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Quick answer: If you liked Artemis by Andy Weir, read The Martian, Project Hail Mary, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress and Luna: New Moon. They share science-driven plots, wisecracking heroes and settings that feel plausible.
Andy Weir's second novel follows Jazz Bashara, a smuggler in the first city on the Moon, who gets pulled into a heist. It has the same math, problem solving and humour as The Martian, with a crime caper twist. The books below blend hard science, funny narration and tense survival.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Martian | Andy Weir | Adult | more Weir |
| Project Hail Mary | Andy Weir | Adult | science and heart |
| The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress | Robert A. Heinlein | Adult | lunar revolutions |
| Luna: New Moon | Ian McDonald | Adult | moon politics |
| Red Mars | Kim Stanley Robinson | Adult | detailed colonization |
| Seveneves | Neal Stephenson | Adult | survival engineering |
| Dark Matter | Blake Crouch | Adult | fast sci-fi thrillers |
| Ready Player One | Ernest Cline | Adult | puzzles and pop culture |
| Leviathan Wakes | James S.A. Corey | Adult | space opera |
| We Are Legion (We Are Bob) | Dennis E. Taylor | Adult | geeky humour |
| Redshirts | John Scalzi | Adult | comic science fiction |
| Old Man's War | John Scalzi | Adult | military sci-fi |
| Sea of Tranquility | Emily St. John Mandel | Adult | literary sci-fi |
| Sleeping Giants | Sylvain Neuvel | Adult | mystery and tech |
| Ender's Game | Orson Scott Card | Teen | classic strategy |
1. The Martian by Andy Weir
Mark Watney is stranded on Mars and has to science his way back to Earth. Funny, tense and the book that made Weir famous.
Best for: more Weir.
2. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Ryland Grace wakes up alone on a spaceship with amnesia and a mission to save the Sun. A story of friendship and discovery with plenty of puzzles.
Best for: science and heart.
3. The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein
A computer technician, a computer and a rebel join in a revolution on the Moon. A classic of lunar colonies and politics.
Best for: lunar revolutions.
4. Luna: New Moon by Ian McDonald
Powerful families fight for control of the Moon. Often described as Game of Thrones on the Moon.
Best for: moon politics.
5. Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
The first colonists arrive on Mars and begin to change it. Dense, realistic and political.
Best for: detailed colonization.
6. Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
The Moon breaks apart, and humanity races to survive in space. Technical, long and ambitious.
Best for: survival engineering.
7. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
A physics professor is kidnapped and wakes in a different version of his life. Fast, twisty and emotional.
Best for: fast sci-fi thrillers.
8. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
A teen searches a virtual world for a hidden prize. Packed with 1980s references and quick action.
Best for: puzzles and pop culture.
9. Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey
A ship's crew and a detective uncover a conspiracy across the solar system. The first in The Expanse.
Best for: space opera.
10. We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor
A man's mind is uploaded into a space probe and clones itself. Funny and nerdy.
Best for: geeky humour.
11. Redshirts by John Scalzi
Crew members on a starship notice that people keep dying on away missions. A fast and funny parody.
Best for: comic science fiction.
12. Old Man's War by John Scalzi
Elderly people join the military for a second life in space. Witty and thoughtful.
Best for: military sci-fi.
13. Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
Time-travel and moon colonies across centuries link several lives. Quiet and haunting.
Best for: literary sci-fi.
14. Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel
A girl finds a giant metal hand, and decades later scientists try to assemble the pieces. Told through interviews and reports.
Best for: mystery and tech.
15. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
A gifted boy is trained to fight an alien enemy. A classic of strategy.
Best for: classic strategy.
How to Choose
If you want more from the same author, start with The Martian or Project Hail Mary. For lunar adventure, choose The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress or Luna: New Moon. For clever, funny science fiction, try Redshirts, Old Man's War or We Are Legion. For serious hard science, read Red Mars or Seveneves. If you like puzzles, Ready Player One and Sleeping Giants keep you guessing. Because many of these are sizeable, pick one hard-science title and one lighter title at a time. Audiobooks suit the math-heavy parts, and the humorous narrators of The Martian and We Are Legion are especially fun.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Artemis about?
Jazz Bashara, a porter and smuggler in Artemis, the first city on the Moon, takes a job that puts her in danger.
Is Artemis as good as The Martian?
Reviews were mixed, but many readers enjoy the setting and the heist plot.
Is Artemis scientifically accurate?
Weir researches carefully and bases much of the science on real physics.
Do I need to read The Martian first?
No, they are unrelated stories.
Which Weir book should I read first?
The Martian or Project Hail Mary are the best entry points.
Is there a sequel to Artemis?
No, Artemis is a standalone novel.
Who narrates the audiobook?
Rosario Dawson narrates the audiobook of Artemis.
Is it suitable for teens?
It has strong language and some mature content, so it suits older teens and adults.
Is there much math in Artemis?
There is some chemistry and physics, but Weir explains it in a friendly voice so you can enjoy the plot without a science background.