I haven’t read a science fiction novel since high school, but decided to read this one on a whim. What an excellent accident. The book is challenging in its scientific descriptions but also has a strong emotional element.
Dr Grace, a middle school science teacher, is conscripted to go on a one way interstellar trip to hopefully save the world from an organism that threatens the existence of the sun. The book is written from Grace’s perspective and involves many layers of revelation. Part of the charm of the book is learning one chapter at a time what is going on and why Grace finds himself in space.
The highlight of the book is grace’s accidental encounter with “Rocky” an alien from a planet that is also at risk. Although Rocky had few physical characteristics in common with humanity, they develop a strong friendship. The implication is that all humans are the same, in spite of our physical and cultural differences.
Even if you are not a science fiction reader, you will enjoy this book.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

NO SPOILERS OF ANY KIND REVIEW: Masterpiece. Instant classic. From start to finish, I loved this book and haven't had this enjoyable of a read in a LONG time. I won't mention any plot or characters, but I will say that if you've read Andy Weir's other two books, The Martian and Artemis, it's more like the former. However, to use a Beatles reference, The Martian is "Love Me Do" and Project Hail Mary is "Sgt. Pepper"-- the whole album! It's thrilling, funny, and moving. Educational too. If you like science-fiction, and especially if you liked The Martian (book or movie), you'll love Project Hail Mary. If you don't like science-fiction or aren't sure, read the first couple of pages on whatever e-book site you buy from, or better yet, pick it up in a store and do that. If you like what you read, and the style and flavor of it, this book is for you. BUT DON'T READ A SYNOPSIS OF IT! Don't even read any of the review blubs-- I just read one by a famous author and it discloses a huge plot element. Seriously, trust me, go in blind and you will be rewarded!

Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir, is a captivating and intriguing mix of science fiction and mystery with a fascinating interstellar journey along the way.

The story revolves around Ryland Grace, who wakes up without knowing where he is nor who he is, and he can't even recall his name. With continuing flashbacks of various memories, the readers learn alongside the main character. He explores his surroundings and slowly remembers his life and the desperate reason for waking up on a spaceship. Ryland needs to find a way to save Earth and all of humanity living there.

This enthralling and humorous story frequently uses technical terminology, yet it's still easy to read and understand, even for those not familiar with advanced math calculations and random scientific theories. The book is a delightful and enthralling mix of science fiction and mystery with a fascinating interstellar journey along the way.

I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially sci-fi fans. Project Hail Mary is another brilliant book by this author, and it's definitely worth reading.

Note: I received this book from NetGalley, yet the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

In PROJECT HAIL MARY, by Andy Weir, Ryland Grace wakes up on a spaceship by himself and that's it. That is all he knows. As he explores the ship and as his memories start to return, Ryland realizes who he is, why he is there, and how important to humanity that he is successful in his mission. Can Ryland remember enough to figure out exactly what he needs to do? And when things don't go to plan, can Ryland problem solve his way to saving all of humanity?
I can't say enough how much I love this book. From when Ryland woke up on page one to the super exciting climax and supremely rewarding ending and everywhere in between, I think this book is great and immediately rockets to one of my favorite books ever. Weir brings humor, humanity, and hope to every page. Interspersing all of that while also progressing a story full of twists and unexpected turns, the reader can't help but pull for Ryland Grace every step of the way as he figures out what to do. The book is heavy on the science, but Weir does a good job of dumbing it down when necessary so a layman can keep up. That being said, I did feel smarter for having read this book because of all the education I got to understand all of Ryland Grace's problem solving challenges.
I found myself inspired to understand PROJECT HAIL MARY because of how well the story and the character of Ryland Grace is written and I believe most readers will feel the same way. A one of a kind read that is guaranteed to leave a smile on anyone's face who takes the journey of PROJECT HAIL MARY.

I was so happy to get an ARC of this one! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher! Lots of science that was over my head, but it was fascinating! The Martian was one of my favorite reads of the year several years ago. This one has similarities (male main character, man stuck in space) as well as the humor! This one made me laugh as well as tear up a few times. Highly recommend!

Weir returns to a narrative voice similar to his breakout debut The Martian: an enthusiastic science nerd given to verbalizing all of his though processes while problem solving. There's lots of that, because narrator Ryland Grace awakens alone on a space ship in distant star system Tau Ceti. At first he cannot even remember his own name, not to mention how he came to be in a dormitory with two dead crewmates. The process of regaining his memory takes place gradually over the course of the narrative, in a series of flashbacks.

Fortunately he remembers his name and the reason he's there pretty quickly (wouldn't have much of a story otherwise)! The mission is to figure out how to save Earth's Sun from a newly discovered life form that is gradually draining its energy. If this isn't reversed the effect on the Earth's ecology will be catastrophic: hence the ship name the Hail Mary, after the desperation pass in a close football game. Fascinating as that background is, it is almost completely eclipsed when Grace becomes aware of the nearby presence of an alien ship at the end of Chapter 6.

