This book was ever so much fun to read! The high school teacher humor was a bit dorky, but it worked for me and kept the long stretches of solo time with the protagonist, Ryland Grace, from feeling monotonous. I loved the way science was used to solve overwhelming problems in The Martian, and this book provides loads more of that, and adds in a look at what interstellar spaceflight might look like in the not too distant future. There are some plot holes plastered over, but the book is fun enough that it's easy to look beyond them. This book is a tasty, light summer read that goes unexpected places in highly entertaining ways. Recommended!

Wow.
I mean...wow.
Andy Weir has far surpassed my expectations once more. This is without a doubt his best novel yet. Hooked from the first page, I could NOT put it down.
I'm still...in shock I guess?
I'm sure I'll form full sentences again soon, but for now, I recommend this novel to the highest extent and cannot wait to purchase the hardcover in May to put with my other cherished A.W. novels.
Read it. Read it.

4.5 stars for this book.Thanks so much to the folks at Netgalley for giving me access to this ARC of Andy Weir oncoming book. While I can’t give away too many aspects of this book for fear of spoiling it for future readers but what I can say is that if you love the Martian and how the science was represented in it then you will appreciate this book too. The book is told in a back to back format with one chapter dedicated to the main character remembering how they got to this position (alone in a spaceship with no memory of why) and one in the current timeline where the character does his best to remember and evolve to his own environment. The plot continues and it gets much more interesting as it goes, the character keeps remembering and little by little we learn that he is on a saving the world mission ...then when learn why and the plot takes on from there. I can honestly say that I had a good time reading this and I enjoyed it thoroughly! . The only thing I have against it was the culmination not because it was a bad one but because the plot had a lot more to offer for its own ending but I understand why the author did it. I highly recommend this book if you like science fiction books 📚!

According to a 2003 article on the NASA website, "NASA-funded scientists have recently learned that cloud-to-ground lightning frequently strikes the ground in two or more places ..." and that the third and fourth strokes of a lightning flash will follow the same path as the second stroke. In other words, lightning DOES strike the same place twice.

But you don't need to search the web for this information. If you want proof that lightning strikes twice, just read Andy Weir's newest book, Project Hail Mary, and you'll see that Weir has created a giant sci-fi bestseller, in the same electric path as The Martian.

Ryland Grace has a puzzle on his hands. He wakes up without a clue as to where he is, but he seems to be alone except for a computer AI that was keeping him alive. Unfortunately it didn't seem to be doing the same for two others in his ... wherever he is ... as he notes the decayed corpses in their creches on the ... well, it's a ship. A space ship. And bit by bit Grace puts the pieces of the puzzle together.

An alien microbe has been discovered. Ryland Grace is brought on to the science team to learn more about the life form because Grace, currently a middle school science teacher, wrote papers about the notation that there does not need to be water to create life. Only in a biozone such as Earth's would water be needed, but other building blocks could be used in other systems.

The science community as a whole mocked Grace, which is why he left and went on to teach kids, but now, he may be the best suited to understand this new life form. And as he remembers more and more, he also remembers that this life form is feeding on the energy output of the sun, which is decreasing the energy that gets to Earth, which spells disaster - as in the end of all life as currently known - on Earth if something isn't done.

Scientists discover that Sol isn't the only star that is losing its energy output - likely due to the alien consumption, but that there is one star, in the center of all the known stars losing their energy, that remains constant with its output. In which case, the answer to the survival for Earth is likely found there, at Tau Ceti.

The world's best scientific minds come together (by force and coercion) to create a ship that can get to Tau Ceti in twelve years (using the alien microbe as fuel) with shuttle pods to bring back answers to how to save the planet, but for the crew, it's a one-way trip.

Knowing why he's there is only the first puzzle for Grace. Now he has to figure out how to save Earth. There's a very small window of time for him to discover the way to save the human race and get the answers sent back. Take too long and the shuttles will return to a dead planet.

This book is amazing.

Author Andy Weir brings us back to the magic that made The Martian so successful - an abandoned scientist trying to survive. But Ryland Grace's story is more complicated because he's not just trying to survive, but also help humanity survive.

There's lots and lots of science - which is part of Weir's writing signature - and there's also a really wonderful story.

It's hard for me to tell you just what I liked about this book because anything I write will be a spoiler and a huge part of the joy in this book is making the discoveries with Ryland Grace.

Grace is our main character, but through the liberal use of flashbacks, we have a full cast of characters - at least one quite important to the story. Everyone is unique and individual which makes it easy to read, but just as with The Martian, where Mark Watney's personality carries the story, Ryland Grace here is the smart-mouth, sometimes funny, obsessed scientist infusing his personal tastes into his discoveries. He's also quite smart - which is good since he will need his intellect to save all of humanity.

This is a page-turner. I did not want to put this book down. Neither did my 21 year old son who picked up my copy after I was well into it and finished it before I did. And days later he's still talking about how much he liked it and quoting sections of it to me at the dinner table.

