Andy Weir Books in Order: From The Martian to Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir may have a relatively small novel bibliography, but his impact on modern science fiction is significant. His books are particularly known for making complex scientific problems feel understandable, exciting, and surprisingly entertaining.
The good news for new readers is that you do not need to follow a strict reading order. Each major novel tells a separate story with different characters and settings. Still, reading them in publication order offers a fascinating look at how Weir’s storytelling developed from a survival story on Mars to increasingly ambitious adventures across the solar system and beyond.
Andy Weir Books in Publication Order
1. The Martian (2014)
Publication year: 2014
Reading position: Andy Weir Novel #1
Key themes: Survival, Mars, science, isolation, resilience
The Martian follows astronaut Mark Watney after he is accidentally left behind during a mission to Mars and presumed dead by his crew. Alone on an inhospitable planet with limited supplies, Mark must use science, engineering, creativity, and an impressive sense of humor to survive.
The novel established many of the qualities readers now associate with Andy Weir: detailed scientific problem-solving, high-stakes survival, and a protagonist who refuses to give up even when the odds are absurdly against him. The Martian was Weir’s first published novel and the book that allowed him to become a full-time writer.
Why read it: Start here if you enjoy survival stories, realistic space exploration, and watching a brilliant character solve one seemingly impossible problem after another.
2. Artemis (2017)
Publication year: 2017
Reading position: Andy Weir Novel #2
Key themes: Moon colonization, crime, conspiracy, engineering, survival
Set in Artemis, humanity’s first city on the Moon, this novel follows Jazz Bashara, a young woman whose small-time criminal activities pull her into a much larger and more dangerous conspiracy.
Unlike The Martian, which focuses heavily on one person’s struggle for survival, Artemis combines science fiction with crime, smuggling, political conflict, and a lunar heist. It offers another example of Weir’s ability to build a believable technological environment while keeping the story fast-paced and accessible.
Why read it: Choose this if you want Andy Weir’s science and technical detail mixed with a thriller-like plot and a more populated futuristic setting.
3. Project Hail Mary (2021)
Publication year: 2021
Reading position: Andy Weir Novel #3
Key themes: Space exploration, first contact, friendship, science, humanity
Project Hail Mary follows Ryland Grace, who wakes up alone on a spacecraft with little memory of who he is or why he is there. As his memories slowly return, he realizes that he has been sent on a desperate mission connected to a threat that could endanger all life on Earth.
The novel expands Weir’s storytelling to an interstellar scale while retaining his trademark scientific puzzles, humor, and survival-driven tension. It is also a more emotionally expansive story, exploring cooperation, sacrifice, and an unexpected relationship that has become one of the book’s most memorable elements.
Why read it: This is an excellent choice for readers who want big ideas, scientific mysteries, space adventure, and a surprisingly emotional story.
Andy Weir’s Books at a Glance
| # | Book | Publication Year | Type |
| 1 | The Martian | 2014 | Standalone science fiction novel |
| 2 | Artemis | 2017 | Standalone science fiction thriller |
| 3 | Project Hail Mary | 2021 | Standalone science fiction novel |
The three major novels are independent stories rather than parts of one continuing series.
Do You Need to Read Andy Weir Books in Order?
No. You can read Andy Weir’s novels in any order.
The Martian, Artemis, and Project Hail Mary do not continue the same storyline. They feature different protagonists, different settings, and separate conflicts.
However, I would still recommend publication order for first-time readers:
- The Martian
- Artemis
- Project Hail Mary
This order allows you to experience Weir’s development as a novelist and see how his scientific storytelling became increasingly ambitious.
My Personal Recommendation
If you only want to read one Andy Weir book, I would choose Project Hail Mary for the scale of its story and its combination of science, suspense, humor, and emotional depth.
But The Martian remains the perfect introduction to what makes Andy Weir distinctive as a writer.
What About Cheshire Crossing?
Cheshire Crossing (2019)
Publication year: 2019
Format: Graphic novel
Key themes: Fantasy, alternate worlds, classic literature, adventure
Cheshire Crossing is a graphic novel written by Andy Weir and illustrated by Sarah Andersen. It brings together characters inspired by classic children’s fantasy literature in an imaginative crossover adventure.
Because it is a graphic novel rather than one of Weir’s main science fiction novels, it is usually treated separately from his primary prose bibliography.
You can read it at any point without affecting your understanding of The Martian, Artemis, or Project Hail Mary.
Which Andy Weir Book Should You Read First?
Start with The Martian if you want the classic Andy Weir experience
This is the best starting point for readers who enjoy realistic science, survival challenges, and an intelligent protagonist solving practical problems under extreme pressure.
Start with Project Hail Mary if you want the biggest adventure
Choose this if you’re looking for an ambitious space story with high stakes, scientific mysteries, and a strong emotional core.
Start with Artemis if you enjoy science fiction thrillers
This is the best option for readers who prefer crime, conspiracies, futuristic cities, and a faster-paced plot.
Start with Cheshire Crossing if you enjoy graphic novels
Readers interested in fantasy crossovers and illustrated storytelling may enjoy seeing a very different side of Andy Weir’s creative work.
What Makes Andy Weir’s Books Different?
Andy Weir’s fiction is often associated with hard science fiction, although his books are written to be accessible even for readers without a scientific background.
Several elements appear repeatedly in his work.
