Andy Weir is the bestselling author of The Martian, Artemis, and Project Hail Mary, known for building entire novels out of one small scientific idea and following it wherever it leads. In this interview, he talks about the Asimov book that shaped his writing style, the surprisingly wide slopes of Mars's tallest mountain, and why he'd rather leave the movie casting to the movie people. Whether you're a science geek or just love a good survival story, Andy's answers offer a glimpse into the mind behind some of modern sci-fi's most inventive fiction.
What book (by another author) has stayed with you the longest, and why do you think it stuck?
"I, Robot" by Asimov. I think because it came up with a simple concept - the Three Laws of Robotics - and explored it from lots of different angles. It really affected my style of writing, because I like to come up with a small science thing and see how it affects everything.
What's your favourite meal?
Pepperoni Pizza.
Do you have any pets?
I have two dogs and a cat.
If you could only rewatch one movie or TV series for the rest of your life while stuck on a space station, what would it be?
Doctor Who.
What's the most interesting fact you learned while researching that never made it into a book?
Olympus Mons on Mars is the tallest mountain in our solar system. However, while it is very high, it is also very wide. The base of the mountain is about the size of Texas. So, while it does have a tremendous altitude, the slope is so subtle you wouldn't know you were on a mountain if you stood at the peak. The curvature of the planet has a larger effect on altitude over distance than the slope of the mountain. You would think you're standing on a flat plane.
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What music are you into? Any particular artists or bands?
Lots of different kinds, from classical to classic rock to electronica. My favorite band is The Beatles.
Where do your story ideas usually come from? Can you give an example of where a certain work came from?
Usually I come up with an interesting science idea and expand out from there.
Do you ever read your own work years later and think, 'I'd solve that differently now'?
Yes, sometimes. But I rarely read my own books. It was a lot of work to write them so it's not really fun for me to revisit them.
What's a small, almost invisible detail in one of your books that you're particularly proud of, but most readers probably miss?
Nothing comes to mind. I tend to be a fairly blunt author. Subtlety is not my strong suit.
What question do interviewers never ask you, but you secretly wish they would?
Why can Aquaman control whales? (A question posed in The Martian). The answer: Aquaman is a powerful telepath. He can control all the creatures of the sea because that's what he's accustomed to. But he can actually control land creatures with practice and can even control weak minded humans.
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