Name: Project Hail Mary
Rating: 4.507979953739399 (1297 reviews)
ISBN: 9780593135211

Andy Weir

A lone astronaut must save the earth from disaster in this incredible new science-based thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Martian. 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. Alone on this tiny ship that's been cobbled together by every government and space agency on the planet and hurled into the depths of space, 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. Part scientific mystery, part dazzling interstellar journey, Project Hail Mary is a tale of discovery, speculation, and survival to rival The Martian--while taking us to places it never dreamed of going.

A Novel

Project Hail Mary

Thierry Schellenbach

Rahma Ali

Zhao Ma

Danny White

Gravity doesn’t just “go away” when you’re in orbit. In fact, the gravity you experience in orbit is pretty much the same as you’d experience on the ground. The weightlessness that astronauts experience while in orbit comes from constantly falling. But the curvature of the Earth makes the ground go away at the same rate you fall. So you just fall forever

It’s a weird feeling, scientific breakthroughs. There’s no Eureka moment. Just a slow, steady progression toward a goal. But man, when you get to that goal it feels good.

And just like that another climate denier is born. See how easy it is? All I have to do is tell you something you don’t want to hear.

For fifty thousand years, right up to the industrial revolution, human civilization was about one thing and one thing only: food. Every culture that existed put most of their time, energy, manpower, and resources into food. Hunting it, gathering it, farming it, ranching it, storing it, distributing it…it was all about food

It’s rare to find a scientist who is also a good administrator

Antarctica used to be a jungle. For millions of years it was as lush as Africa. But continental drift and natural climate change froze it over. All those plants died and decomposed. The gases from that decomposition—most notably methane—got trapped in the ice.”

Tabea

Also bin ich ein Mann Mitte dreißig, der allein in einem kleinen Apartment lebt, ich habe keine Kinder, aber ich mag Kinder sehr. Mir gefällt nicht, wohin das führt... Lehrer! Jetzt erinnere ich mich! Gott sei Dank. Ich bin Lehrer.

»Tja, jetzt bist du nicht mehr allein, Freund«, sage ich. »Wir sind beide nicht mehr allein.«

“I penetrated the outer cell membrane with a nanosyringe.”

“No!” I said. “Well. Yes. But it was a scientific poke with a very scientific stick.”

It’s a simple idea, but also stupid. Thing is, when stupid ideas work, they become genius ideas.

The sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission to save both humanity and the earth, Ryland Grace is hurtled into the depths of space when he must conquer an extinction-level threat to our species. 

Project Hail Mary absolutely blew my mind. As someone who loves space, physics and astrophysics, this book felt like pure candy for my brain. Andy Weir has a way of taking complex scientific ideas and making them exciting, understandable, and genuinely fun to follow. I found myself completely absorbed in the problem solving, the discoveries, and the sheer scale of what was happening. Unpopular opinion maybe, but this might be one of the best books ever written. Its officially going on my favorites shelf. What surprised me the most was how emotional the story became. Beneath all the science and space exploration, there's a really special heart to the story about friendship, sacrifice and hope. By the end, I was honestly in awe A brilliant, mind blowing and surprisingly touching journey through space that made me fall even more in love with science/physics/astrophysics and the endless possibilities of the universe

AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW: from the bestselling author of THE MARTIAN 'If you like a lot of science in your science fiction, Andy Weir is the writer for you. . . This one has everything fans of old school SF (like me) love.' GEORGE R.R. MARTIN 'Brilliantly funny and enjoyable. One of the most plausible science fiction books I've ever read' TIM PEAKE, astronaut 'Weir's finest work to date. . . This is the one book I read last year that I am certain I can recommend to anyone, no matter who, and know they'll love it.' BRANDON SANDERSON ________________________________________ A lone astronaut. An impossible mission. An ally he never imagined. 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, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it's up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery-and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species. And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he's got to do it all alone. Or does he? An irresistible interstellar adventure as only Andy Weir could imagine it, Project Hail Mary is a tale of discovery, speculation, and survival to rival The Martian -- while taking us to places it never dreamed of going. ________________________________________ 'One of the most original, compelling, and fun voyages I've ever taken.' ERNEST CLINE, author of Ready Player One and Ready Player Two 'Undisputedly the best book I've read in a very, very long time. Mark my words: Project Hail Mary is destined to become a classic.' BLAKE CROUCH 'An unforgettable story of survival and the power of friendship - nothing short of a science-fiction masterwork.' KIRKUS REVIEWS 'A suspenseful portrait of human ingenuity and resilience [that] builds to an unexpectedly moving ending. A winner.' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 'Weir returns with gusto . . . his writing flows naturally, and his characters and dialogue crackle with energy. With this novel, he takes his place as a genuine star in the mainstream SF world.' BOOKLIST

From the bestselling author of The Martian

I adored this audiobook, it has so much charm and fun, and the overall plot is very engaging. 

Molli

Summer Simons

I loooved this book! I was so excited to pick it up every time, and even though it was a lot of science, the most important bits to understand were easily explained and comprehensible. It was funny and touching at the same time. I’m obsessed! 🚀☄️

Sadie Hoffman

papercube

in the beginning, i honestly found it a little tedious to get on with reading this. i wasn’t a big fan of the prose (apparently a common criticism) especially because i’m not used to reading in first person. powering through with the mindset of “that’s just how grace thinks” was worth it though!

rocky and grace’s relationship was the cornerstone of the book for me. i can’t even remember how many times my heart fell to my ass when i thought something would happen to the little space friend. the science portions, of course, were also commendable (though i unfortunately cannot verify). worth noting: this came at a time when i was thoroughly inspired by the artemis launch, so i’m dreamily reconsidering my position on a stem career.

i’m off to finally watch the film adaptation. amaze amaze amaze!

rini

in the beginning, i honestly found it a little tedious to get on with reading this. i wasn’t a big fan of the prose (apparently a common criticism) especially because i’m not used to reading in first person. powering through with the mindset of “that’s just how grace thinks” was worth it though!

rocky and grace’s relationship was the cornerstone of the book for me. i can’t even remember how many times my heart fell to my ass when i thought something would happen to the little space friend. the science portions, of course, were also commendable (though i unfortunately cannot verify). worth noting: this came at a time when i was thoroughly inspired by the artemis launch, so i’m dreamily reconsidering my position on a stem career.

i’m off to finally watch the film adaptation. amaze amaze amaze!

A very enjoyable detour into science fiction. I ❤️ Rocky. Can’t wait to see the movie. A tad too long, so -1 star. 

Kaitlyn Wendler

LeeSa Geelhood

Early in 2026, but easily my favorite read this year. Absolutely couldn't put it down. Makes me want to read all of the other Andy Weir books I've heard so many great things about.

love love looove 👎👎👎 amaze amaze amazeb

Astrid Haugaard

Phil Linley

Project Hail Mary is a triumph of science fiction. It is heart-pounding, mind-expanding, and surprisingly emotional. Andy Weir takes everything that made The Martian so beloved, including the humor, the science, and the relentless problem-solving, and builds something even more ambitious. The story follows Ryland Grace, a high school science teacher who wakes up on a spaceship with no memory of who he is or why he is there. As his memories return, he begins to understand the enormous stakes of his mission and the daunting challenges ahead. What follows is a gripping blend of mystery, survival, and scientific discovery that kept me hooked from the first page to the last. What sets this book apart is how seamlessly it blends hard science with real heart. Grace is a compelling protagonist, full of wit, curiosity, and quiet courage. Even in the darkest moments, the book never loses its sense of wonder or hope. By the end, I was completely blown away. If I could give it six stars, I would. Project Hail Mary is not just a fantastic science fiction novel. It is a celebration of intelligence, perseverance, and the best of what humanity can be.

payton makein-ashuk

upon finishing this book it is so obvious why it has been rated so highly and praised as much as it has been. Project Hail Mary has Ryland Grace on a mission to save humanity, expect he has no recollection of where he is or why he’s doing it. Over the course of the novel, slowly he uncovers the answers to what is happening. What i wasn’t expecting was to feel so much, the emotions packed into the book really got me. i laughed and cried so many times, i was routing for Grace. The slow narrative recovery of Grace pre-space travel worried me at first, but every moment spent in a flash back just made every moment of the present so much more important. The movie coming out so soon was motivating, but it also gave away what i believe to be an important reveal in the trailer, so my advice is if you can, go in fully blind.

Bunny

The science was easy to follow and understand, you can tell he knows his stuff but I wasn’t the biggest fan of his prose and I dislike the comments he’s made about “hating” political commentary in art. To insinuate that politics don’t belong in literature or science is ignoring the ways in which politics can influence both. Especially considering the current climate. 

james

M. Sosotris

I absolutely loved this book. It’s brilliantly plotted, has wonderful characters, and is wholly engrossing.

And there are multiple sections that got me all emotional. 

Please read this! And I’d highly recommend the audiobook version!

Yulez

the ability to cram that much science/biology into a book in a digestible and entertaining way is a feat of its own. The narrator was fantastic and the little noises for rocky were adorable.

Kelsey 

Amaze. Amaze. Amaze. 👎

Grace & Rocky save stars! 

