A few months ago, I was able to interview Andy Weir, author of several novels including The Martian which was adapted into a major motion picture in 2015. His latest achievement is Artemis which takes place in a settlement on our moon. Here Weir shares some of his thoughts on writing, culture, and science. The correspondence was conducted in February 2018. Since the interview was held before the public screening of Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One, he also revealed what he expected out of the film before seeing it.
Me: What do you find appealing about the sci-fi genre?
Andy: I like the aspirational view of the future the best. I generally don’t like dystopian stuff – I’m in it for the cool future tech that humanity might see in the future.
Me: As an avid reader of classic sci-fi, what book would you say has inspired you the most?
Andy: If I have to pick just one, I’d say “I, Robot” by Asimov. But there are many books from that era that inspired me.
Me: How and when did you become interested in computer programming?
Andy: I was around 9 years old when I wrote my first BASIC program on a school computer. From then on, I was hooked.
Me: Scientists such as Bill Nye toy with the idea that we are living in a vast computer simulation. Do you wonder if such a thing could actually exist?
Andy: Nah. Unless you consider “physics” to be a computer.
Me: In 2016, you said that you don’t think “aliens are trying to contact us.” Why do you hold this opinion?
Andy: I believe that life is extremely rare in the universe. And I think intelligent life is even more rare. With so many star systems out there, I have to believe there’s more life and even intelligent life. But I also believe that the speed of light is a hard and fast law of the universe. I don’t believe it’s possible to send information faster than that. So, the nearest life might be millions of light-years away, which makes communication functionally impossible and direct contact completely impossible.
Me: In your own lifetime, what space program or achievement has made the most impact on you?
Andy: I was six months old when Apollo 17 landed on the moon. So I can honestly say my lifespan encompassed the Apollo program. So that’s my answer.
Me: In what particular way would you like to see Artemis adapted for the screen?
Andy: I would love for it to be done with accurate science. If they change plot elements, that’s fine, but I’d like the science to stay solid.
Me: Will you be a consultant on the film adaptation of Artemis?
Andy: Yes, though not a paid consultant or anything. Just an excited science dork who is happy to help.
Me: If you had the opportunity to travel to Mars in your lifetime, would you go?
Andy: Nope! I write about brave people, I’m not one of them. I am not a frontiersman.
Me: Having contributed to the fictional universe of Ready Player One, what are your hopes and expectations for Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation of the novel?
Andy: I’m very excited about it! I hope he captures the nostalgia that RPO gave me when I read it.
Me: Being a video game programmer, what aspects of the Ready Player One film might excite or aggravate you?
Andy: I love seeing the references to classic arcade games.
Me: Do you write daily?
Andy: When I’m on a project, yes. Right this moment, I’m taking a break after a grueling Artemis book tour before I get back to work on another book.
Me: What does your typical everyday routine look like?
Andy: I usually wake up around 8am or 9am. I eat breakfast, shower, etc. Then I answer any and all fan mail I’ve received – usually takes about half an hour. Then I’ll deal with work emails (like answering your questions.) Usually, that stuff takes me until lunch. After lunch is when I do my actual writing.
Me: In writing and researching, what do you struggle with the most?
Andy: Character development. I’m strong on science and pretty good on plot, but creating characters with depth and motivation is hard for me.
Me: Do you find it easier developing characters for short stories or for novels?
Andy: Well, short stories, I guess. Because readers don’t expect nearly the depth for short story characters that they do for novels.
Me: When it comes to entertainment, do you usually prefer reading a story in a book or watching it play out on screen?
Andy: I like watching it on the screen. I just don’t have much time these days for reading.
Me: As a fanfiction contributor to the Doctor Who universe, which actors do you like the most in their portrayal of the Doctor?
Andy: Peter Davison is my favorite – he’s the Doctor I started with. David Tennet is my second fave.
Me: Do you think most sci-fi TV and films depict hypothetical alien life authentically?
Andy: No, not at all. I think it would be a lot more varied than we think. They’d probably be much larger or much smaller than us, breathe completely different air, be comfortable at a completely different temperature, and their language might take a week to say “hello”.
Me: What do you think your next novel will be about?
Andy: I’m thinking about a sequel to Artemis.
Me: What are you most proud of in life?
Andy: You probably expect me to say something like “Writing The Martian”. But really, I’m most proud that I managed to pull myself out of a deep depression that lasted through my 20’s an into my 30’s. I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety most of my life and I’m finally getting past it. It feels good.
You can check out Andy Weir’s latest sci-fi novel Artemis here.
