I’m not sure why I’ve seen so many advanced reviews of Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Why? Because on the first page of the Advanced Reader Copy, it says quite clearly not to publish any reviews before publication date. Apparently reviewers didn’t read the first page or don’t care. Not my problem. But I made a point of not publishing this book review until today, which is the official publication date. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Ballantine Books in exchange for an honest review.

I like science fiction movies and TV shows. But I rarely read the genre. I’m not sure why. Maybe because in books, things can get really technical, and when I read, I want to relax and enjoy the book. Unless of course, I’m reading history or biography, where I want to learn all sorts of new information. So what made me decide to try Project Hail Mary? I thoroughly enjoyed Weir’s The Martian, both the book and the movie .

Project Hail Mary reels you in right away. What on earth is this guy doing out in space, all alone and without his memories? As Ryland Grace regains his memories through an endless series of flashbacks, he also has to deal with the present day problem of being on a space ship where his two crewmates are dead and not knowing where he is going or why.

In the beginning of the book, the flashbacks were more interesting to me than the present day. Why? Because the present day is a series of info dumps on various math and science calculations. I found my eyes glazing over and skimming these parts to get to the flashbacks and find out more of Ryland’s story. I’m not saying I’m bad at math or science, I’m actually really adept at basic math calculations and enjoy many aspects of the field of science. I even went through a phase where I wanted to be an astronaut, but there was too much physics involved for my liking. That’s not saying this isn’t a good book. It’s very compelling, but there’s a lot of times when the math or science doesn’t have to be explained like you’re in high school. I felt many times that it was just a way to fatten up the book. I get it. I felt like Weir had to do a ton of research and wanted to show it off for the reader.

The second half of the book, I became much more interested in the present day problems of Ryland rather than the flashbacks. The second half of the book is less about science and math and more about interpersonal relations. The book becomes more about saving the world than surviving in space. The book is very similar to The Martian in that there’s a lone man in space. The main character is also similar to The Martian’s Watney, so at times that made the characterizations seem unoriginal. I liked Watney as a character, so I liked Ryland, too. But as an author, can’t you come up with a different character?

The story is good and the writing flows, making this a very good book. But as stated, the huge amount of scientific explanations bogged down the book a bit. With a bit of editing, this could be a 5-star book for me. As it stands, it’s still 4-star and recommended. Will Hollywood make a movie of this book? Probably. A big action blockbuster, no doubt.

Reading this book made me feel smart even though so much of it was beyond my pay grade. Lots of science and math and technical stuff. Was it too much? Not for me. The protagonist and narrator of the story, Ryland Grace, is a nerdy guy and Project Hail Mary takes you right into his mind. He’s a relatable guy, sometimes anxious, sometimes serious, sometimes humorous, sometimes brave, sometimes scared, but always human. I happen to like science fiction books, and I also like apocalyptic books, and this was equal parts both. But then when you toss in lots of sarcasm, which this book had plenty of, you’ve got a real winner! Well done.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

I was really looking forward to this book and it does not disappoint in the slightest! It has a thrilling story and a believable main character. The best science fiction I've read in a while! A must read for science fiction fans!

I highly recommend Project Hail Mary, especially to those who love hard science fiction.

Five stars ++++! Huge thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC!!!

As much as I loved The Martian, I loved, loved, loved Project Hail Mary so much more!!! Imagine awakening from an induced coma, naked, finding two dead people in the room with you, and having no memory of where you are, or what your name is! All the narrator knows is that he apparently says things like "Oh, fudge!" and "Motherfluffer!" Is he in a hospital in an isolation unit? Is he in another country? As he wanders around Hail Mary wearing a sheet from his bed, a robotic voice asks him what his name is. ("I am the great philosopher Pendulus" "Incorrect." "I am Emperor Comotose. Kneel before me." "Incorrect."😂)

The book is set up so that every other chapter is a returning memory. I loved that! I found the background chapters to be as fascinating as the Hail Mary chapters. Eventually, the narrator remembers that his name is Ryland Grace and he is in space due to a space mold that is devouring the sun’s energy and threatening all life on Earth. Just like that, the quest is on to figure out how to save the planet!

What I have written so far only scratches the surface of the plot of this book. It's difficult to review Project Hail Mary without ruining the book for those who haven't yet read it. I will admit that sometimes the science in the book went over my head. (That didn't affect how much I enjoyed the storyline, however.) I will also admit to laughing out loud many, many times.


If you are looking to read an unforgettable story of survival and the power of friendship, Project Hail Mary is the book for you! I highly, highly, highly recommend it!!!👍

Ryland Grace wakes up thousands of miles away from home in a bed with a bunch of IVs in him totally naked with no idea where his is or even his own name. To make matters worse, his only company is two corpses in a position not unlike to one he woke up in.

