This book. THIS BOOK! Seriously. Andy Weir is an effing GENIUS. This is by FAR my most favorite book of the year. The writing was mind-blowing. I can't imagine wring an extremely scientific book while still making it easily digestible for the lay reader, yet that's exactly what Weir did. His writing was clever, witty, and kept me turning the page faster than I thought possible. The story. I just. I think I am still in shock by how good it was. My heart broke into a million tiny pieces for Rylan and Rocky. The ending was extremely satisfying. Overall, I will be thinking about this book for YEARS to come.

Did you love The Martian? This book is even better! There is a ton of science in it and I loved that. This review is short because almost anything I say will be spoilery. There was not one wasted word. It's spectacular!

Oh, the places you'll go.... If you think Matt Damon on Mars was fun you ain't seen nothing till you've been to Tau Ceti! Andy Weir has spun a fine fantastical space yarn that has E.T. fighting Gravity in 2001: A Space Odyssey with a whole lot of relativity and gonzo biology thrown in. And after you read this, you'll want to treat yourself to a nice case off sunburn. Hail Mary? Hell yes!

A superb narrative from the writer that brought us The Martian. Fast paced, claustrophobic at times, and more twists than you'd ever want, plus a few extra, it's the perfect edge-of-your-seat reading.

This is a gripping novel where even if the more science-y bits make you start to glaze over, you're sucked right back into the story because you're invested in the relationship between the two main characters. My heart-strings were pulled and by the end of it all I didn't mind one bit. I highly recommend, especially if you enjoyed The Martian by this author.

In Project Hail Mary, you get a lot of science and math talk. A lot. It's going to make your brain hurt a bit if that's not your thing. But he can write one hell of a story that keeps you turning the pages.

He also does a good job of writing it in a way that even if you don't fully understand it, you can visualize it which was very helpful for me.

While I found it to be too sciencey for my liking, true sci-fi fans will absolutely love this one. I know my husband is going to love it and I hope he reads it soon so we can talk about it!

Andy Weir is an incredible sci fi author. This book was amazing from start to finish. I read the last third of the book in one sitting. What I love most about it though is not just the nerdy science stuff, it is the friendship, character development, and softer aspects of the plot as well.

Wow.... what a book. Having been a huge fan of The Martian, I was excited to see this book was coming out and that it was being compared to Weir's earlier work.

I don't want to give too much away to avoid spoiling the novel for readers. In fact, avoid any type of synopsis of this book if you can- the less you know the better. The simple summary is: Ryland Grace, a scientist and middle school teacher, wakens to find himself on board of the Hail Mary, a spaceship lightyears from home. His mission: discover why the sun is losing power and save the Earth from total destruction.

This book is stunning, but it is not without its problems. I was very intrigued by the first 50-75 pages of the book, then I began to lose interest. It took about 75-100 pages to regain my interest; during this period, I could read a few pages but the story did not really keep me invested long. However, once I pushed through this part of the story, I was totally hooked and could not stop reading, especially the last 75 pages. The twists, turns and adrenaline pumping storyline will keep you invested in Ryland's story and remind you why you fell in love with Weir's previous work. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House-Ballantine Publishing for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Fans of The Martian should also love Project Hail Mary; I know I do. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and have recommended it to lots of friends already.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Amazing story. Another great achievement from Weir. Like The Martian, there is a high level of scientific detail in the story. The main character also had a certain irreverence about him. I was drawn in for the start. But the twists and turns that this book had were unexpected. I flew through the pages because I wanted to know what came next. The ending was a little ambiguous. I wish there was a little more closure. But overall, just stunning.

Andy Weir never disappoints with science fiction that, in lesser hands, could become dry, “hard” prose. Other authors could get bogged down in details, but not Weir. Instead, the clear and specific knowledge continues to engage reader investment in Weir’s page-turning carnival rides. Project Hail Mary does not deviate from these tried and true methods, nor does it feel as if the same story is being told once again. I’m not sure how long Weir can hold to this formula, but for now, remains wonderfully perfected.

“Project Hail Mary”, by Andy Weir, is a science fiction novel, about a man who wakes up on a spaceship with no recollection of why or how he got there. As he starts becoming aware of his surroundings, his memory slowly returns to him. The chapters alternate between the present timeline on the spaceship, and the past events that led to the present events. As more and more events unfold in both timelines, the scientific mystery of the dangers that await humanity becomes more clear, and it may actually be more than just humanity that is at stake.

Before I get into how I felt about the book, it needs to be said that this was my first encounter with Andy Weir’s writing and that I am not a big science fiction reader. I went into “Project Hail Mary” with as few expectations as possible, and I had a very good experience. I loved Weir’s humor, and how he made scientific concepts more easily accessible to the lay reader, like myself. I’m not going to try to kid myself and say that all the science made sense to me, but whatever didn’t did not keep me from enjoying the overall story. I think both fans of science fiction, and readers who only dip their toes in the genre would enjoy “Project Hail Mary”. I definitely did, and I am curious to check out Andy Weir’s other novels. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I am not a huge fan of science fiction but I am a fan of Andy Weir. Another great book!!! Few characters but I found it compelling and hear warming at the same time.. Even if not a science fiction fan give this book a chance.

Andy Weir returns with another engrossing space opera.
Imagine, if you will, waking up to a mechanized voice incessantly asking, "What is two plus two?" As it intrudes on your consciousness you realize you're naked, lying on some sort of wall-mounted bed, you have tubes coming out of every orifice, and you share the sterile space with two people who are obviously long dead. To top it off, you can't remember who you are, what this facility is, or why you're there. So begins Andy Weir's science fiction adventure, Project Hail Mary.

Our narrator for this entertaining romp is Ryland Grace, and once he can articulate the answer to the simple math problem, he's able to determine he's on a spacecraft. As he familiarizes himself with his surroundings, he has flashbacks that remind him who he was before he left Earth — and what exactly a junior high science teacher is doing alone on a rocket ship light-years from his home planet. His bursts of insight continue throughout the novel, helping him problem solve and eventually revealing shocking information about his presence aboard the craft.

Weir employs a tried-and-true formula to weave his tale that is much like the structure he used in his debut novel, The Martian (and appearing as well in countless space operas like the Flash Gordon or Doctor Who series). A life-threatening crisis presents itself, the hero comes up with some sort of ingenious solution, and then they do their best to survive in spite of the odds; rinse and repeat. There are a number of factors that keep this novel from feeling trite, however. First and foremost is the central character, Ryland Grace, whose narration is captivating, funny and informative. He comes across as the cool teacher you wish you'd had growing up, able to explain complicated concepts while retaining a sense of humor:

Light is a funny thing. Its wavelength defines what it can and can't interact with… That's why there's mesh over the window of a microwave. The holes in the mesh are too small for microwaves to pass through. But visible light, with a much shorter wavelength, can go through freely. So you get to watch your food cook without melting your face off.

As always with Weir's writing, I'm impressed with his reliance on credible technologies and his ability to explain these complex notions to even scientifically illiterate readers such as myself. With the exception of one major plot point that occurs about a quarter of the way through the novel, I never found myself thinking, "Well, that seems unlikely." Sometimes these scientific expositions go on a little too long for my taste, but generally I appreciated feeling like the problems Grace encountered and the solutions he came up with were plausible.

One criticism often lobbed at Weir's previous novels is that his main characters are quite foul-mouthed. He seems to have taken this critique to heart in Project Hail Mary, as Grace truly curses just once (and it fits, given the circumstances). It's not that he doesn't use expletives at all, but as someone who spends most of his time with kids he defaults to G-rated invectives like "pain in the patoot" and "the poop hit the fan." Although at times the language feels a little forced, it's probably a wise move, as it may allow parents and teachers to feel more comfortable recommending the book to younger audiences. And as written, it's certainly appropriate for teen readers.

I've had serious love for Weir's writing since The Martian, and Project Hail Mary has only added to my high opinion of his work. Those who count themselves among his fans will undoubtedly be delighted with the book, and I unhesitatingly recommend it to anyone who enjoys well-written, creative science fiction. It's sure to be another huge hit for this author, and I can't wait to read whatever he comes up with next.

It’s hard to imagine someone who hasn’t wanted—at some point in their lives—to be an astronaut.

Scratch that. Assuming most people are more like me—the non-science-y sort—and less like actual astronauts—aaaaall about the science stuff—then it’s probably more accurate to say that by and large, most of us have probably dreamed of going out into space. (As a passenger. A salesperson. The ship’s cook. Whatever.)

The thing is, we know it’s just a fantasy; in our lifetimes, the tiniest fraction of humanity will venture out into space (whether on a vessel created by NASA and/or its worldwide counterparts, or on something kooky and cool that Elon Musk’s SpaceX team is frantically working on).

But what if—by the strangest sequence of events—you (science-y or not) were to find yourself on a mission to a distant, essentially-uncharted corner of the universe… one member of a tiny three-person team on a cramped little spaceship, and when you wake up, from an induced travel sleep? You discover that not only are you the only surviving member(!!!) of this unexpected—and frankly, unbelievable—situation… but that you have no idea who you are, or how you got into this predicament, in the first place.

Such is the stage for Andy Weir’s latest space thriller, Project Hail Mary.
_______________

Although I actually read Project Hail Mary prior to its release, “life” happened around that, and the result is that I’ve fallen behind in both my reading and my reviewing. I’m penning this, therefore, knowing full well that most people who were eagerly awaiting Weir’s next novel have probably already done so.

Still… I can’t let this one go without my own little shout-out, because I. Frakking. Loved. It.

Without spoiling it—because I’m not about to start doing that, now—I have to urge anyone who hasn’t read this one to check it out, posthaste. Really, it’s that good.

I laughed. (Weir is a master of “regular people” internal—and external [solo, talking to oneself]—monologues, and, just as he did so brilliantly in his debut, The Martian, he uses that skill to fabulous effect again, here.) I cried. (More than once, I was unashamedly misty-eyed.) I held my breath. (Like the very best that sci-fi has to offer, Weir has once again captured hope, uncertainty, and outright terror… and melded them into something completely accessible, even for those of us [me] who are decidedly unscience-y.)

To be fair, though, about that: science. There were passages where my eyes glazed over a bit, because—no matter how well Weir’s protagonist, Ryland Grace, was explaining something (and, as a junior high school teacher, Grace was doing as bang-up a job as would be possible), I’d invariably get a little lost (and a little bored—sorry! not a science person!!). Did that put me off the story even one iota, though? No, it didn’t. Not. One. Tiny. Bit.

In Project Hail Mary, Weir gave me everything I could want, and more; there's heart, intelligence, wonder, and chills-and-thrills, as well as some of the most beautiful images of friendship, compassion, and collaboration I could imagine… and I feel like a better human for having read (and loved) it.
~GlamKitty

[Fun little aside: I met and interviewed Mr. Weir at a convention back in the summer of 2014 (which was months after I’d blazed through The Martian, and recommended it to everyone I knew). He was funny, nice, and very ordinary… in the best way possible. :)]

My interview with Andy Weir appeared on the New Books Network and LitHub

Andy Weir on the Problem of Interstellar Travel
In Conversation with Rob Wolf on the New Books Network Podcast
June 18, 2021

A story about an alien invasion typically revolves around diplomacy, military strategy, technological one-upmanship, and brinksmanship. But the invaders in Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary are anything but typical.

Rather than a scheming sentient enemy, Weir gives readers Astrophage, an opponent who is mindless—and microscopic. Astrophage lives on—and taps energy from—the surface of stars. When its spores reach the sun, they begin a cycle that in a few short decades will starve Earth of sunlight.

An unlikely antagonist deserves an unlikely hero. Enter Ryland Grace, a middle school science teacher, who long ago authored a scientific paper that declared water isn’t a prerequisite for life. This once-ridiculed thesis draws the attention of the woman mustering the worldwide response to Astrophage. Eventually, Ryland finds himself waking from a years-long coma without remembering how or why he got there 12 light years from Earth, where he must figure out how to cure our sun of its infection.

While Astrophage is a deadly invader, another extraterrestrial plays a collaborative role. Thanks to the friendship that emerges between Ryland and Rocky, a hard-shelled, spider-like sentient creature with blood of mercury who breathes ammonia and hails from a planet with 29 times the atmospheric pressure of Earth, Project Hail Mary is as much a story about cross-cultural and cross-species exchange as it is a story of science, problem-solving, and heroism.

From the episode:

Rob Wolf: Can you tell our listeners about the existential threat at the heart of Project Hail Mary?

Andy Weir: The core problem is an alien microbe called Astrophage—that’s what the human scientists call it. It is an interstellar mold or algae. It grows and lives on the surface of stars and, like mold or algae, spores outward randomly in all directions. Sometimes one of the spores will find another star. It collects large amounts of energy off the star and uses that energy to travel through space to a nearby planet to get the elements it needs to reproduce by mitosis. Then it and the daughter cell return to the star, and that’s its life cycle.

It’s not intelligent in any way, doesn’t care about us. But it gets to the point where there is so much of it on our sun that the sun is starting to lose luminance. It’s getting dimmer. And even a four or five percent dimming of the sun would be fatal to life on Earth. The sun is remarkably constant in its output, and Earth’s life did not evolve to have a lot of variance in that. The Earth would go into a new ice age. Food chains would collapse. It would be a mass extinction event.

RW: Let’s talk about the mission at the heart of the book. Humanity is putting all their eggs into one Hail Mary basket by sending a spaceship with three astronauts to a nearby star.

AW: Astronomers noticed that our sun is not the only one affected by Astrophage. All of the stars in our local neighborhood are dimming—all of the stars, that is, except for Tau Ceti, which is about 12 light years away. For whatever reason, Tau Ceti is not affected. It’s not dimming at all. They think, OK, if we can send people to Tau Ceti and find out what is special about that system, maybe we can reproduce it here in our solar system and save all of humanity. So they create a ship called the Hail Mary because this is a Hail Mary, a last ditch attempt.

By the way, this takes place now, modern day. And you may have noticed that we don’t have anything remotely like the technology needed to do an interstellar space mission. But it turns out that the main thing we don’t have is enough fuel to get us to Tau Ceti in any reasonable amount of time. But that’s where Astrophage comes in. It’s both a curse and a blessing in that it’s causing these problems, but it also stores energy. Each Astrophage is a little spaceship basically capable of doing interstellar travel. So they farm and breed massive amounts of Astrophage. And then they make a propulsion system that basically tricks the Astrophage into thrusting and pushing the ship forward.

Andy Weir has done it again!

I am obsessed with The Martian. Book and movie. It's hilarious. Mark Watney is the best. Matt Damon playing him was amazing. Just...love.

So when I heard Andy Weir had a new one coming out, I knew I needed it. Another journey into space? A potentially hilarious character? A mission that seems impossible? Sold.

I absolutely loved the character development we got with Ryland Grace. I was not anticipating them having to drug him and hold him hostage to go on this mission. Did I expect him to be a coward and not go? Oh yes. But the lengths Stratt took to not only make sure he went but also make sure that he didn't remember for quite some time...not expecting that. And then for him to turn around and sacrifice the rest of his Earth life for Rocky's existence? Just love it.

Rocky was so cool! Definitely my favorite character. And I especially loved that Weir didn't go with the stereotypical "this is what an alien looks like" and went his own creation. I love that we imagine him as a spider but that is only the size of a small dog. I really loved that he brought the humor into it.

There was quite a bit of science in this one. Now this science major loved that, but I can see where that is a turnoff to someone who isn't into all of that. Ryland was also kind of corny. Not funny and loveable like Mark but I thought he was pretty decent.

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, he realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. It's up to him to conquer an extinction-level threat to our species. And thanks to an unexpected ally, he just might have a chance.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir pulled me out of a serious reading slump. I don't want to spoil this book for anyone, but it's so hard to talk about the things I loved without spoiling anything! I'm going to make myself be vague. I found myself drawn into this story immediately and once Ryland met his "unexpected ally" Rocky I couldn't stop thinking about this book until I finished it. I loved the themes of unexpected friendship and finding ways to communicate and cooperate. There were a couple of small things I didn't love in this book and I think there was maybe one too many catastrophes shoved into this story, but overall I absolutely loved Project Hail Mary! Rocky is one of my favorite characters I've encountered recently and I adored getting to read Ryland and Rocky's story!

This is a great sci-fi book that's perfect for folks who kind of want a space opera feel without the burden of 800+ pages to read. That being said, there's a LOT of technical and science stuff being thrown around that may put off readers, but I found the premise and overall story engaging enough that I could keep with it without falling asleep. Overall a great book that's a huge step forward after Artemis!

I almost didn’t read Project Hail Mary. I enjoyed Weir’s Artemis, but had no interest in The Martian, and a lot of reviewers commented that it was a return to the style of The Martian. But, I had a copy from NetGalley and I have a friend who will definitely be reading it, so . . . Turns out, I actually enjoyed it. It’s smart and funny and accessible. There was a lot of science and some of it got a little boring, but I never felt like I was lost in the details.

Alien microorganisms, astrophage, are consuming the sun’s energy, which will sooner rather than later make Earth colder and lead to another ice age. Ryland Grace, our narrator, is an 8th-grade teacher is a scientist who becomes involved in researching this phenomenon. He wakes up on the Hail Mary, part of a suicide mission to find a way to save Earth. The book shows two timelines, Ryland in space and, through flashbacks, the discovery of the astrophage and the planning stages of Project Hail Mary.

I am pretty good at overlooking things in novels, about letting issues slide. This is one of those books that require it, and the issues aren’t really minor. Ryland is on a space mission, and wakes up with no memory. Turns out there’s a good reason for that, but that’s beside the point. Thankfully, he’s clever and can figure stuff out. But think how much easier it would have been with a checklist of some kind. Or an AI system that could actually provide information, not make you search for it. Or you know, any of the safeguards that could help if something unexpected happened. And he’s an incredibly intelligent guy, but makes some really simple mistakes that seemed needless, just there to let him show off more problem-solving skills. I had to just let it go and enjoy the book.

And it really is a fun book. I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that Ryland meets an alien life form. Rocky is a fabulous character and I loved the friendship that forms between the two. A lot of their interactions made me smile. I think Ryland being a teacher worked out well here. He cares about people/other beings and is curious and willing to share information freely. The two of them, talking and hanging out and learning things together is the highlight of the book.

There were a few times I was worried about how it would all turn out. There should be, this type of book needs some tension. But I liked the ending, even if it was maybe a little too pat.

Do you need to love sci-fi to read Project Hail Mary? No. It flows easy, the main characters are likeable, and it’s a hopeful book. On the other hand, if you’re going to be bored by the science details, I’m sure it’ll be a movie sooner or later.