Science as Part of the Story
Scientific knowledge is not simply background information in an Andy Weir novel. Physics, engineering, chemistry, mathematics, and space travel often become essential parts of the plot.
The characters frequently survive by understanding how something works and then finding a practical solution to a problem.
Problem-Solving Under Pressure
A classic Andy Weir story often asks a simple question:
What happens when an intelligent person faces an almost impossible scientific problem?
The answer is usually a sequence of experiments, failures, calculations, improvisations, and new problems.
Humor in Serious Situations
Despite the potentially catastrophic stakes, Weir’s protagonists often use humor to cope with danger and isolation. This prevents the technical material from becoming overly heavy and gives his stories a distinctive personality.
Space Exploration With Human Stakes
Behind the scientific concepts, Weir’s books are ultimately about human beings facing extraordinary circumstances.
Whether a character is stranded on Mars, navigating a dangerous lunar conspiracy, or traveling far beyond Earth, the central question is often the same: How far can human ingenuity take us when survival depends on it?
Are Andy Weir’s Books Connected?
No, the main novels are not part of one continuous series.
You do not need to know Mark Watney’s story before reading Artemis, and you do not need to read either of those books before starting Project Hail Mary.
They do share some broad similarities:
- Space and scientific exploration
- Detailed technical problem-solving
- High-stakes survival
- Intelligent protagonists
- Humor
- Near-future or speculative settings
This makes them feel thematically connected even though they are separate stories.
What Is Andy Weir’s Best Book?
There is no single answer because each book offers something different, but the two titles most readers are likely to start with are The Martian and Project Hail Mary.
The Martian is ideal for:
- Survival fiction fans
- Readers who enjoy realistic Mars stories
- Fans of practical science and engineering
- Readers looking for a fast and entertaining introduction to hard science fiction
Project Hail Mary is ideal for:
- Fans of large-scale space adventures
- Readers who enjoy scientific mysteries
- Those looking for emotional science fiction
- Readers who want a more expansive story
Artemis is ideal for:
- Lunar science fiction fans
- Readers who enjoy crime and conspiracy plots
- Fans of futuristic city settings
My personal pick for new readers today would be Project Hail Mary, but I still believe The Martian is the most natural place to begin the Andy Weir journey.
About Andy Weir
Andy Weir is an American science fiction author best known for The Martian and Project Hail Mary. Before becoming a full-time writer, he worked as a software engineer for approximately two decades, and his long-standing interest in subjects such as orbital mechanics, relativistic physics, and human spaceflight strongly influences his fiction.
The Martian became his breakthrough novel and transformed his writing career. The success of the book helped introduce his particular style of science fiction to a broad mainstream audience.
What makes Weir especially interesting as a science fiction writer is his ability to take highly technical subjects and make them central to entertaining stories. Readers are not simply told that a character is clever—they often get to follow the logic of how a problem is identified and solved.
His bibliography may be smaller than that of many long-running science fiction authors, but each major novel has a distinct setting and premise, making his work approachable for readers who want high-concept science fiction without committing to a massive multi-book series.
Frequently Asked Questions About Andy Weir Books
What is the correct order to read Andy Weir’s books?
The recommended publication order for Andy Weir’s main novels is:
- The Martian (2014)
- Artemis (2017)
- Project Hail Mary (2021)
However, the novels are standalone stories, so you can read them in any order without missing essential plot information.
What was Andy Weir’s first book?
Andy’s Weir’s first published novel was The Martian. It became his breakthrough book and enabled him to leave his software engineering career and write full-time.
Is Project Hail Mary connected to The Martian?
No. Project Hail Mary and The Martian are separate stories with different characters and plots. You do not need to read The Martian before starting Project Hail Mary.
Both books share Andy Weir’s interest in science, space exploration, survival, and problem-solving, which is why readers who enjoy one often enjoy the other.
Should I read The Martian before Project Hail Mary?
You don’t have to, but I recommend it for first-time Andy Weir readers. The Martian provides an excellent introduction to Weir’s writing style.
If you are primarily interested in a larger-scale interstellar adventure, though, you can start directly with Project Hail Mary without any confusion.
How many novels has Andy Weir written?
As of August 2026, Andy Weir’s major prose science fiction bibliography consists of three main novels: The Martian, Artemis, and Project Hail Mary. His published work also includes Cheshire Crossing, a graphic novel created with illustrator Sarah Andersen.
What genre does Andy Weir write?
Andy Weir is best known for science fiction, particularly stories involving space exploration, scientific problem-solving, engineering, and survival. His work is often associated with hard science fiction because scientific concepts play a major role in his plots.
Is Andy Weir writing another book?
Andy Weir’s future projects can change, so readers looking for the newest confirmed releases should check his publisher and official author channels. As of August 2026, recent reporting has also announced Exoplanet, a forthcoming Audible science-fiction audio drama associated with Weir and scheduled for November 2026.
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for Andy Weir books in order, the answer is refreshingly simple because his major novels are all standalone stories.
For the best publication-order experience, read:
The Martian → Artemis → Project Hail Mary
But this is one author where you can confidently choose the premise that interests you most. Want survival on Mars? Start with The Martian. Want a dangerous future city on the Moon? Pick Artemis. Want an enormous interstellar adventure filled with scientific mysteries? Go straight to Project Hail Mary.
Personally, I think Andy Weir is at his best when he makes science feel like an adventure rather than a lesson—and that’s exactly why his relatively small bibliography can still provide such a memorable journey for science fiction readers.
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