As Ryland starts to get glimpses of his past, he starts to remember who he is and why and where his is: He is the sole survivor of a suicide space mission.

I didn’t completely understand all the super science-y terms, but I got the gist of the book: The sun is dying and Ryland Grace is the Earth’s only hope of stopping an extinction level event.

This was a good book and I’m definitely glad I checked it out. I was a big fan of The Martian also by the same author and this book didn’t let me down.

Thank you, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Another very cool space story from Andy Weir! Something is destroying our sun and the only hope to save humanity is a doomsday mission into space.

When Ryland Grace, junior high school teacher, awakens from an induced coma, he has no memory of where he is or how he got there but finds the other two crew members on the space ship Hail Mary are dead. His memories come back to him in flashbacks and he realizes he now has an important job to do to save humanity. But can he succeed on his own?

Luckily a close encounter changes everything and, to me, was the highlight of the story. Andy Weir writes with great humor and knowledge of our foibles. There is lots of science and math but it doesn't bog the story down one bit. It's a fascinating read from start to finish.

My six-year-old grandson's favorite imagination game to play with me is Rocket. When he comes for a visit, we decide which planet we will visit on our next flight. This story has given me tons of new ideas for where to go next and why! :-)

I received an arc of this new novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity!

Andy Weir loves science. Definitely more than the average person. But he also knows how to write an entertaining adventure romp. Ryland Grace wakes up and has no idea who or where he is. Page by page we learn Grace's seemingly impossible mission of saving the entire human race. In a completely different solar system from ours. Alone. Or is he?
In all honesty, I was about a third of the way through the book before it really picked up for me, but when it did I was all in. The science is HEAVY in this book so be warned. At times I felt it took away from the momentum of the story but Weir writes his characters with such heart you forgive them when they begin lecturing you on quantum physics. I wasn't sure how he was going to wrap it up but I was thoroughly satisfied when he did.

4.5/5 stars ... This book was such a great sci-fi, reality-adjacent (in other words, lots of stuff seemed very possible, though I can't say I understand all the science and tech stuff, but it felt realistic), space book! I enjoyed "The Martian," though not all aspects seemed really possible, but that's the only one of Weir's books I've read aside from this one. I loved the premise - an alien "fungus" (basically) is feeding off the Sun's light output, effectively dimming the light Earth receives, threatening all life. Enter Project Hail Mary, a rescue mission to save life on Earth. The book is told via "Now" and "Then" shifts in perspectives, and we learn as Dr. Grace learns and regains his memories after 4 years in a medically induced coma for space travel. I just thought the whole idea of what alien life could be, new minerals and metals we don't even know about in the Universe, what a life-sustaining atmosphere and temperature could look like for a totally different kind of lifeform, and the suspense of needing to find a way to save Earth without dying as the last hope for the planet and for humankind. And without saying too much, does he really have to solve it all alone? No he does not. So interesting!

If you’re familiar with Weir’s other works, you will find this to fit right in. It’s heavy on science (and math), and comes in just under 500 pages. It also focuses on a character who needs grit and ingenuity to survive his circumstances, and it’s full of humorous asides.

The actual plot is entirely different than that of “The Martian” or “Artemis,” obviously, but how much can I tell you without being spoiler-y?

The story goes back and forth between what Grace is doing on his spaceship, the Hail Mary, and what happened on Earth before the ship’s launch. In these flashbacks, both Grace and the audience learn what his mission is, and why he’s involved.

That second part turns out to be a bigger deal than you’d think. More on that later.

We learn that our sun is being attacked by a small organism that humans name “Astrophage.” It’s reducing the sun’s energy/light output, which puts Earth on track for catastrophe in approximately 26 years.

Grace is a junior high biology teacher. So how does he end up on a space mission? We learn first how he got involved in researching astrophage, which makes slightly more sense. As the preparations ramp up for figuring out how to deal with the astrophage problem, Grace stays with the team determining what to do next. At this point, he knows more about astrophage than anyone else, so this still makes sense. We don’t learn how he actually ends up on the ship until we’re 80% through the book, and… it’s a total gut punch.

While this mystery keeps you guessing in the flashbacks, the real joy of the book happens in the segments on the ship. Grace has traveled to another solar system that seems to also have astrophage present, to see what’s happening there and if it can help Earth in any way. He’s been asleep for most of the trip, but now has to find what he’s looking for – once he remembers what that is. This is not as lonely and boring as one might think, but I don’t want to give away what happens. Let’s just say it’s fun, sometimes heartbreaking, and ultimately pretty awesome.

This is sure to be another blockbuster under Weir’s belt, and it comes out today, May the Fourth. I was able to read an advanced copy through the publisher, Random House, and Netgalley.

