12 Authors Like Andy Weir for Sci-Fi Thrills

The following 12 authors like Andy Weir have mastered the art of crafting hard science fiction that not only stimulates the mind but also resonates with the human experience.

If you’re drawn to narratives that intricately weave scientific principles with compelling characters and thrilling plots, reminiscent of The Martian and Weir’s other works, then you’re in for a treat.

These writers expertly navigate the complexities of technology and space exploration while keeping the focus firmly on the resilience and ingenuity of their characters.

They share a talent for making complex science accessible and engaging, ensuring that every discovery and challenge feels both authentic and impactful.

12 Authors Like Andy Weir

1. Poul Anderson

Writing Style & Themes:
Poul Anderson was one of the pioneers of hard science fiction known for weaving complex scientific theories into imaginative and far-reaching stories. 

His writing often explores space travel, time dilation and futuristic civilizations with a strong grounding in physics and engineering.

What makes him a great parallel to Andy Weir is his ability to make high-concept science feel thrilling and accessible while still asking deep philosophical questions about humanity, progress and survival.

Notable Books/Series:

• Tau Zero
• The Boat of a Million Years
• Brain Wave

Why Readers Will Love Him:
Anderson brings real science to life through powerful storytelling, big ideas and smart characters.

His work feels timeless and endlessly thought-provoking.

Poul Anderson’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/32278.Poul_Anderson 

2. James S.A. Corey

Writing Style & Themes:
James S.A. Corey, the pen name of authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck is best known for The Expanse series an epic blend of character-driven storytelling and realistic space exploration. 

Their work offers meticulously built worlds, grounded technology and smart political drama. 

Like Andy Weir, they turn complex science into gripping plots that feel both futuristic and familiar.

Notable Books/Series:

• Leviathan Wakes
• Cibola Burn
• Tiamat’s Wrath

Why Readers Will Love Him:
Their writing combines smart science with compelling characters and real stakes. 

James S.A. Corey’s Website: https://www.jamessacorey.com

3. Marina J. Lostetter

Writing Style & Themes:
Marina J. Lostetter writes deeply thoughtful science fiction with a strong foundation in physics, biology and philosophy. 

Her work often explores long-term space missions and human survival similar to Andy Weir’s mix of science and survival.

She excels at showing how humanity adapts to extreme challenges using science, logic and resilience.

Notable Books/Series:

• Noumenon
• Noumenon Infinity
• Noumenon Ultra

Why Readers Will Love Her:
She crafts mind-expanding stories filled with discovery of humanity and hard science which is perfect for those who love science fiction grounded in real possibility.

Marina J. Lostetter’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6469903.Marina_J_Lostetter 

4. Yume Kitasei

Writing Style & Themes:
Yume Kitasei blends sharp science fiction with psychological suspense and emotional depth. 

Her writing often tackles survival, identity and high-stakes missions in space, just like Andy Weir.

She excels at creating pressure-cooker environments where science and emotion collide in unforgettable ways.

Notable Books/Series:

• The Deep Sky
• The Stardust Grail
• Saltcrop

Why Readers Will Love Her:
She brings a human-centered lens to space travel, mixing technical realism with emotional intensity and tension-filled storytelling.

Yume Kitasei’s Website: https://www.yumekitasei.com

5. Adrian Tchaikovsky

Writing Style & Themes:
Adrian Tchaikovsky is known for writing richly layered science fiction packed with cutting-edge ideas from uplifted species to artificial intelligence and interstellar evolution. 

His stories are wildly imaginative but rooted in plausible science just like Andy Weir’s work. 

He’s especially good at scaling complex science into fast-paced accessible narratives.

Notable Books/Series:

• Children of Time
• Shards of Earth
• Children of Memory

Why Readers Will Love Him:
He delivers massive scope with real scientific thought, blending brainy plots with compelling characters and a sense of wonder.

Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Website: https://adriantchaikovsky.com 

6. Cixin Liu

Writing Style & Themes:
Cixin Liu is a titan of hard science fiction best known for deeply intellectual narratives that merge astrophysics, cosmic philosophy and humanity’s place in the universe. 

His books explore enormous ideas with meticulous scientific logic and imaginative depth much like Andy Weir’s science-driven storytelling but on an epic and interstellar scale.

Notable Books/Series:

• The Three-Body Problem
• The Dark Forest
• Death’s End

Why Readers Will Love Him:
His work challenges your mind while pulling you into vast and visionary worlds shaped by real science and sweeping imagination.