I hope Ballantine Books will do a very large print run because this is going to be huge seller and you definitely don't want to miss out on the biggest thing to come out in 2021.

Looking for a good book? Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is proof that lightning strikes twice as this has all the excitement and energy of Weir's debut novel, with a more complicated storyline that will hold the reader all the way to the end.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

WHEW! What a thrill ride! I thoroughly enjoyed this latest adventure from Andy Weir. Once again, he uses science and technology to give us a un-put-downable read. We start with a mystery: a man wakes up with amnesia and has no idea where he is or why he is there. He can't even remember his name. As the story unfolds, we find out in bits and pieces not only his background and why he is in the situation he's in, but what adventure and discoveries await. Well written with excellent, unforgettable characters, this is a riveting story that will appeal to those who love adventure, thrillers and science-fiction. This is also an appropriate read for older teens. Highly Recommended!

I truly enjoyed this book. It did get off to a slow start and it does include lots and lots of science and talk about math and lots more science, but its fabulous and I might have learned a few things!The author tells the tale in flashbacks as the main character remembers how he came to be on a space ship hurtling towards a star 16 light years away from Earth. Ryland Grace arrives at the system and finds he is not alone -there is another ship with and "alien" life form there as well trying to solve the same problem for his planet. They work together to communicate and then work on the problem. This is a great book about duty and friendship and sacrifice. I have enjoyed the other books by this writer and look forward to more.

Andy Weir has established that he knows how to, "science the shit out" of things. Which allows Project Hail Mary to be a novel that is unbelievably believable. Weir's combination of laugh-out-loud-humor and terms-of-service-level scientific detail, is reminiscent of the character he has created in, Ryland Grace. Project Hail Mary isn't just science and sarcasm though, by the end of the novel you will be emotionally invested in the world and characters Weir has created.

Ok, so Andy Weir does one thing, but goddamnit he does it well and <i>Project Hail Mary</i> does not disappoint. The story centers around the improbably named Ryland Grace, a middle school science teacher who is also humanity's only hope of survival. Does Weir send a middle school science teacher to space? Yes. Does something go wrong stranding him by himself? Yes. Is there an unexpected wacky alien sidekick? You bet. It's perfectly funny, thrilling, and nerdy all around.

Something about this gave me a sort of <i>Short Circuit</i>-y vibe but I'm not mad at it. Hurry up with the movie adaptation of this one, Hollywood I'd watch the heck out of it.

Overall it was a delight to read and I tore through it. If you liked <i>The Martian</i>, if you like your science fiction to include math problems, if you were one of those kids who loved doing "Odyssey of the Mind" in middle school this book will be right up your alley.

If you are a fan of Andy Weir's novel The Martian, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that he has a new novel coming out, and it's great. The bad news is it's not coming out until May. I was fortunate to read an advance reader copy. I will reread it or listen to the audio when it is published.

A man wakes up. He doesn’t know who he is. He doesn’t know where he is. A cool female voice is asking him “what’s two plus two?”

This book is so funny. Not like laugh out loud all the time, although I did laugh out loud at times, but the main character's humor resonates with me. Also he never swears, for reasons, which amused me to no end. (“‘Holy moly!’ I say. ‘Holy moly’? Is that my go-to expression of surprise? I mean, it’s okay I guess. I would have expected something a little less 1950s. What kind of weirdo am I?” (p. 20 of the ARC)) (I wonder if this is a reaction to complaints about all the swearing in The Martian.)

There’s a lot of joking about how hard it is to be an American scientist because you grew up with imperial units but need metrics for science. I totally want to hang with this guy. There's a great bromance (for lack of a better word). I don't want to spoil the book too much but it's a very touching relationship and reflection on friendship. There is also a strong female character.

I recently read another book about someone who wakes up on a spaceship alone and doesn't know who they are - Across the Void by S.K. Vaughn. Project Hail Mary is so much better. And there is a very good, scientific reason why the main character wakes up not knowing his name or immediate past in Project Hail Mary.

Did you enjoy the movie Arrival? Well, Project Hail Mary isn't really like Arrival, but it is too. Very science-y. Full of wonder. You know all those movies, books, and TV shows where all the aliens want to do is kill us? This book...isn't like those either.

If you are a Star Trek fan, think - the best of Star Trek. Cooperation and problem solving. I was honestly crying tears of joy at the very end (or perhaps I should say my face was leaking - you'll get that after you read the book). Extra points for believable pop culture references.

I'm glad Weir has switched back to a male main character. My biggest issue with his second book, Artemis, was that I just didn't buy the internal voice of the female main character. There were a couple of places in Project Hail Mary that seemed a little silly and out of place, but only a couple. On the whole I fell into this book and didn’t want to leave.

Project Hail Mary is a definite recommend from me. Can't wait to read it again. Can’t wait for the movie. (Two words: jazz hands. You’ll get that after you read the book too.) The Galesburg Public Library will own it in every format in which it is available in May 2021.

