American · b. 1972
Andy Weir self-published The Martian as a serial on his website, then as a 99-cent Kindle book, and watched it become a word-of-mouth phenomenon that led to a Ridley Scott film starring Matt Damon. Weir had been a software engineer at various tech companies and a lifelong space nerd who did the orbital mechanics calculations for fun. His novels are defined by meticulous scientific accuracy and protagonists who solve problems through engineering rather than heroics. Project Hail Mary (2021) continued this formula—an amnesiac astronaut must save humanity using only his wits and science—and became a finalist for the Hugo Award. A film adaptation starring Ryan Gosling is in development. Weir's middle book, Artemis, was less successful, but his audience remains devoted to his particular brand of hard science fiction. He lives in California.