Cixin Liu’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5780686.Liu_Cixin 

7. Annalee Newitz

Writing Style & Themes:
Annalee Newitz mixes hard science with social commentary weaving stories that explore robotics, biotech and the future of labor. 

Their work stands out for combining scientifically grounded speculation with deeply human storytelling. 

Like Andy Weir, they ask big questions but make the science feel relevant, personal and real.

Notable Books/Series:

• Autonomous
• The Terraformers
• Future of Another Timeline

Why Readers Will Love Her:
Newitz blends thought-provoking science with rich worldbuilding and emotional insight creating stories that stay with you long after the last page.

Annalee Newitz’s Website: https://www.techsploitation.com 

8. John Scalzi

Writing Style & Themes:
John Scalzi writes fast-paced and often humorous science fiction. 

His work balances accessible science, clever dialogue and sharp social commentary.

Like Andy Weir, he makes science fun and approachable while never sacrificing excitement or heart.

Notable Books/Series:

• Old Man’s War
• The Kaiju Preservation Society
• The Collapsing Empire

Why Readers Will Love Him:
He’s witty, imaginative and knows how to tell a high-stakes story that still makes you laugh.

John Scalzi’s Website: https://whatever.scalzi.com 

9. Blake Crouch

Writing Style & Themes:
Blake Crouch blends hard science fiction with psychological thrillers exploring the nature of reality, time travel and quantum mechanics.

His books often contain mind-bending concepts, fast-paced action and relatable characters similar to Andy Weir’s focus on science-driven plots. 

Crouch’s writing pushes boundaries mixing intellectual stimulation with gripping suspense.

Notable Books/Series:

• Dark Matter
• Recursion
• Upgrade

Why Readers Will Love Him:
His work combines intense thrills with complex scientific theories offering a rollercoaster ride of suspense and intellectual challenge.

Blake Crouch’s Website: https://www.blakecrouch.com

10. S.B. Divya

Writing Style & Themes:
S.B. Divya writes hard science fiction with a focus on technology, artificial intelligence and transhumanism. 

Her narratives often explore ethical dilemmas, societal implications and the impact of technological advancements just like Andy Weir’s deep dive into the consequences of science in real-world settings.

Notable Books/Series:

• Machinehood
• Contingency Plans
• The Best of Apex Magazine

Why Readers Will Love Her:
Her storytelling blends speculative tech with relatable human struggles offering a thought-provoking mix of hard science and moral questions.

S.B. Divya’s Website:  https://www.sbdivya.com

11. Sue Burke

Writing Style & Themes:
Sue Burke writes hard science fiction with a focus on genetics, ecology and environmentalism. 

Her books often explore the intersection of human nature and the natural world presenting deep questions about the future of humanity in relation to our planet. 

Burke’s work shares Weir’s attention to scientific accuracy making science accessible and relevant to today’s world.

Notable Books/Series:

• Immunity Index
• Semiosis
• Interference

Why Readers Will Love Her:
She takes scientific themes and brings them to life with powerful and imaginative storytelling. 

Her books challenge you to think about humanity’s place in the world and the future of our species.

Sue Burke’s Website: https://sueburke.site/ 

12. Temi Oh

Writing Style & Themes:
Temi Oh combines compelling storytelling with a focus on space exploration and human relationships. 

Her novels tackle complex themes of survival, ethics and personal identity while grounded in a scientifically accurate portrayal of the future. 

Her thoughtful narrative style is similar to Andy Weir’s focus on human survival through science.

Notable Books/Series:

• Do You Dream of Terra-Two?
• The Upper World
• Sojourn

Why Readers Will Love Her:
She offers intelligent and emotionally resonant stories that mix cutting-edge science with deep philosophical questions.

Temi Oh’s Website: https://www.theonlytemioh.com/ 

A Final Word on the Authors Similar To Andy Weir

The above authors similar to Andy Weir offer a rare and exciting combination in their storytelling by seamlessly blending scientific accuracy with tales of human resilience and genuinely compelling narratives.

Writers such as Blake Crouch with his mind-bending tales in Recursion and Dark Matter or Adrian Tchaikovsky who stretches the boundaries of scientific thought in Children of Time continue to push the envelope on what science fiction can explore.

Whether it’s the philosophical depth of Poul Anderson’s Tau Zero or the gripping survival narrative in Temi Oh’s Do You Dream of Terra-Two? These authors keep us questioning, imagining and ultimately marveling at the possibilities that science presents.

If you’re looking for more intellectual adventure, these authors like Andy Weir offer just that, stories where technology and humanity collide in the most thrilling ways.