Ryland Grace goes on a suicide mission to save earth only to discover humans may not be the only intelligent life in the solar system in this hard adult science fiction.

It took me forever to read this book partly due to the timing and partly due to the genre. I’ve had a really hard time reading in October. My family has had some non-COVID medical issues, and it’s been difficult adjusting to our new normal. Additionally, the election shenanigans and the stress at work have killed my ability to concentrate on anything other than happy re-reads. My review might have been different if I had read the book at a different time.

Project Hail Mary is going to appeal to die hard science fiction fans, but it left me completely behind. The complex science of the story was not accessible to a lay science person. I never connected to the main character. He didn’t feel believable or realistic as the protagonist. Rocky is the most likeable and complex character, but it’s Ryland who needs to carry the story. The book uses one of my least favorite writing techniques – an overuse of flashbacks to explain the character’s actions. It was actually utilized well in this book, but I still hate the technique. Others will probably enjoy the balance between the past and present.

tl;dr This book never captured my attention – the complex science left me confused and I never connected to the main character.

Andy Weir once again takes readers into space from the perspective of a lonely astronaut. Meet Ryland Grace, a junior high science teacher extraordinaire, who finds himself floating through space aboard a ship and struggling to remember how he got there. As his memories return, he realizes how the stakes are for him and the entire planet. An unexpected discovery may change everything.

Fans of The Martian will feel a familiarity with the story, but the storyline differs enough to be entertaining and satisfying. I am not a regular reader of science fiction, but once again, Weir has drawn me with his space-age storytelling, even if I am unable to follow all of the science. Ryland Grace is likable, his journey is remarkable, and the book is unpredictable. Project Hail Mary left me thinking about space for days. I will be recommending this title to patrons.

This book takes everything that was great about The Martian and adds a wonderful new element (which I’m not going to mention, to avoid spoilers). I like how all of the science elements are worked out in such detail, but not to such a degree that it bogs down the story (and easy enough for me, a non-scientist, to follow).

The author of THE MARTIAN has another winner! The story opens with a man who doesn't know who he is, where he is, or what he's doing. The reader learns everything at the same time as the protagonist, which is genius! I don't want to give away anything, so I will just say that it is another fascinating space story, filled with humor, science, irony, and friendship. I highly recommend this well-written, clever, original and terrific story. Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for providing an ARC.

Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me. I appreciate what Weir was doing here, but I just couldn't get behind the main character's narrative style. Of course, this won't stop me from buying the book for our collection, as I'm sure it'll be quite the hit with most of our patrons.

I think my main problem was the "goody-two-shoes" attitude of the main character. By no fault of Weir's, I was expecting another Mark Watney, and instead of that I got kind of his antithesis. But the strong science aspects are still there, and the well-rounded side character are there too. So again, not for me, but definitely will be recommending it to those looking for sci-fi, or interested in Weir.

Thank you to Andy Weir, Ballentine Books, and NetGalley for sending me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so happy to get an advance reader copy of this book! I absolutely love his books The Martian and Artemis.

This book has some similar elements to the other two: lots of science, a likeable and funny protagonist, and space. In some ways it is very different but I can't specify exactly how without giving too much away.

Suffice it to say I loved this book very much. I will be buying it in multiple formats for my library and I'll read it again, as I have his other titles. This author is wonderful and I look forward to more books from him in the future.

I loved this book and especially its characters. I was not sure what to expect going in but I was NOT disappointed. Another winner from Andy Weir!

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A stand alone novel from Andy Weir, the author of The Martin and of Artemis. Project Hail Mary is similar to The Martian in that the main character has a sequence of problems to "science" solve but it is not derivative of The Martian. The problems are different. and this novel is told in alternating chapters of present and flashback.
There are a continuous series of surprises that all make sense as the story unfolds. I hate spoilers so that is all you get from me.

Read it and stay thru the end.

It may be his best book so far. Hard to say for sure as The Martian made such an impression but I suspect this one is better.

So if you loved Andy Weir's book The Martian, I honestly think that you'll love Project Hail Mary. Set in the near future, scientists and astronomers discover that the sun's strength is decreasing. They are projecting a 30 year timeline where there will be a mass extinction event, both animal and human. In order to combat this a team of the worlds most brilliant minds is assembled to figure out how to fix this. Among this team is our protagonist. Dr. Ryland Grace, ex-scientist current middle school science teacher, finds himself in the center of this group. The mission, to find astronauts willing to take a one way trip to outer space to hopefully be Earth's savior.
I absolutely loved this book, it was intense, yet there were parts that were laugh out loud hilarious. Thank you to NetGalley for this fantastic read. I'm definitely giving it 5 stars or should I say "jazz hands"?

"Project Hail Mary" is another great sci-fi read by Andy Weir. I'll definitely be recommending this to patrons.