Adam Savage Interviews 'The Martian' Author Andy Weir - The Talking Room

Adam Savage welcomes author Andy Weir to The Talking Room! Andy wrote 'The Martian', the story of an astronaut stranded on Mars--it's a book we can't recommend enough. Adam and Andy talk about the research that went into writing the book, the portrayal of astronauts in fiction, and the upcoming film adaptation!

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Shot and Edited by Joey Fameli

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[scottmanley]

Fantastic! Sounds like Andy was playing the pen and paper version of Kerbal Space Program.
Although, I'll point out that Ion engines were already around before Zubrin's mars direct plan, but I imagine the engines on Hermes are a vastly improved design.

[siphillis]

I like how Adam figured Andy must've been some sort of polymath with multiple connections to NASA and JPL, when in reality he's just an everyday software engineer with an absurd attention to detail.

[jetseekers]

"lives aren't depending on my work so I can be super inaccurate." Basically how I play Kerbal Space Program.

[glenvansteeter]

In this interview Adam expresses the thought frequently that he is so surprised about how accurate Andy's work in "The Martian" was considering that he has zero background in astrodynamics and knows nobody in the aerospace industry. What Andy has is an insatiable desire to acquire knowledge about all things involving manned space flight and he knows how to use a computer for research. But this is not entirely unique. Tom Clancy of "The Hunt for Red October" fame invented the "techno-thriller" genre, but he was an insurance salesman by vocation. But he had a LOT of books, did a ton of research and made some very good educated guesses. So good, in fact, that after "The Hunt for Red October" was published, he was visited by certain employees of the US intelligence and military services who wanted to know how he had obtained information. Tom had just made GOOD guesses. What makes books like these so good is the amount of detailed research their respective authors do to make the books seem like they have depth and a consistency.

[SKotekar]

Two passionate guys geeked out about each other and taking about my favorite subject and the amazing book Martian!! Gash! I never wanted this interview to end. I love it. Best interview ever

[kindlessthing]

Interview was too short. I could listen to them talk for another 4 hours easily.

[SapphireH]

I've noticed that many authors of truly awesome books are terrible to interview... but holy cow, Andy Weir is just an absolute PLEASURE to listen to & watch!  His communication style is extremely relateable.  This is the kind of guy you'd be lucky to have as a professor.

[judithcrain]

I just finished reading the book and really enjoyed it. 
I LOVE this interview, Adam's delight and enjoyment of the book and the author really made for a heart warming listen .  I especially appreciated that the author, Andy, is such a nice down to earth person, I hope fame doesn't change him.  It is not often that an author is so open about everything, he seems like a great person.

[sarahcorrigan]

OK so six years later ... we need another conversation on the Hail Mary Project ...

'jazz hands'

[TacoPreacher]

Really cool interview, this is how you interview a nerd, you get another nerd that knows and loves the subject in hand, not interchangeable pretty faces and/or loud mouths that use the same questions and jokes that are going to be used on 20 other youtube channels and t.v. and radio talk shows. 
*please note i'm not saying that Adam is not a pretty face, the gentleman is sharp looking.

[DamianReloaded]

Great interview, awesome guy and Adam so superb by staying quiet and letting him talk his mind out. I thought Adam was promoting this movie just for the money but I kind of get now why he supports this guy's work so much. Thanks Adam for pulling this out! ^_^

[deserttrekkie]

I'm very particular about my SciFi books and films. I admit to seeing the movie first and was blown away. It became my instant fav and I never had one with such title before lol. Read the book later and again, blown away. After listening to the audiobook and reading his other work, I'm blown away all over again. Can't believe I never saw this interview. I just love AW's brain and listening to literally humble beginnings is so refreshing ❤️❤️

[marchills]

This video is nigh near priceless to a certain type of viewer; a scientifically-grounded dreamer who follows, or at least admires, the creative process. I'm having trouble nailing down who I appreciate more, Adam or Andy. Both are passionately, PASSIONATELY enthusiastic about this subject matter and hearing them banter back and forth is such a joy.

[iaimtomisbehave]

My granddad was one of the engineers they called in to help with the Apollo 13 "Mail Box." He got a medal for it.

[JosephJonesJRJ]

It's possible, but by no means certain, that I would get bored of this conversation after an 8th consecutive hour. However, 1 hour was nowhere near enough.

Fascinating stuff, best episode so far. Wow, what a brilliant guy.

[gfontanetto]

In case you're wondering, the high school teacher blog is POLYMATH exocientist.

[jacemachine]

Easily one of my favorite reads! So stoked to see the film, and very pleased to watch this interview. Thanks guys!

[AlvaroMalloUy]

I have ended the book few days ago and I was amazed by the history, its scientific accuracy (although some of them are not but are minimum in the whole story) and the high possibility that something like this could happen in the near future. After reading the book the first question that i made myself was: Are we prepare to understand that the exploration of space will demand human sacrifice? And the immediate answer was no, we aren't and that has to change. We need to understand that in some point people will die and we, from the Earth, could do nothing about that. I strongly believe that the exploration of space is the key for the survival of our species. I'm convinced that in some point we must to accept that the risk of dead or the dead itself will be necessary in order to acknowledge a more precise information about the immense space that surround us.

[ciao]

One thing I’ve always loved about Andy weir from day 1 is he acknowledges that he is a dork/nerd which makes him even more epic

[TheFanGirlMichelle]

46:00 is also my favorite scene!!!  It is what I referenced when telling people they HAD to read this book - if they liked that scene, they would love The Martian!  Great interview!