First the alien pilot attempts to communicate by mirroring the Hail Mary's movements, then sends over a cylinder containing planetary models to indicate its home system. The next reply proposes a tube connecting both ships via their airlocks. So begins Grace's relationship with the alien he names Rocky (from the rocky appearance of the skin on his spider-like body). Rocky's home (the 40 Eridani system) is also threatened with extinction. So they resolve to work together, which requires an extensive process of learning each others languages for a start.

As always the process of scientific discovery is riddled with unexpected events: after awhile I found myself thinking, "what now?" Weir usually uses the device of dropping a crisis at the end of a chapter, with regularity. Predictable, but no less dramatically effective. The finale is far from predictable, however. Grace has a final unpleasant realization of his role in the project. But then he redeems himself by finding a way to help his new friend Rocky and his home world while still sending help home to Earth.

Thanks to NetGalley for a prepublication copy.

Andy Weir's new book, Project Hail Mary, which I read courtesy of NetGalley and Random House / Ballantine is out-of-this-world amazing. It has everything you want in a great read - a fresh plot; well-written, and fully developed characters; great tension and drama; unpredictable plot twists; and warmth. And, befitting a writer who was also a software engineer, lifelong space nerd, and a devoted hobbyist of such subjects as relativistic physics, and orbital mechanics, his technobabble is readable and believable (and who knows it may all be scientific fact). You can tell I adored this book.

In the near future, scientists discover the sun is dimming, losing its energy. The consequence will be devastating. Temperatures drop, crops fail, people die. Life on earth will change forever. Stars are also losing energy and dimming, not all of them, but most. Why? No one knows.

Ryland Grace, a scientist turned eighth-grade teacher, is recruited into participating with a team of scientists committed to saving the earth. Project Hail Mary is born. The mission is simple and straightforward - travel many, many light years into the future with no possibility of returning home, figure out the cause of the diminishing energy, fix it and save the world.

Told in flashbacks, Grace finds himself on the spaceship along with two dead crew persons, no memory of why he is there, and no idea of how to drive the ship. As he speeds towards an unaffected star, we learn how all this came to be, as Grace struggles to stay alive.

I have to stop there. Sharing more of the story will only spoil it. There are a lot of 'OMG, hold your breath moments in this fast-paced, thrilling, and emotional read. It is an engaging and surprisingly funny mystery/science fiction novel about courage, the importance and power of friendship,

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is a superb and engrossing read which will keep you reading until the end. Well worth the read!

I loved this book! The plot and characters were pretty much perfect. After this past year, I love reading books that are set in space and this didn't disappoint.

This is one of the most entertaining pieces of media I've ever consumed.

Alright, after a loaded statement like that I'll need to do some justification. This isn't the most original thing I've ever read. Far from it. That is completely okay, though, as Andy Weir's hodgepodge of common sci-fi tropes blended with his penchant for writing educational feeling exposition makes the book it's own thing. Reading this with Ryan Gosling in mind (he's been cast as the lead in the upcoming film adaptation) also helped me enjoy it more as it may have set me up to project some charm onto Ryland Grace that was more understated on the written page. Alright, gonna spoil some vague concepts moving forward so pump the breaks if needed. I'd recommend going into this book cold so you can stop reading and pre-order the book now if you see fit.

In its simplest form this is basically Interstellar and Arrival combined into one. A statement like that spoils a lot, but it veers off into its own thing pretty early. It's about saving the planet from it's doom but it's also about the barriers of language and the importance of communication. What it adds to that recipe is a good old fashioned tale of the importance of friendship. It's thrilling, it's intellectual, and it's an emotional journey. Read this book. Start it the day it's available to purchase because I NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS BOOK WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

Project Hail Mary is an outstanding book! Ryland Grace wakes up on a space ship and doesn't know who he is, where he is, or why he's there. He knows he has been in a medically induced coma for quite some time, and his team mates are mummified in their medical beds. Slowly he starts remembering that he was a scientist and a teacher, now he has to save Earth. The plot is told in this dual timeline of present on the spaceship, Hail Mary, and the past in flashbacks that explain how Grace got on the ship and what his mission is.
Weir has hit it out of the park with this book. He walks the line of being very technical which will appeal to the science buffs, but presenting it in an easy to understand way that just fits with the story, so the average person will understand and enjoy it. I generally don't mention authors other works in my review of a specific book, but in this case I feel like I need to. I think after the smash hit The Martian, some were disappointed in Artemis. Maybe not the book itself, but Jazz was so obnoxious she actually detracted from the likability of the story. Project Hail Mary is a fantastic book, and you will enjoy your time on the Hail Mary with Grace. I truly hope you take this journey with him. Thank you #NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to give my voluntary and honest opinion on #ProjectHailMary.

