Andy Weir has always been fascinated by space travel and, like most kids growing up, wanted to be an astronaut. At the age of fifteen he was hired as a programmer for a national laboratory and worked as a software engineer before channelling his creativity into writing fiction.

His book The Martian has gone on to become a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller and a 2014 Richard and Judy Book Club pick, winning multiple international awards.

The Martian is now also a major motion picture from 20th Century Fox, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon.