This is the Andy Weir that I love! Much longer than The Martian, my measuring stick for space based books, but with the same flavor to keep you drawn in. Unfortunately I did not enjoy Artemis, but was pleased Weir got back on track with Project Hail Mary. If someone explained the premise of this book before I jumped in, I might not have read it, but I’m so glad I did! Usually books with an alien as a main character are like bad sci-fi movies, but somehow it seemed perfectly normal with Weir’s expertise in humanizing Rocky. I would recommend this one, especially to get into something a little different.

Thank you Netgalley for the free ebook! I have always been a fan of Sci-fi and when I heard that Andy Weir was releasing a new book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! Weir did not disappoint. I found the book incredibly written and I seriously could not put it down. 10/10 would recommend!

I have never read The Martian (though I have watched the movie, of course), so this book was my first encounter with Andy Weir. I must admit that I am in love. Who knew that science stuff could be so fun to read about?

This is also one of the best first contact stories I have ever read, and I am not talking about astrophages here. But saying anything else on that subject will spoil one of the best aspects of the book, which I absolutely don't want to do. So let's talk a little about other good aspects of this book instead.

The second best aspect of this book is the mystery. We wake up with our protagonist at the beginning of the book, and we are just as clueless as he is about where he is and what is happening. And we experience the sense of dread and wonder and excitement of discovery along with the narrator. We experience the dawning horror of his situation as well, when he discovers that his teammates are dead and that the fate of all humanity now rests with him.

I love our protagonist. He can come across as a goof sometimes, but I like the fact that he just doesn't give up. He was the backup guy, the expert on astrophage, sure, but not very versed in spaceship navigation or technology. He had two other astronauts to rely on for that... only they didn't survive the trip to their destination. A lot of people would just give up by then, go into a severe depression or decide to end it all here and now, especially once they remember that this mission was a suicide trip anyway.

Not our protagonist though. Even with more holes in his memories than a block of Swiss cheese, even realizing that he can't rely on anyone but himself, he still decides to continue with the mission and to do everything in his power to find a solution to Earth's astrophage problem.

I also like his unyielding optimism. The fact that he can take pleasure out of such small things and a tasty breakfast burrito after days of liquid meals, or enjoy a small discovery when a memory comes back or an experiment yields results. That sheer joy of discovery and curiosity about the world around him is something that a lot of us lack in our day and age. This is also something that helps him come to the first contact situation with an open mind and curiosity instead of fear in his heart.

I cannot speak about all the science in this book, since that has never been my strong suite. It might be accurate or it might not, but I don't particularly care. It was simple enough to understand and it force me to suspend my disbelief too much. Honestly, that's better than a lot of science fiction books out there.

I liked the fact that it was interesting, that the story moved at a steady pace but still gave us time to get to know the characters and get to truly care about what happened to them. Oh and the ending was very satisfying, at least in my opinion. So a solid 5 stars for this one.

PS: I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is basically The Martian 2.0 and I'm more than OK with that. This is terrific. Ryland Grace is Mark Watney reincarnated. They both have that same snark while they science the shit out of things. Weir's characters have a passion for science that's infectious. Every time Grace solves a problem using science the voice in my head cheers. Weir also throws some twists in there I certainly didn't see coming which doesn't happen often.

The premise of the book is that a man wakes up in a spaceship and can't remember who he is. As he recovers his memory, we find out what's happened to the Earth and why he is so far away from home on a rocket in another solar system by himself. That's all you really want to know about this book going into it. If you like reading books about people who use their brains (along with hard science) to get out of sticky situations, this is the book for you. You won't find too many books that both put a smile on your face and tears in your eyes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advanced copy of this book. Guys I’m a huge Andy Weir fan and when I heard this was coming out I didn’t wait for NetGalley to post I went straight to the publisher for a code. His books are so thought out and researched that I just get sucked in. This story to me was interesting because it wasn’t to me along the lines of this could really happen like his other books are but still plausible enough with imagination. I enjoyed the humor in this book as well which was something I felt was new to his style of writing. I would for sure recommend picking up a copy and checking it out!

Thoughts: I don’t give out five stars too often, but this one was one spectacular book. I was a bit apprehensive at first: the plot centers around an astronaut that wakes up alone on a spaceship with no memory of where he is, or even who he is. Rather than being provided a backstory, we’d suddenly get these bursts of memory, but they were written kind of sloppily I felt. He’d be doing something on the spaceship, have some memory, and realize oh! That’s because I was a science teacher, or whatever. It was really off-putting and happened frequently in the first several hundred pages. The rest of the book was so amazing that I was able to overlook the issues I had with that.

Verdict: The major aspect of this book is actually a huge spoiler and it is 100% better to experience it firsthand, so, I’m going to do my part and not even try to allude to it. Well worth a read.

Oh goodness me, I didn't expect to love this book as much as I ended up doing but it's hard to explain to you why I loved it so much because this book is truly best going in knowing as little as possible. But here's my attempt at a review. This book was really funny. There were numerous times I laughed out loud throughout this book but despite that this book still managed to convey the seriousness of the situation really well. Ryland was an amazing main character and I loved following him. I typically don't like amnesia storylines but I feel like in this book it just worked really well. Trying to figure out what is going on and what happened together with Ryland just enhanced the experience for me. I think this book balanced out the flashback moments with the 'present' storyline really well and it switches between them perfectly. The heavy science stuff did slow me down a bit (because me is stupid) but overall it really enhanced the reading experience and made everything that happened feel so grounded and real. I really, really loved this book.

While I still think THE MARTIAN will (thus far) remain my favourite novel by Weir, PROJECT HAIL MARY pulls upon many of my favourite elements from that novel -- namely, Weir's absolute talent for clear, distinct character voice. I especially love that his protagonists are often heavily based in sarcasm and don't necessarily shy away from profane, often crude language and humour, very much the way any "normal" person would likely behave when under the stresses he puts them through.

This is a perfect sci-fi story and book for so many reasons. One, I can give this book to anyone with very little science and physics knowledge and they will still be able to enjoy it. Two, it introduces very interesting interstellar concepts. Three, the empathy shared between Grace and Rocky is very heart-warming. I also liked that Stratt wasn't so one dimensional and cold-hearted.

Criticisms for the book, I didn't like how Rocky was immediately gendered. It initiates so many stereotypical tropes, pushes more bro-y storyline. I also didn't like that there wasn't a lot of opposition shown. I wished to know more about what and how Stratt managed to pull this plan off.

I read an advanced digital copy of this novel courtesy on the publisher through NetGalley. Review available on goodreads.

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Review The news is all bad when a mysterious lifeform appears in our solar system and starts consuming our sun. It's measurably dimmer after only a few years and therefore clear that humanity needs to do something big to solve the problem. That responsibility ends up falling on hapless middle school science teacher Ryland Grace. Why Grace? Because during his academic career he posited the existence of non-carbon-based lifeforms. Meanwhile, astronomers can detect the same dimming of other stars in the galaxy but there's one distant sun that seems immune. And so, Project Hail Mary: A spaceship sent to that distant sun to find out how it's seemingly immune to Astrophage. Once identified, it will then fire that information back to Earth before it's too late for our own solar system. Problem is, Grace has woken up without any memory of who he is and how he got there. And he's all alone on the spaceship...

This book is Weir in top form, with lots of hard science and interesting technical details mixed into a compelling story about how Grace ends up - hopefully! - as humanity's savior, all with Weir's trademark snark and sarcasm. Grace might not "science the s**t" out of the problems that arise, but he definitely has to innovate as the story proceeds. A very enjoyable read, recommended for fans of "The Martian" and other hard science sci-fi.

This book was absolutely phenomenal. I had read Andy Weir’s two previous books before. I really enjoyed The Martian but I hated Artemis. Even still I had such high hopes for this and it managed to exceed my expectations. I immediately made my dad read it and he, who is VERY picky, also loved it. It manages to be action packed and emotional, each story line is gripping, the characters are well-developed and loveable. Five stars all around.

If I've learned one thing from this is that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. A second thing I've learned is that I should really just drop everything and go read The Martian because if it's half as engaging as this, it's for sure going to be a five-star read for me.

First, let's talk plot. A man wakes from a coma, all alone on a spaceship headed to a distant star. He has no idea who he is, how he got there, or why he's there. There are two bodies on the ship with him, he assumes those were his crewmates. Now all he has to do is figure out how to save all life of Earth, before dying a lonely death in outer space. Except that maybe he won't be so alone, and maybe Earth isn't the only planet that's in danger.

