Something is eating the Sun, leaving all the people of Earth in need of figuring out a way to stop it. The best plan was to send a spaceship to the one star not infested to figure out how that's happening. Former middle school teacher Ryland Grace ends up the sole survivor of that mission, so now it's up to him to figure out how to save humanity back home.

I think this is the kind of book you should come into with as little information as possible to truly appreciate how brilliantly it's written. Weir never disappoints, even when he goes so deep into so many science things that my brain blanks out for a moment. Yes, the science gets heavy in this one, but it's all about the characters and the way that their interactions change them. It's a race against time with limited resources and more questions than answers, with the fate of two worlds in the balance. It sounds like a pulse-pounding read, and it does have those moments, but the best parts of this story are the quiet times when Grace has time to think about the situation he's in and how he got there. It's those moments in between the action and the discoveries that made it such a great read for me.

Delighted thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the amazing read! I apologize for taking so long to read it.

Why did it take me so long to finish this book? It was SO good! ahh! The story was incredibly engaging, and I really enjoyed how information was revealed through memories, it made the unfolding of the plot feel natural and suspenseful. The characters were compelling and kept me invested the whole way through. I absolutely love Andy Weir’s style! This had a similar vibe to The Martian in all the best ways, but it still felt totally fresh and different. I loved every minute of it!

If I had to sum up <i>Project Hail Mary</i> in one word, it would be "contrived." The protagonist has access to the full Library of Congress, but no one thought to put in a checklist of what needs to be done? There's a ship capable of interstellar travel, but you give it a computer that's less helpful than a customer service chatbot? Weir is so focused on coming up with clever solutions to problems that he seemingly never stopped to think of why they shouldn't have been problems to begin with.

The book did pick up significantly in the second half when it started focusing on things that were problems that couldn't have been prevented with proper planning, like building a common language with an alien species or dealing with unexpected fuel loss.

In the end, I found <i>Project Hail Mary</i> mildly enjoyable, but frustrating because it could have been so much better than it was.

Fast pace book with great story. I really enjoyed the plot and it had a twist at the end that I really enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Bellantine, Bellantine Books, and Andy Weir for the opportunity to read Project Hail Mary in exchange for an honest review.

Project Hail Mary is the perfect definition of "science-fiction," great for people wanting to step into the world of science-fiction for the first time, or long-time lovers of the genre. It's full of science, including microbiology, astronomy, technology, and even some extraterrestrial life (tying into previously stated elements). And of course, it's all fiction, meaning it's not a true story, but the level of research involved in the science behind the events of the story is quite thorough and offers an aspect of realism to the very serious situation presented in the novel.

I don't want to give too much away, but in a nutshell: this novel is about a microbe that eats stars. It is called astrophage, and it has begun eating the Earth's sun, which means the Earth will not survive much longer, if a solution is not found. Enter Project Hail Mary, the namesake of the spacecraft of which a team of scientists will be sent out to a star that has been found to be immune to astrophage, hoping for a solution to counter the problem and save Earth (and the rest of the universe). One catch is the coma sleep the astronauts need to be in, and only certain people have the genetic trait to be compatible to survive this. Enter Ryland Grace, former science teacher, studier of astrophage, and one of the few out of billions who has the genetics to (hopefully) safely make the trip to study the immune star.

Have you read The Martian? I liked The Martian, but I LOVED Project Hail Mary. The writing is incredible, the make-up is exquisite, and I love everything about Rocky (iykyk-you'll find out). This is a must-read for the science-fiction community, as well as the average fiction reader looking for something high-stakes.

Completely fantastic! It was really intense and full of complicated astrophysics and engineering, but I never felt overwhelmed and couldn't put it down. I was so glad it was a long book because I didn't want it to end.

Can't wait to see the movie next year.

Dual timeline science based thriller. Ryland wakes alone on a spaceship and is responsible for saving humanity. This humorous science geek will charm as you wade through the middle chapters of science sci-fi sustain you rooting for the end. Thanks to NetGalley and Ballentine for a copy for a honest review.

Andy Weir is an auto-buy author for me although honestly sci-fi isn't normally a genre I read. Like many readers I came to Andy Weir through his debut novel, The Martian. If you enjoyed The Martian, I recommend giving Project Hail Mary a shot. They share a lot in common, such as a wayward male lost in space. Will he make it back to Earth?

The story is told through Ryland's memories about the lead-up to the launch that put him into space and what he's dealing with currently. I did find parts of it a little too science heavy, which is funny coming from someone who literally makes a living from a science-based job. Astrophysics and such is just something I have a harder time wrapping my head around at times and that was the case with this book. I enjoyed the humor presented as expected from reading his previous works. I found myself reading portions of it out loud to my husband and recounting them to a friend. Rocky is absolutely precious and I needed him to be protected at all costs. With a film adaptation on the horizon, I'm excited to see Rocky on the screen.

