Val

Val asked Andy Weir:

Was there a particular reason why you chose not to talk about Mark's personal life?

Andy Weir It wasn't relevant. I didn't want to bore the reader with pointless decompression scenes. Never give the reader an opportunity to put the book down. :)

Also, by leaving his personal life a blank slate, it's easier for the reader to put themselves in Mark's position. There's nothing in the way of you empathizing/self-identifying with him.

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Steven

Steven asked Andy Weir:

What does it feel like to be awesome?

Alex

Alex asked Andy Weir:

Do you have any recommendations for other hard sci fi written in the past couple of years? Were there any books or authors that you found particularly inspirational when writing The Martian?

Eric Mesa

Eric Mesa asked Andy Weir:

The media (books, music, etc) that you have drive the main character crazy - is that stuff you like, but you think would drive you crazy if it's all you had for entertainment or is that stuff your worst nightmare to be stuck with?

All answers from Andy Weir…

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