Jacob

476 pages of characters explaining basic science with Marvel-esque corny quips. Most stories require their readers to suspend some disbelief but Weir relies HEAVILY on his readers to do that here. One lady is bossing around all the governments of the world and they just…go along with it because the UN elected her? Scientists just toss hypotheses out there only to be proven right literally immediately? He tries to write this off by claiming it’s an “extreme circumstance,” but has Weir ever interacted with the world at all? Our planet is actually boiling and still people deny it’s happening in the name of profit (and he even has the audacity to make up a stupid plot point that greenhouse gas emissions will SAVE the planet because the sun is dimming). You don’t think industry would see these basically infinite energy molecules and immediately try to exploit them for money? My biggest issue - what was Andy Weir trying to say with this book? Where was the heart? There is no theme, no emotion - just taking the reader from exposition to exposition, plot point to plot point. Most authors say something with their novels. All he seems to be saying is that when humanity is threatened, we will magically set aside all differences, greed, and ego to save the planet? That everyone will just agree to put all authority in a few random scientists without fighting tooth and claw to have a seat at the table? What kind of basic ass take is that? It’s something I’d see on a 14-year-old’s Tumblr page. The dialogue is stunted, cliche, and completely unrealistic. 90% of the book is PhD scientists explaining high-school level concepts to one another. There are parentheticals everywhere. The jokes are extremely lame but everyone laughs at them. Characters are basically walking stereotypes. There’s the jovial, vodka-drinking Russian guy. Ryland is the “cool science teacher” whose kids all love him of course. The climate scientist literally calls himself a tree-hugging hippie. There is basically zero imagination in any of the characters. They are all just copy-paste cliches of what we seen all over pop media every day. Speculative science fiction is usually imaginative, thought out, and makes the reader think about big things like the nature of humanity, time, the universe, consciousness, curiosity…literally anything! There’s nothing here to think about other than, “how will we stop the sun from dimming?” It’s like a shower thought turned into a book. At the very least, it was a super easy read. The movie looks cool and I’m excited to see it, but the book was a chore. Update: the movie was so stupidly good. They did everything I wished the book did. Humanize characters? Check (the karaoke scene with Stratt was brilliant). Establish stakes? Check. Humor? Check. Emotions? Check. I almost cried multiple times. It’s incredible how much better the movie was while still sticking almost entirely to the plot of the book. They made it emotional, fulfilling, and most of all, HUMAN. That’s what sci fi is about - humanity. If you’re writing sci fi to make dumb jokes and write about low level science experiments, you’re better relegated back to internet blogs where Weir started, and where he belongs. Seeing the movie actually made me hate this book even more because the movie showed how much heart could have been put into this story. But Weir is lazy and thinks he’s funny and cool. He’s not. This book sucked, but I guess I’ll thank it for inspiring an incredible movie.

Maddie Mason

Truly fabulous. I watched the movie first so I knew what to expect  story-wise but the book still contains many little jokes and moments that make the world more meaningful and fun. I read it in one sitting.

Beautiful and hopeful, I hope to read more optimistic sci-fi like this. If you loved the works of Becky Chambers then you will love this. 

James Alexander

Truly fabulous. I watched the movie first so I knew what to expect  story-wise but the book still contains many little jokes and moments that make the world more meaningful and fun. I read it in one sitting.

Beautiful and hopeful, I hope to read more optimistic sci-fi like this. If you loved the works of Becky Chambers then you will love this. 

Joana Mae

This book is way outside my comfort zone, as I'm definitely not a science person but Andy Weir’s writing is sooo good! I'm so glad I have this in audiobook format. It's my first and only fiction title in my Audible library so far. If this is in your TBR, you absolutely must get the audiobook! The conversations are something you cannot unhear. Ray Porter's narration is spectacular. I'm excited for the movie adaptation since I prefer watching sci-fi genres like this on screen.

Rose-Lynn 

Science fiction is not on my preferred genre list but I was motivated to read this by the hype. I like to read the book before the movie so I wanted to read this before watching! I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book that is not in my typical go to genre. I loved Grace's character and the relationship that developed between Rocky and Ryland. I liked it was open ended but not on a totally unsatisfying cliff hanger. 

i love the story, no matter how basic, but the movie did it better, not needing me to suffer through the math equations.

skully

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, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it's up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery, and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species. And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he's got to do it all alone. Or does he?

Mandie

what can i say about this book that hasn't already been said? it was funny, emotional and complicated in the sense that i barely understood any of the science lingo. but i loved every minute of this book and while i was initially hoping for a different outcome for ryland, i was actually so happy with how he ended up. fist my bump! second read: just as incredible as the first time i read it. cannot wait to see the movie this week!

Project Hail Mary A Novel

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