This was pretty solid scifi! I was honestly fascinated by the story and how everything played out. This was very science heavy though and I will admit I did some skimming when things got a little over my head (science is NOT my strength, but I can follow most of it when it is explained out).

While I don't want so spoil anything, it is worth noting that the way this story ends is what bumped it into the 4 star range. I loved the conclusion to this!

Would recommend to anyone who likes, heavy on the science scifi, doesn't mind that this is fairly low action (not a deal breaker for me if the material is this level of fascinating), and appreciates a fairly wholesome MC. This also involves a first contact situation and I know I have a few friends out there who love that.

Okay this was GOOD! This was out of my comfort zone but I am so happy that I took a chance on this one. I can see why book of the month picked it!

Ryland Grace wakes up to find himself hurtling through space, his crewmates dead. He is the only one left who can save humanity from extinction. But right now he cannot remember his name or his mission. Will he be able to save Earth alone? Will he have to?

This is a very well written, riveting story by Andy Weir. I was drawn in immediately, even during complicated scientific explanations that somehow became an intriguing part of the story. The gravity of the situation doesn't hit you at first, but slowly Weir draws you in as Ryland gains more and more awareness. The addition of another character leaves you on the edge of your seat as the fate of Earth hangs in the balance. The conclusion is satisfying in itself, but makes you wonder if there is more to come.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.

If you read and enjoyed The Martian but found yourself somewhat disappointed with Artemis, you will be delighted with Andy Weir's new novel, Project Hail Mary. The thing that made The Martian so fun was its desperate hope, gumption, and its dogged attention to scientific detail, and the good news is that PHM picks up all those threads again without feeling formulaic.

The problems are different and the stakes are magnified tenfold, but that overall sense of "escape room in outer space" pervades the story from tip to tail, and it's just sheer fun to read. The narrative (by its very nature) feels far less prescient or possible than The Martian, but on the other hand it is far more imaginative, whimsical, and emotionally intelligent.

If you are looking for a fun, light sci-fi for a summer read, look no further than Project Hail Mary.

DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of a fair, unbiased review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I was a little worried going into this one based on the description that it would be too similar to The Martian, but it wasn’t at all. I think I may have even liked this one better.

Ryland Grace wakes up on a spaceship called the Hail Mary, with one big problem. He has no memory of who he is or why he’s there. As it all slowly comes back to him, we experience his past and present, while he attempts to save Earth from total devastation. By himself, and with an unlikely ally….

While a bit of the science went way over my head, I didn’t mind at all with the dark humor and sarcasm thrown in, five huge stars.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Science fiction adventure. Stand-alone. Two time lines: one current crisis mode of the astronaut, the other as he remembers his past leading up to the current situation.
The Sun is under attack by an unknown organism. It’s going to take all the world organizations working together to find a possible solution and prevent billions from dying.
Ryland Grace is one of the scientists working on the problem. He’s also the only surviving astronaut left to figure out a solution to hopefully save humanity.

Powerful and complicated.
So much science. I read it all, not really understating. It was a bit too much at times. Yes, I wanted to know how ....but did I need to know all the minutia? I could have lost a hundred pages without too much impact but still admire the mind and intelligence of the author to include it. Anyone that loves science will love the detail.
Yes I will recommend it but stand by a little less would have been fine.
I’m not going to spoil the ending, but will share it had me crying.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

*4.5 stars*

Project Hail Mary follows a man who doesn’t know who he is until around 10% of the novel. He wakes up from an induced coma in a spaceship on a mission to save Earth from impending doom from a previously undiscovered alien species.

My big gripe has to do with the unlikable main character, Ryland Grace. Apparently, Weir’s other novels are a little curse heavy, so he decided to make this character use old time boomer phrases like “gee whiz” and “darn it to heck”. It really just took me out of the story, because I find it a tad unrealistic. Even those I know who are very religious just use completely different words and phrases. Not to mention, I just found him very annoying...

The science talk (lots of physics, molecular biology, mathematics, etc) was at times a pleasure, and at other times a bit too much. The story could drag a bit when it was being too science heavy, and it made the story really difficult at times to fully understand. You have to take your time with this one and read as thoughtfully as possible. Usually I can read a book in two to three days, but this one took me a full week of active reading as much as I could.

This was a most enjoyable read, but unless you like dense and intense sci-fi books, I would steer clear. This had a lot of heartwarming and brave measures that inspired admiration, and those measures helped carry the novel and made it easier to read. If you love space stories with “rocky sidekicks”, I think this is something that you should pick up! You just can't go wrong with some intergalactic space travel!

**Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for sending me an ARC of Project Hail Mary in exchange for an honest review.**

Imagine waking up, not knowing where or who you are. Your vision is fuzzy, your arms move strangely. You feel sluggish, like you’re trying to move through water. As you try to move, you also try to gather your thoughts. You realize that you know facts, but you have no memory of who you are or how you got here. After another day of rest and some food with a sludge-like consistency, you start to feel a little better. You can move a little more easily. But you still have no memories.

