an epic story of individual heroism like The Martian - smaller scale, more community centric,  lower budget and with added fart jokes.

Some of it feels quite cinematic. For example, the slow reveal of Major Tom's ultimate location early on which starts off feeling familiar with fantastical elements gradually materialising.

Even minor characters are well drawn, and nearly of them go on some kind of journey which adds to the satisfaction and sense of loss when I finally reached the end of the book.