And if that's not an intriguing enough concept for you to drop everything go read this, I don't know what is. I loved every single second of it. Even all the science parts were interesting.

For reference, I was a psych/English major in college. I know nothing of science, especially physics. And yet, I had no trouble keeping up with all the science talk in this book, and boy was there a lot of science talk. It's not that I understood the science on its own, but that I understood how all of the physics and biology functioned in relation to the plot. Andy Weir managed to break down complex concepts like space travel and cellular evolution into things that could be easily understood by the general masses. And better yet, he managed to make these concepts interesting to read about.

My favorite thing in the story though was the characters. The main character, Ryland Grace was very likable. He was also strangely relatable despite him being a thirty-something-year-old man with a doctorate in molecular biology, on a mission to save mankind from extinction, and me being absolutely none of those things. Then there was Rocky. Never have I been more invested in a character's well-being as I was for Rocky in the last 10% of this book. Rocky is too pure for this world and I loved him! Even the other human characters through the flashback were interesting I especially liked Stratt.

Overall, this book was awesome and I enjoyed every moment of reading it. I am now officially a fan of Andy Weir and I cannot wait to read more of his books! This gets a 5/5 and a 10/10 would recommend!

Having loved The Martian and hating Artemis which seemed to be written by two different Andy Weir's, I still had high hopes for Project Hail Mary. While it did start off with a great premise, an average guy trying to save the world, it went downhill pretty fast. The whole global warming issue was a turnoff and lost all credibility for suspending my disbelief on this one. This was a big DNF. I think I'm done with Andy Weir books.

Wow--I was hooked from the first page and the science! I spent a lot of time pondering the possibilities and thinking about all of the math/science connections. As a researcher turned middle school teacher, I was personally connected to the main character. We are both lovers of science, our students, and perpetually curious. The character spoke to my inner sense of adventure. This book is a tribute to the power of questioning, discovery, innovation, and ingenuity. I was so invested in this story; I dreaded turning the last page. However, as I read the last few pages, my heart melted, and I realized these characters would forever remain in my heart. Mr. Weir, thank you for showing the world that science is COOL!

Absolutely love the voice Andy Weir gives his characters. There is only one author I trust for monologues. I can't decide if I loved this more than The Martian. But two of my favorite men from the pen are Ryland Grace and Mark Watney!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Y’all, this book was so far out of my reading comfort zone…like totally opposite of something I’d normally read. It’s sci-fi space realism with a dash of humor. I picked it up because of all the surrounding hype. Additionally, I really enjoyed “The Martian,” (movie) based on book of the same name, also by Andy Weir.

Good news: I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this book. It will definitely make my top 10 for 2021. I’m on a trip with my kids, so I was forced to read this in 5 minute increments, but I found myself aching to get back to it! Who knew space travel and tiny particles of alien life could be so interesting? Apparently millions of people because the book has rocketed to the top of all the notable best seller lists.

Weir has a way of writing about hard core space science in a way that is very easy to follow and understand. I felt impressed with myself for being smart enough to understand the inner workings of astrophysics…then realized it wasn’t me, it was Weir’s phenomenal writing! 😜

If you’re like me and weary of this genre…steam toward. This is a book worth pushing the envelope of your safe zone. I highly recommend this book to space lovers and skeptics alike. Also, anyone that enjoyed “The Martian” should also enjoy this story. Lastly, I’ve talked to several men who REALLY loved this book as a solid summer read.

P.S. My sister-in-law listened to the audio version and said it was very well done.

DESCRIPTION:
Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish.

Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.

All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.

His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery—and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.

And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone.

Or does he?

An irresistible interstellar adventure as only Andy Weir could deliver, Project Hail Mary is a tale of discovery, speculation, and survival to rival The Martian—while taking us to places it never dreamed of going.

**3/5 Stars**

Let me preface this review by saying I'm not a big fan of Andy Weir's books. I'm a social scientist who dabbles in the hard sciences, and I run a research lab. So this is where I'm coming from.

I read Artemis when it came out and I was glad that it featured a strong female lead with a diverse background, Butttt...I kept feeling like it was written by a man imagining what it would be like to be a strong female lead with a diverse background. I didn't hate it - it just felt off to me.

