1. Tell us a bit about Artemis and the inspiration behind it.
Artemis takes places in a city on the moon in the late twenty-first century. The main character is a woman who is a small-time criminal, and she gets in way over her head.
2. What are some of the similarities between The Martian and Artemis? And the differences?
They’re similar in that they both involve scientific solutions to complicated scientific problems, but The Martian was a straight-up human versus nature story, where the goal was simple survival. Artemis is a crime story with mysteries involved—a plot that was harder to write but also more interesting, I think.
3. Mark Watney’s voice defined The Martian. In Artemis we meet Jazz Bashara. Tell us about her.
She’s another first-person-smart-ass narrator. But, while Mark is just a hard-working scientist trying to stay alive, Jazz is a sneaky criminal trying to get ahead. She was sort of a delinquent growing up, and now she realizes that she made a lot of mistakes in her youth and she’s trying to make up for some of them. She is very flawed in a lot of ways, but hopefully also very likable. So, very different personalities and priorities.
4. Artemis is set sometime in the late twenty-first century. Is lunar colonization something we could see within the next fifty or a hundred years?
I think so, yes. Artemis is based on the presumption that commercial space travel, and competition within that industry, will drive the cost of putting mass into low Earth orbit down low enough that middle-class people can afford a trip to space. Once that becomes a reality, lunar tourism becomes a viable business model. And that’s the economic foundation of Artemis.
5. When you first self-published The Martian, could you have imagined that it would become not only a bestselling novel but a hugely popular movie as well, starring Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, and more? What have been the best things about the level of success you have achieved with your first book? Has there been any downside?
Well, the best part about The Martian’s success is that I get to be a writer now, which is what I’ve always dreamed of doing for a living. The worst part is that I used to be a computer programmer and I really enjoyed going into work in the morning and saying “hi” to my co-workers. I’m a pretty social guy, I like working on a team, and now I don’t get to do that anymore, and I miss that.
6. What would you be most excited to see from a film version of Artemis?
I’d love to see the visual representation of the city itself. It would be a fantastic visual.
7. Which book (besides yours of course) have you read that made you laugh a lot?
Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels. They're all hilarious. But if I have to pick one to single out for humor, I'd say Small Gods.
8. What was the hardest part about writing a follow-up to The Martian, a book that made a crater on pop culture?
It’s pretty scary. It’s going to be a hard act to follow. I think I’ve done a good job, but in the end all I can do is my best and hope people like it.
9. What is the scariest book you’ve ever read?
I generally don't read horror or suspense. So I actually don't have an answer to that.
10. What was your favorite book as a kid?
Probably "Have Spacesuit, Will Travel" by Robert Heinlein.
11. What television show has gotten your undivided attention?
Game of Thrones, of course!
12. What do you hope readers will take away from Artemis?
I hope they have a fun time reading it. That’s all I ever want when I write a story. None of my stories have a moral or a point to be made. I just want the reader to think “well, that was cool” when they’re done.
13. Have you read any self-published novel that you thought might make an excellent movie? If so, what is it?
"Wool" by Hugh Howie.
14. Last question, What if Jazz Bashara meets Mark Watney in Hartnell’s Pub in Artemis. Would they get along?
If Jazz met Mark, I imagine they’d be really, really smart-ass toward each other.
I'm really grateful to Mr. Andy Weir for taking his time to answer my questions. I'll definitely suggest you guys to put Artemis in your to-read pile. I can't wait to hear more news about the film adaptation as well. So far we know Phil Lord and Chris Miller are directing it for 20th Century Fox. Take care everyone and I hope you have a peaceful day today.