Loved this book. I have to admit I probably loved The Martian more, but that is just me and my preferences. This book is well written with great science detail, just like in The Martian. Project Hail Mary has a more fanciful threat and overall situation, with a central character in need of redemption which distinguishes it from The Martian. I found the story engaging and the central character interesting. In Project Hail Mary, the Earth faces a situation that threatens all life on Earth. The only hope is a desperate project to build an interstellar space craft to take three astronauts to another nearby star where there is hope for a solution to save the Earth. Unfortunately, the trip to the nearby star will be one way for the three astronauts, who will arrive in an induced coma, awaken and hopefully find the answer to save the world; after which, all three will take their preferred exit from life before their life support runs out. When the ship arrives, the central character awakens to find his two fellow astronauts did not survive their coma induced journey, leaving him alone. Complicating things further, he is experiencing temporary amnesia and wakens having no idea why he is where he is, or what he should do. The story is told both in real time and in flashbacks as the main character remembers bits and pieces of who he is and what his mission is all about. Will the Earth be saved? Will the main character survive what is intended to be a one way trip?

AHHHHHHH I loved this book so much that I took a very extra long lunch break during my workday to finish it because I HAD to find out what happened. The combination of crazy science fiction that COULD be possible with the mystery of what exactly was going on was just right. I don't want to say too much because there are so many fun surprises along the way, but if you loved The Martian, you will absolutely adore this book!
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Official review from instagram:
This is why I love science fiction. Could this scenario happen? Could some sort of bacteria start eating the sun’s energy, threatening the earth and causing us to send someone to the stars to find a solution in another galaxy? I don’t know, but Project Hail Mary is written in a way that makes it seem like it’s right around the corner, adding an element of bated breath. But that makes the book sound totally terrifying, which it’s not — it’s mostly an extremely fun adventure story about this solo traveler, Ryland, as he explores how to, quite literally, save the world. But first he has to remember that he’s on the spaceship to do just that — oh didn’t I mention that he wakes up from a coma with no memory of his mission or where he is or what’s going on? Yeah. It’s a rocky start. There’s so much to love about this book, and it was my favorite kind of reading experience — a wild ride that I can’t put down. If you loved The Martian, I think you’ll be super into this book. Thanks to @penguinrandomhouse for the NetGalley eARC — it’s out May 4!

I loved this book, The Martian was good, I wasn't a huge fan of Artemis but with this one I feel Andy really returns to his strengths. I was surprised by the ending, and honestly I'm not sure if I liked it or hated it, but I think if he had chosen a different ending it would have probably would need a sequel to cover everything.

If you like The Martian, you'll like this. Sure a lot of the science went over my head, but just like reading The Martian without being a botanist, you can still enjoy this without being a scientist.

Reminiscent of The Martian, Andy Wier again takes plausible future science and weaves a humorous story that kept me hooked. With energy from the sun decreasing, humanity sends a last ditch research effort to a nearby star to figure out what’s going on. Told in flashbacks, the main character is slowly recovering their memory (a possible side effect of the suspended animation?), when they find out that we are not alone in the universe.

Loved this book. I was hooked from the beginning and it only got better. Think of a combo between 'the Martian' and 'The Arrival. Can't say enough good things here. Wish int did not have to end. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC. I will totally get this one for my friends.

Very much in the vein of nerdtastic scifi <i>The Martian</i>, Andy Weir’s new novel returns to outer space science and MacGyvering. There are surprises and revelations from the first page, so I feel any plot I give you would be a spoiler, assuming you’re like me and like to experience the unfurling of a mystery rather than knowing it before you go in (if you’re not like me, then read the blurb the publishers wrote which gives away a bit more than I would want to know).

Like <i>The Martian</i>, there are a lot of challenges which our Everyscienceman protagonist solves through ingenuity and calculations. Though it’s put into layperson’s terms I did find myself la-la-la-ing over some parts. The mention of “kinetic energy” brought back terrible flashbacks of Mrs Noise and my A Level Applied Math (which I got a C for, so you can see why I’m doing a little skimming)

After trying a female lead in <i>Artemis</i>, which I enjoyed though many people apparently didn’t, the author has gone back to his original template: the protagonist here is like a family friendly Mark Watney. I could easily see him being played by Matt Damon - aw shucks bland with a sharp wit.

The plot rumbles along moving between the past and the present, but it does sag a bit in the middle (did <i>The Martian</i> do that? I seem to recall it did). However, the last third picks up the pace and interest for a thrilling and emotional resolution.

I loved this book from Andy Weir! At this point it's pretty clear that Mr. Weir doesn't have a lot of range when it comes to writing the personalities of his main characters. I'm okay with that. I find his lead characters likable ...
even loveable. The hard science in a "relatable" package is actually a schtick I could get used to. Combined with the thrilling space adventure and heart-pounding "first contact" I devoured this book. Keep them coming!

I loved this book. I was actually holding my breath at times when I was concerned for Grace during space walks. I am going to recommend this to everyone - even my non SF reading library patrons. It is such a good story and even though I didn’t understand the science I understood the emotion.

For some reason I could not connect to the story or the characters in this one. There is an audience out there for this, but I just wasn't the target. The plot setup was interesting though!