Reading Order
The Martian Reading Order
Andy Weir's The Martian (2011/2012) is the most celebrated hard science fiction debut of the twenty-first century — Mark Watney, NASA astronaut stranded alone on Mars after an accident leaves his crew believing him dead, surviving by growing potatoes in his own excrement while his colleagues at NASA race to retrieve him. Weir self-published the novel in 2011 after being unable to sell it to publishers; it became a viral success and was picked up by Crown Publishers in 2012, followed by Ridley Scott's 2015 film adaptation starring Matt Damon. The novel's cheerful, problem-solving tone and accurate science made it one of the most popular SF novels of the decade.
Where to start
The Martian
Complete The Martian Book List
- 1Buy
The Martian
Andy Weir·2011·The complete standalone novel — Mark Watney's survival on Mars, structured as mission logs and alternating perspectives between Watney, NASA, and the Hermes crew. - 2Buy
Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir·2021·Weir's most ambitious novel — Ryland Grace waking alone on a spaceship with no memory, gradually realizing he is on a mission to save the solar system, widely considered an improvement on The Martian by many fans. - 3Buy
Artemis
Andy Weir·2017·Weir's second novel — Jazz Bashara, criminal porter and smuggler in the lunar city of Artemis, a heist novel set on the Moon, for readers who want more Weir after The Martian.
The Martian — Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is the science in The Martian?
The Martian is generally regarded as one of the most scientifically accurate popular SF novels ever written. Weir worked out the orbital mechanics, botany, chemistry, and engineering problems in real detail before writing the novel. NASA scientists have praised the book's accuracy. The main scientific liberty Weir acknowledges is that the dust storm that opens the novel would not have the force he depicts — Martian air is so thin that a 175 mph dust storm would feel like a light breeze and would not be strong enough to damage equipment. The film makes the same concession for dramatic purposes.
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