I either listened to or read an interview with Andy Weir where he said that he was aiming for just such a flawed protagonist in PHM. I think he felt the Watney character was criticized for being the fantasy self-projection of a certain variety of nerd/geek (a variety that is over-represented on HN) and so he decided to try to make a hero who was not as likable, brave, or self-sacrificing as people like to think they are.

His story, his choice, but man, what a shame. The world is already awash in crapsack dystopic sci-fi filled with unlikeable characters. Watney (and the entirely of the rest of the cast, for that matter) being a competent professional was so refreshing! I want to read about competence, not (as in PHM) self-absorbed whiny man-children who exhibit no growth across the entire story.

Rocky was an amazing character though.

Fully agreed.

Yes, I think he was going for someone less likable. Watney was almost too likable.

Maybe Matt Damon pushed his likability over the top.

If Willem Dafoe was cast, it could seem different :)

Haha. I thought this too but I can’t quite place my finger on it. What exactly made the protagonist so insufferable?

He was a literal self-absorbed man-child, and worst of all exhibited no apparent growth throughout the entire story. So much so that it was hard to suspend belief in that he was also capable of doing the real thinking required to move the story forward. I know Weir attempted to insert a reason in-story for why such a poor choice would still be sent, but I found it both unconvincing and obvious why the author needed to add it. I think it would have made a more satisfying story to revamp the character so that his position made sense naturally.

In comparison, Rocky was fantastic as a character, the problem faced novel, the solutions enjoyable. That all tips the scales into the 'still well worth the read' territory, but (IMO) it could have been so much more.