Julian Pavia

Colonizing the Moon: How Andy Weir Envisioned and Wrote ARTEMIS

Our special 4th of July Igloo Book Buzz selection is the new paperback edition of Andy Weir’s New York Times bestseller, ARTEMIS, on sale today, July 3, from Broadway Books.  Weir talks about the creation of his latest novel: “I wanted to write a story about the first human settlement off of Earth. And I just really think that’ll be on the Moon. It’s so much closer to

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Earth than any other celestial body. Most importantly, it’s close enough for trade and tourism. Also, I wanted to push myself – I wanted to make stronger, more complex characters. So my protagonist, Jazz, is much deeper and far more flawed than my protagonist, Mark Watney, was in THE MARTIAN. I’m happy with the way it turned out.” 

Andy Weir Photo by Aubrie Pick

Crown Executive Editor Julian Pavia says, “Working with Andy Weir these past few years has been an incredible experience. Not just watching THE MARTIAN go from self-published novel to hardcover bestseller to full-on phenomenon, but getting to see Andy respond to it all. As crazy as this journey’s become and as much as his life has changed, he’s taken every twist in stride and has never lost his sense of perspective. With ARTEMIS, he did an incredible job of shutting out all the noise and expectations surrounding a follow up to THE MARTIAN and just writing the book he wanted to write. From start to finish, he stuck like glue to his vision of the world and to the story he wanted to tell. The result is another novel that only Andy Weir could’ve written—and another great piece of science fiction.” Major media outlets agree with Julian Pavia, offering high praise for ARTEMIS:
  • “An action-packed techno-thriller of the first order…the perfect vehicle for humans who want to escape, if only for a time, the severe gravity of planet earth. The pages fly by.”   —USA Today
  • “Revitalizes the Lunar-colony scenario, with the author’s characteristic blend of engineering know-how and survival suspense…Jazz is a great heroine, tough with a soft core, crooked with inner honesty.”  —The Wall Street Journal
  • “Makes cutting-edge science sexy and relevant…Weir has created a realistic and fascinating future society, and every detail feels authentic and scientifically sound.”      —Associated Press
  • “Weir plausibly depicts near-future colonization technology, and showcases the opportunists and laborers who eke out a living in this expensive, precarious habitat.”        —The New York Times Book Review
  • “A breezy, propulsive read…Weir has set an action-adventure in space, where a resourceful protagonist improvises scientific solutions to escalating dangers.”                 —NPR.org
  Of note: Andy Weir was interviewed on CBS This Morning aboard The Intrepid with Jeff Glor, and Weir talked about how he engineered a lunar city in ARTEMIS on Science Friday.