Episode · The Book Review · 2026-03-20
Andy Weir on The Book Review: books mentioned
Andy Weir on Writing the Hit Book Behind the Movie ‘Project Hail Mary’
Gilbert Cruz discussed The Martian by Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, and Dune by Frank Herbert. Andy Weir recommended Recursion by Blake Crouch, Dark Matter by Blake Crouch, I, Robot by Isaac Asimov, Tunnel in the sky by Robert A. Heinlein, Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke, and The werewolf principle by Clifford D. Simak, and discussed Artemis by Andy Weir and The moon is a harsh mistress by Robert A. Heinlein.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The Martian
The Martian by Andy Weir is a hard science fiction novel about an astronaut stranded alone on Mars who must use his engineering ingenuity and scientific knowledge to survive.
Discussed“You might know Andy as author of the science fiction novel The Martian, a story about an astronaut who gets stuck on Mars and has to figure out how to get home.”
Where to get it
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Project Hail Mary
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is a science fiction novel about an astronaut tasked with saving humanity from an extinction-level threat.
Discussed“Several years later, Andy scored another hit with his book Project Hail Mary, which has now also been adapted for the big screen, this time starring Ryan Gosling.”
Where to get it
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Artemis
Artemis is a science fiction novel by Andy Weir that follows Jazz Bashara, a twenty-six-year-old smuggler living in a futuristic lunar city, as she navigates high-stakes heists and personal survival.
Discussed“Jazz Bashara, who is the main character of Artemis, um, it was really I when you think of a 26-year-old Saudi woman, you think Andy Weir.”
Where to get it
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Recursion
Recursion by Blake Crouch is a mind-bending science fiction thriller that explores the catastrophic consequences of a technology that allows people to reset their memories and relive their pasts.
Recommended“How about some Blake Crouch? That's what I always recommend when people ask me for recommendations. Recursion is my personal favorite of his.”
Where to get it
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Dark Matter
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch is a mind-bending science fiction thriller that follows a physicist abducted into an alternate reality where he must navigate infinite versions of his life to return to his family.
Recommended“Uh uh al- although most people I think like Dark Matter more.”
Where to get it
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I, Robot
I, Robot by Isaac Asimov is a seminal science fiction collection that introduces the Three Laws of Robotics and examines the complex ethical boundaries between humans and machines.
Recommended“then I would probably say I, Robot for sure by Asimov.”
Where to get it
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The moon is a harsh mistress
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A.
Discussed“For Heinlein, I will go The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. No, no, no.”
Where to get it
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Tunnel in the sky
Tunnel in the Sky by Robert A.
Recommended“Tunnel in the Sky. Tunnel in the Sky. I like that one better.”
Where to get it
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Rendezvous with Rama
Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C.
Recommended“And then for Clark, uh Rendezvous with Rama. So, those would be my three.”
Where to get it
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The werewolf principle
The Werewolf Principle by Clifford D.
Recommended“Andy Weir, what is your favorite book that you think no one else has heard of? Ah. So, The Werewolf Principle by Clifford Simak.”
Where to get it
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Dune
Dune by Frank Herbert is a sweeping science fiction epic set on the desert planet Arrakis, chronicling the rise of a young messiah named Paul Atreides amidst intergalactic political betrayal and the extraction of a valuable resource known as spice.
Discussed“In 2017, we asked you, "What books are you embarrassed not to have read yet?" And you said, "Dune by Frank Herbert."”
Where to get it
