Member Reviews
I absolutely loved this book! Andy Weir did not disappoint with this story. The beginning was suspenseful and captivating which just hooked me from the start. If you enjoyed The Martian, you will really enjoy his new book. Andy Weir is definitely an author I will watch out for.
The Martian remains to be one of the most entertaining sci-fi I have read to this day and here's Project Hail Mary coming in as a strong contender to dethrone it. The thing I love about Andy Weir's books is that while there is a healthy dose of science-y stuff going on, there is also a dollop of incredulous heroics in space that *just* works out. You KNOW that shit wouldn't work the same way in real life but that doesn't stop you from cheering on the poor hero as he tries to grow potatoes on Mars or in this case, wakes up alone in a space shuttle, millions of miles from Earth, with no memories as to how he got there. What ensues as he slowly starts remembering about his mission, getting help from <redacted>, trying to solve <redacted>, is one of the most entertaining and fun stories I've read this year.
I really can't say anything more at all without spoiling the story, so I'm just gonna end this here. I loved this book, I'll be buying it when it comes out AND I will be listening to this on audio because I just know the audiobook is going to be even better.
Highly recommended!
Project Hail Mary is one of the best books that I have read in a long time. It is exciting and captivating and incredibly thought-provoking. It is the kind of book that you can't put down and then continually think about days and weeks and even months afterwards. The prose is beautiful, the descriptions fantastic, but it is the characters and their actions that transform this book from amazing to exceptional.
I was very excited to read an advance copy of this since I really loved The Martian and enjoyed Artemis, too. This one was equally exciting! Hard to put down. Yes, there is a lot of science, but you don't have to understand every detail to get the gist and enjoy the story. You just go along for the ride. The story is told in present day and in flash backs as Ryland slowly regains memories. You won't get to know many characters well. They don't all get fleshed out. But the few you get to know will more than make up for what the secondary characters lack. There's a lot of doom and bleakness, but also hope and bravery. Lots of humor between Ryland and Rocky. Loads of action on big and small scales.
I'm bummed it's over.
Another great read from Mr. Weir, the plot was great and the characters were fantastic. I really enjoyed going on this journey and it has the elements of what I was looking for in Mr. Weir's writing.
Andy Weir hits another home run! Hail Mary may be his best book yet. Fans are going to love this book. The amount of research that goes into a book like this but be monumental. Weir explains the science so that even I feel like I understand it. Earth is being attacked by an alien species and Andy has all of the answers. Come along for the ride and see what happens!
This book was an absolute blast! I read it in one day and I loved it so much. It had the Andy Weir feel but it was original and fun. It had fun parts and mysterious parts and heartbreaking parts. I did not want it to end and I think everyone is going to love it so much. Thank you so much for the arc!
An excellent example of sci-fi. I am not a broad fiction reader, but I have read Weir's other titles. Project Hail Mary returns to the page-turning excitement of The Martian with a good deal of well-researched science thrown in.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley to read and review this book. When I saw Weir had a new book out I knew I would devour it just as I did with The Martian. I normally do not enjoy space books, but Weir's writing is just fabulous. From the very first page you are drawn into the story. A middle school teacher is called upon to solve the the major problem of why the sun is dying and what happens if we don't save it. Weir fans will not be disappointed. Definitely recommend. Out May 4.
By the author of The Martian, this new one is wonderful- humorous, full of heart, and lots of accessible science! While it is sci fi, it is so much more! I recommend it- run, don’t walk!
After loving the Martian and being left cold by Artemis, I was unsure of what to expect from Andy Weir's newest novel. I glad to say, I ended up mostly really enjoying it. It's a quick, funny, exciting read that manages to wring a surprising amount of tension from a guy doing math. There are some interesting and unexpected twists that I'll avoid due to spoilers, but the plot kept me drawn in the entire time.
The weaker parts of the book are definitely the moments when Weir is going for deeper emotional connections. While I enjoyed Ryland's character, I didn't particularly *care* about him. The funnier parts seemed much more genuine than the attempts at drama or grief. The ending also seemed a bit silly and convenient.
Those misgivings aside, overall I think this book is a return to the promise that Weir showed with The Martian. The tension here never quite reached the highs of that book for me, but I was engaged throughout and I always wanted to know what happened next.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy. Another very suspenseful story in space. I give it 4.5 stars for the "unexpected ally" character, which was excellent, but back down to 4 stars for the (probably necessary) excess of science. Interesting premise and entertaining main character in Ryland Grace. Coming soon!