While I don't know if I'd re-read this one like The Martian, in the end I still had a good time. It took me awhile to get invested in the story, but once I did it was hard to put down. I will say the investment for me easily took 100 pages, which I can be a lot for some people.

Very interesting and thrilling page turner. Feels like a realistic way that first contact may play out.

Andy Weir strikes again! I loved his first book but this one was even better (if that’s even possible). He has grown a lot as a writer and this book was so addicting to read

Exactly what I expected from Weir. I really enjoyed this story and particularly enjoyed the twist. Certain characters really brought this book to life and I could have stayed with them forever listening to them debate science.

Apologies for the delay but I did review this book in this video: BINGE READING AT IT’S BEST! | February 2022 Reading Wrap Up
https://youtu.be/87wYWKGqhWQ

Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary is an exhilarating and thought-provoking sci-fi adventure that combines high-stakes space survival with complex scientific puzzles. The story follows Ryland Grace, a lone astronaut who awakens aboard a spaceship with no memory of who he is or how he got there, only to discover he's humanity's last hope for survival against a cosmic threat.

Set against the stark loneliness of space, Grace’s journey to unravel the mystery of his mission is filled with tension and surprises. The friendships he forges, particularly with a surprising ally, add warmth and humanity to the story, grounding its technical aspects in real emotional stakes. Project Hail Mary balances thrilling moments of action with quieter, introspective scenes, creating a narrative that feels both urgent and deeply personal. The stakes are high, but Weir’s wit and Grace's endearing resilience bring a lightness to even the darkest moments.

Overall, Project Hail Mary is a triumph, blending scientific wonder with heart, humor, and a touch of the unexpected. It’s a must-read for sci-fi fans and anyone who enjoys stories of ingenuity and the human spirit. Special thanks to NetGalley and to Ballantine Books for providing an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review!

Awesome book! One of the best books I read this year!! I really enjoyed the friendship between Ryland and Rocky was well written and very touching!! I can't wait to see the movie!!

My husband read this in about 24 hours because he couldn't put it down. In fact, he liked it so much that he bought his own copy shortly after it was released. It's one of his favorite books of all time now, which is saying something because he reads a lot of sci-fi and fantasy.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐I don't know why I waited so long to read this #NetGalley ARC. Maybe I feared it wouldn't be as good as Weir's other novels. While this isn't quite as awesome as The Martian, it's a close second, and will probably be my favorite book this year. I'm hoping Weir comes out with a new novel soon because he has reached auto-buy status. This was my 6th book for #SciFiSummer

Just as good and possibly better than, The Martian. Weir has a unique talent of making science accessible, but not critical to his stories. He treats it as a part of the environment and situation rather than a, "behold, marvel at my science knowledge" dump. Definitey for fans of the lone survivor trope and bittersweet endings.
This time our main character wakes up with retrograde amnesia, only to find himself alone on a ship hurtling through space, for a reason that isn't immediately apparent. What follows is a story of survival and self (and then some) discovery. Well paced and with enough surprises to keep almost any reader curious. Can't recommend this book enough. Highly recommend the very cleverly done audiobook as well!

Looking to expand your reading genres? Don't know where to start with science fiction? Give Andy Weir a try with Project Hail Mary. This fun romp through space to save the universe was a great read!

I am very late to read this book and finally joined a group reading it to make myself read it after starting and stopping multiple times. Many people like this book so you don’t really need my review, as someone who does not. The characters are mostly caricatures or stereotypes, and it is hard to care when even the alien and the MC read as the same personality. Some things happen too easily and quickly and that is fine for plot purposes, but it annoys me when books say they get the science right when getting the “science” right generally means it would be a very boring book with more pipetting. I enjoyed The Martian, and this is very similar. That science in that one was fun and seemed more forced to me in this book and overly tedious for basic things like making a pendulum. I didn’t need that level of details. Also, the entire chain mess seemed easily fixable with some forethought before the mission was sent out but drama for plot purposes. Also, I don’t need another book of white male main character basically does science alone, plus or minus an alien, and saves everyone. An ensemble cast in space would have strengthened this book but not how this author writes. Again, your view may vary, and I bring my own baggage with me on this topic.

Didn't enjoy this as much as the Martian, largely because of the ending, but also because the science infodumps were SO intense. I usually can't move on until I've processed and semi-understood what I'm reading, but eventually I was skimming the science parts.