I don't say this to imply men cannot write great female characters - I just felt like Weir doesn't get what it is like to be in someone else's shoes. My feelings were confirmed with this book (Project Hail Mary) as well.

If I wasn't someone who researches for a living, maybe I'd feel differently. It's sort of like asking me to read a fiction book about archaeology: it is hard not to see faults and problems in a storyline as someone who knows what it is like to work in an academic setting or be on an actual archaeological dig (spoiler alert: it isn't as nearly dangerous or exciting as Indiana Jones :) ).

My frustrations with Project Hail Mary are pretty much the same as those with The Martian: lone male scientist solves big, potentially world-ending problem on his own without the aid of anyone. In the case of Project Hail Mary, the lone scientist is stranded in space (remind you of The Martian at all??) with an alien creature and has to forge communications with it to save the entire universe.

It is this bootstraps narrative that grinds on me as a researcher and someone who understands how scientific knowledge is generated. Yes, there are lots of brilliant people out there who come up with theories and ideas on their own (here's looking at you, Einstein), but most work is done collaboratively. Most work that's replicated and respected is done in a lab with a team of researchers.

Maybe I'd be less annoyed at these narratives he keeps pushing if I knew he wasn't aware of how higher ed works, but he knows better as someone with a science background and someone who has parents who were scientists. I appreciate the fact he includes lots of details about the science of the shuttle or the mechanics of whatever is happening, but I need a bit more of the human element to really get into the story. I am just not that enamored with men flying in space (e.g. Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk come to mind here!). It is a tired narrative. I know Weir can do better because he isn't a bad writer.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

QUICK TAKE: loved the dark exploration of the lengths the government and scientists would go to in order to ensure the survival of the planet, but I hated all of the space stuff. you lost me after page 200 (it got real rocky...). Weir's scifi is usually extremely grounded, but I just couldn't get onboard with this one (don't get me started on the ending). That being said, I've heard the audiobook is bonkers, so I might just have to get a copy and hate-listen to it, haha.

VERDICT: A jaw-dropping tale of survival and discovery. Clever science, humor, suspense: the great Andy Weir is back!
Like some other readers, awed by The Martian, I was very disappointed by Andy Weir’s next novel: Artemis.
Still, remembering my pleasure reading his previous scifi novel, I decided to give him another chance and requested Project Hail Mary.
I was still a bit hesitant though, as I didn’t know the expression included in the title and was afraid it would be dealing with religion. But for all of you knowledgeable in American football, the reference is obvious.
Anyway, forget all hesitations, this is again the fruit of a great writer!
And don’t let the number of pages discourage you, you will go through them at the speed of light 😉

The book opens when Ryland wakes up. Things are not going well for him. He has a hard time talking, moving, and cannot remember a thing. Not even his name nor his job. He can’t even identify the place he is in.
Little by little, he realizes he must be somewhere in space, living thanks to resources provided by a super computer. His two colleagues were not that lucky.

Little by little, by observing things around him, by regaining his memory progressively, he realizes he is the only chance left for our planet. But he was sent on a very dangerous last chance mission (hence the title), and really all the odds are against his success, or against his going back to Earth safely.

Like in The Martian, there are a lot of scientific details (and some stars data are real). Fascinating, but maybe too much in some parts. However, I still gave 5 stars to the book, as all the details turned out to be so cleverly thought out, and they made the book sound so realistic.
If you wonder let’s say about space elevator or panspermia theory, yes these are also important scientific fields.

Plus, the plot is just fabulous.
The book gets even more fascinating at Chapter 7 (26% of the book), with a very special discovery. Which then brings on all kinds of fascinating new themes.
Of course, I can’t give you any details about this surprise, just that you really need to read this book. It contains so many layers and themes, both related to Earth and to space.
It has so many unexpected twists, including to the very end, with a fabulous last chapter, that may or may not point to a sequel.

The narrative is going back and forth between Ryland’s current situation, and what happened on Earth to send him and his crew on this mission. This alternation definitely added to the tension in the suspense!
I loved all the descriptions of the characters, all very complex people.

And I can’t wait to see it made into a movie, because it has to become a movie!
Andy, looking forward to your next novel, bring it on!

The review on my blog contains a quotation