MY REVIEW: 5 Stars ⭐️
I loved the Martian, loved Artemis but Project Hail Mary was everything!
The book starts out with some cray and you don’t want to put it down because you want to know what to know what the hell is going on!!
The story goes back and forth from the present to the past and how it all came to be.
My favorite part was when Rocky came onto the scene. I love him so much and if you read the book and don’t love him, there is something wrong with you.
The book has plenty of science, humor, edge of your seat moments, friendship, the fight for survival, and some wonderful bittersweet crying moments. All of that could just be me. Kudos Mr. Weir for adding another favorite book to my list!
**Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for a copy of this book.
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
I loved The Martian so was very excited to get my hands on this book.. Fascinating premise and tons and tons of science. That can sometimes be a little dull but the whole saving multiple planets plot makes it worth it. The middle takes a wholly unexpected but really excellent turn and the way Graces memories come back throughout the book adds a nice layer of storytelling. This is sci fi but very much based in plausible reality which makes it both terrifying and fascinating.
The beginning of this book really got my attention. It took me awhile to decide whether or not I enjoyed the twist in the middle, but I stuck with it and ended up enjoying this book. If you've read Andy Weir's other novels, I would rank this in between The Martian (5 stars) and Artemis (3 stars).
Andy Weir goes back to the success of The Martian with another take on saving yourself/saving the world by sciencing the sh*t out of the problem. I really enjoyed the flash-backs into how our hero Ryland Grace got himself into his current predicament--to get from junior-high teacher to savior of the planet is quite the journey. In many ways this is the ultimate "odd couple" situation, but in every moment of the story we are given as much science as we can take (and, maybe a bit more). Weir does a really good job of using the first-person voice to take us through a situation in real-time while the character is experiencing it.
Similar in style and pace to the author’s earlier, The Martian. Project Hail Mary, like The Martian, does do some deep dives into science-y things but more successfully in this novel. Nothing is too in the weeds and it doesn’t drag the plot quite as much as the earlier book. Good twists and a lot of fun.
Project Hail Mary
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m not sure if I can put into words how much I loved this book, but I’m going to try.
Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission, and if he fails, inanity and the earth itself with perish. Except he doesn’t know that. He’s been asleep for a long time, and awoke to find himself millions of miles from home, with no memory of his name or the assignment, and two dead crew members. Thanks to an unexpected ally, he might stop the extinction-level threat.
Ryland tells the story by gathering his memories, and rediscovering who he is and was on earth. The mixed timeline was a perfect way to tell it, as we learn his past as he does. It was a clever way to tell the story. He was such a wonderful narrator with a witty sense of humor, that was easy to engage with.
This novel was so well crafted. It wasn’t overly science-y and was written very clearly. All of the science was easily explained, for those who don’t easily catch on. Andy Weir is also great at writing in a gripping way to capture the readers emotions, I even cried, and I didn’t know I could have so much emotion for an alien.
I also loved how it ended. I loved that he did the best he could to save the human race, but went back to save Rocky and his race. I would’ve been mad if it had ended any other way. He got screwed over being forced to go on the mission, and I loved that he spent his life on the other planet. I felt so many emotions about the end of the book. It was absolutely wonderful.
I finished this a few days ago but AM STILL thinking about how much I loved it, and what I would have done in his situation. I’d like to think I’d go back to ensure humanity’s survival, but I’m not sure.
Pro-tip: do not read the last thirty minutes or so of this in public like I did. If you have any emotions at all, you'll be a wreck.
This has been added to the list of all-time favorite books. Being so science heavy, this is my jam. For those who don't want to put that much brain power into a book, I think you could just read through those parts without much thought and enjoy the storyline.
Without giving too much away, Rocky is just an extremely lovable character.
A HUGE thanks to the author, publisher, and netgalley for a copy of this ARC. It was amazing. *Jazz hands*
This is one of those books where I was dying to know what happens, but at the same time didn’t want the book to end. There’s a lot of science & Ryland working through issues using science. I love that stuff, but even I felt like skimming parts at times. However, the great story & entertaining characters far outweigh that. And I just want to say: I ❤️ Rocky.