‘The Martian’ author to land in Peters Township for Novel November
When Andy Weir takes part in the Peters Township Library Foundation’s annual Novel November event, it will be his first trip to the Keystone State.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been to Pennsylvania at all,” Weir said in an interview last week.
Weir is an author whose debut novel “The Martian” was turned into the critically acclaimed and award-winning 2015 film of the same name.
“It’s really surreal,” Weir said of seeing his writing adapted to the big screen. “It still doesn’t feel like that really happened. It still doesn’t feel real to me, even now.”
Weir will be at the Peters Township High School auditorium at 7 p.m. Nov. 3. It will be the foundation’s fifth Novel November. Tickets will go on sale at 9 a.m. Sept. 7.
The author has several events on his current book tour, and he said his preference is to engage with the audience and answer their questions.
“That’s more interesting to everyone, I think,” Weir said.
Audience members sometimes come up with questions that show Weir they have read his work closely.
“There have been times where people have gotten really deep into the weeds,” Weir said.
A software engineer for two decades before becoming an author full time, Weir has always had a fascination with science and space. While his work is categorized as science fiction, he aims for scientific accuracy.
In “The Martian,” Weir goes into great detail about how the main character creates water on Mars from burning a compound known as hydrazine. One time a reader let Weir know that actually, that process would have made the habitat (also known as “the hab”) deathly hot.
He may have been a bit annoyed, but Weir said he brings it on himself.
“I can’t say my books are scientifically accurate and then whine when people say they’re not. That’s totally fair,” Weir said.
Tickets for Novel November will be available at ptlib.org/AndyWeir. General admission for adults is $25, while student tickets are $5. All tickets include access to the post-event book signing with Weir.
There will be a limited number of VIP tickets available for $60, which includes a reception with appetizers prior to the event, as well as a pre-event book signing with Weir. VIP ticket holders will also get a copy of Weir’s latest book, “Project Hail Mary.”
Those who do not wish to attend in person have the option to buy a digital ticket for $25, which will provide a code to view a recording of the event the following day. The code will work for two weeks.