This is the predicament of Ryland Grace. He wakes up with no memory of who he is or how he got wherever he is. And then he finally remembers his name, which allows him access to another area, and he finds a lab. He finds a room with lots of computer screens, all showing different readings from instruments he can’t see. And then he realizes he’s on a space ship. He’s in space! And when he looks closer at one of the screens, he sees that the ship is called Hail Mary.

Clearly, that can’t be good.

As Grace figures out where he is and remembers why he’s there, he is faced with challenge after challenge, starting with the fact that he was the only crew member to make it to where they are. Alone and confused, it’s up to him to—Holy moley!—save Earth. (Wait—he’s someone who says, “Holy moley”? Who does that?)

Slowly, the answers to Grace’s past are revealed as his future becomes murky. He was sent into space to save Earth, but what happens if he fails? Does that mean the end of humanity?

Andy Weir is back with a novel of epic proportions. Filled with wit and warmth, snark and science, Project Hail Mary is a novel of humanity—of who we are at our best and our worst, our fears, our sacrifices, our breakthroughs and our breakdowns. Although there’s enough science to make you feel like you should earn a graduate’s degree by the end, it’s all explained to be understood (or to be skipped over, if you prefer), Project Hail Mary is as readable as any other novel about relationships and survival.

If you think my comments on this book are a little sparse, I apologize, but Project Hail Mary is filled with so many delicious surprises that I don’t want to give much away. So many things happen, so much is revealed (like why Grace doesn’t curse . . . much), and I had such an amazing experience with each reveal that I want all the other readers to get to enjoy them too. But know this: I absolutely adore this book. I was so impressed to read The Martian years ago. I thought it was a wonderful story told well, but I have to admit that I like this one even more. Project Hail Mary may turn out to be the best book I read this year, and I read a lot. Project Hail Mary is phenonemal. Read it. Get the audiobook. Share it with your friends and book clubs. Just experience this book, this journey, however you want to. Jazz hands!

Egalleys for Hail Mary Project were provided by Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine Books, through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Absolutely brilliant! I was hooked from the very beginning and loved every page of Hail Mary Project!! Andy Weir adds the perfect amount of wit, humor, and intellect to this story and I found myself slowing down towards the end to savor every moment! This book will be tough to beat for my favorite book of 2021!

Dr. Ryland Grace wakes up not knowing who he is or where he is. Grace’s memories return through flashbacks of how he ended up in space and we follow his deep space mission as he tries to save the human race from an unknown organism that is stealing energy from the sun that could lead to the end of all life on Earth! We are also introduced to the most wonderful and quirky ally along the way and their friendship is the really the foundation of this book! So clever!

My inner science nerd jumped for joy at all the fascinating science going on in this book! I highly recommend Hail Mary Project to everyone even if sci-fi isn’t your go-to genre!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Andy Weir, and Ballantine Books for the ARC of #HailMaryProject.

One of the things Weir does brilliantly is make science both believable (if you have a science/engineering background) and accessible (if you know absolutely nothing about science at all whatsoever). He also finds way to sprinkle the story with humor (okay, more than sprinkle) and heart.

I'm not a big fan of books that span two or more timelines, so I was definitely way more interested in the present day than the flashbacks - especially because, hello, there's absolutely no way that the entire world would band together to do anything, let alone something like the Hail Mary. So every time Stratt did something particularly "I have international jurisdiction over all things" I kinda cringed.

I switched to the audiobook about halfway through and it was so worth it. There are some aspects of the second half that are just so much better in audio. But to say more about that would be spoilery.

Another thing I loved was just how... Excited Grace and the other scientists were about discovering things. It's one of my favorite things about science and engineering.

The last-surviving crew member of a mission to save Earth wakes up and can't remember his name, let alone where he is or why he's there. As the memories slowly come back, the fate of Earth is in his hands as he races to solve the mystery.

It's hard to say much about this book without giving a lot away. And for this one, I'm firmly on the side of knowing less going in. The revelations come quickly, one on top of another. There was always something new, but it never felt overwhelming or like a data-dump. I am definitely not a science person at all, but Weir's writing always provides information in a way that feels understandable (and more importantly, at least for me) believable. Science fiction does require some suspension of belief, but it also helps when most of it feels plausible. As I said, I'm not a science person so I don't know how plausible any of it really is, but I certainly believed every word.

I was anxious to keep reading at all times and constantly guessing at what would happen next. I was beyond emotionally invested in this one. I really wish I could say more, but it would mean spoiling several major plot points. Well worth the read!

Thank you to Ballantine Books (Random House Publishing Group) for providing me with an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!