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Quick answer: If you loved The Martian by Andy Weir, try Project Hail Mary and Artemis by Andy Weir, Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson, Seveneves by Neal Stephenson, Endurance by Alfred Lansing and Packing for Mars by Mary Roach.
The Martian started as a self-published serial and became a bestseller and a hit film with Matt Damon. Its mix of humor and hard science created a new kind of science fiction. The books below include more space survival, real-life survival stories, Mars novels and funny science nonfiction. Most are suitable for teens and adults, though The Martian itself has frequent swearing. Each pick notes who it suits best.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love The Martian
The Martian made science thrilling. Mark Watney is stranded alone on Mars, and instead of despairing, he jokes, swears and solves one deadly problem after another with chemistry, botany and duct tape. Andy Weir’s careful research makes every solution feel real, while NASA’s race to bring Watney home adds tension back on Earth. If you loved the humor, the survival or the science, these picks deliver more of it.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about The Martian: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
We kept every description spoiler-free and flagged mature content where it matters, since some of these books are written for adults and others suit teens. If you’re not sure where to start, the tips near the end of this list match each pick to what you loved most. The FAQ at the bottom answers the questions readers ask most often.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Genre | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Hail Mary | Andy Weir | Science fiction | More Andy Weir |
| Artemis | Andy Weir | Science fiction | Life on the Moon |
| Red Mars | Kim Stanley Robinson | Science fiction | Colonizing Mars |
| Seveneves | Neal Stephenson | Science fiction | Engineering against extinction |
| Endurance | Alfred Lansing | Narrative nonfiction | Real survival stories |
| Packing for Mars | Mary Roach | Popular science | Funny science |
| An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth | Chris Hadfield | Memoir | Real astronauts |
| Children of Time | Adrian Tchaikovsky | Science fiction | Big ideas and evolution |
| We Are Legion (We Are Bob) | Dennis E. Taylor | Science fiction | Funny problem solvers |
| Aurora | Kim Stanley Robinson | Science fiction | Realistic space travel |
| Delta-v | Daniel Suarez | Science fiction thriller | Near-future space missions |
| The Calculating Stars | Mary Robinette Kowal | Science fiction | Women in the space program |
| Hatchet | Gary Paulsen | Adventure | Teen survival |
| Into Thin Air | Jon Krakauer | Narrative nonfiction | Real-life disasters |
| Moon Shot | Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton | Memoir | The real space race |
1. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
A lone astronaut wakes up with amnesia on a mission to save Earth and finds an unexpected friend. Many readers love it even more than The Martian.
2. Artemis by Andy Weir
A smuggler on the first lunar city gets pulled into a heist and a conspiracy.
3. Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
The first hundred colonists settle Mars and argue about how to transform it. It’s epic and detailed.
4. Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
After the Moon explodes, humanity has two years to escape to orbit.
5. Endurance by Alfred Lansing
The true story of Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition and the crew’s incredible escape. It’s gripping.
6. Packing for Mars by Mary Roach
Roach explores the strange science of living in space, from space food to zero-gravity toilets. It’s hilarious.
7. An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield
The Canadian astronaut shares lessons from his career in space. It’s practical and warm.
8. Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Humans searching for a new home meet a planet of intelligent spiders.
9. We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor
A software engineer’s mind becomes the AI of a space probe.
10. Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson
A generation ship arrives at a new star system, and things go wrong.
11. Delta-v by Daniel Suarez
A cave diver is recruited for a daring asteroid-mining mission.
12. The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
After a meteor strike, a woman pilot and mathematician fights to become an astronaut.
13. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
A boy survives alone in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash. It’s a classic for younger readers.
14. Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
Krakauer tells the story of the 1996 Everest disaster he survived.
15. Moon Shot by Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton
Two original Mercury astronauts tell the story of the race to the Moon.
How to Pick Your Next Read After The Martian
- Start with Project Hail Mary. It’s the natural next step.
- Want Mars? Red Mars is the classic.
- Want real survival? Endurance and Into Thin Air.
- Want funny science? Mary Roach’s books.
- Want real astronauts? Chris Hadfield’s memoir.
- Reading with a teen? Hatchet is great for younger readers.
Related: books like Project Hail Mary and best books on the Space Race.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I read after The Martian?
Try Project Hail Mary, Artemis, Red Mars or Endurance.
Is Project Hail Mary better than The Martian?
Many readers prefer Project Hail Mary for its emotional story, but both are excellent.
Are there true stories like The Martian?
Endurance by Alfred Lansing tells the real story of Shackleton’s Antarctic survival.