Andy Weir

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. 

A Novel

Project Hail Mary

Baylea Fancher

We need to raise a strong, solid generation of survivors. Right now we’re soft. You, me, the whole western world. We’re the result of growing up in unprecedented comfort and stability. It’s the kids of today that’ll have to make the world of tomorrow work. And they’re going to inherit a mess.

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.

Nat Wong

'Why is Eridian science and human science so similar? Billions of years, but almost the same progress."

It's been bugging me for a while. Humans and Eridians evolved separately in separate star systems. We had no contact with each other until now. So why is it that we have almost identical technology? I mean, Eridians are a little behind us in space technology, but not a ton. Why aren't they in their stone age? Or some superfuturistic age that makes modern Earth look antiquated?

"Has to be, or you and I would not meet," Rocky says. "If planet has less science, it no can make spaceship. If planet has more science it can understand and destroy Astrophage without leaving their system. Eridian and human science both in special range: Can make ship, but can't solve Astrophage problem."

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

Joshua

I can't imagine explaining 'sleep' to someone who had never heard of it

. Hey, I'm going to fall unconscious and hallucinate for a while. By the way, I spend a third of my time doing this. And if I can't do it for a while, I go insane and eventually die. No need for concern.

Naïa

They say hunger is the greatest seasoning.

Light is a funny thing. Its wavelength defines what it can and can’t interact with. Anything smaller than the wavelength is functionally nonexistent to that photon. That’s why there’s a mesh over the window of a microwave. The holes in the mesh are too small for microwaves to pass through. But visible light, with a much shorter wavelength, can go through freely. So you get to watch your food cook without melting your face off.

Mikhail

"Amaze is wrong word," he says. "Amaze is compliment. Better word is ♫♪♫♪.”

"It is when person not act normal. Danger to self."

"Ah," I say, adding the new chord into my language database. "Crazy. My word for that is 'crazy?"

mikaela

When stupid ideas work, they become genius ideas.

sofia mae

“Settled.” He puts his claw against the divider. “Fist my bump.”

 I laugh and put my knuckles against the xenonite. “Fist-bump. It’s just ‘fist-bump.’ ”

“You are here, question?!” his voice is so high-pitched I can barely understand him. But I understand Eridian pretty well now.”

why do i feel like rocky is lying of having plenty more for his return to erid, i hope this is true.. pls let these two live!!

“I can give. I have extra. Can give that much and still have plenty for my return to Erid. You can have.”

“His voice becomes monotone. It’s a very serious intonation. “Understand. Stress. Concern.”

“…When the alternative is death to your entire species, things are very easy. No moral dilemmas, no weighing what’s best for whom. Just a single-minded focus on getting this project working.“

Shari Ilg

Rocky literally bounces off the tunnel walls. "Amaze! Amaze amaze amaze!"

"I am happy. You no die. Let's save planets!"

“You poked it with a stick?” “No!” I said. “Well. Yes. But it was a scientific poke with a very scientific stick.” “It took you two days to think of poking it with a stick.” “You…be quiet.”

If you’re upset, take a deep breath, let it out, and count to ten.

All right, genius brain: come up with something! …I’m hungry. You have failed me, brain.

Victoria

Wow. I’m sitting here in a spaceship in the Tau Ceti system waiting for the intelligent aliens I just met to continue our conversation…and I’m bored. Human beings have a remarkable ability to accept the abnormal and make it normal.

“Good good. Enough talk. Check breeder tanks, please.”

“Yeah, yeah. Let me get some water first.”

He bounces and skitters down his tube to the lab. “Why humans need water so much, question? Inefficient life-forms!”

I chug a full liter bag of water I’d left in the control room before the EVA. It’s thirsty work. I wipe my mouth and let the bag float off. I push off the wall to float down the tunnel to the lab.

“Eridians need water, too, you know.”

“We keep inside. Closed system. Some inefficiencies inside, but we get all water we need from food. Humans leak! Gross.”

I laugh as I float into the lab where Rocky is waiting. “On Earth, we have a scary, deadly creature called a spider. You look like one of those. Just so you know.”

“Good. Proud. I am scary space monster. You are leaky space blob.” 

Damian Makki

“Intelligence evolves to gives us an advantage over the other animals on our planet. But evolution is lazy. Once a problem is solved, the trait stops evolving. So you and me, we’re both just intelligent enough to be smarter than our planet’s other animals.” “We are much much smarter than animals.”

Andy Weir is great at coming up with plots, but someone needs to tell him to ease up on the "problems" that arise along the way.

I know: problems are what make a story interesting. If Frodo just tossed the ring in an unguarded volcano, which was in his backyard, it wouldn't make for a great trilogy. With Weir, however, I think someone needs to tell him that each plot point should probably only have one problem and solution.

Like I did with "Annihilation", I will try not to compare this to the film; but there's no denying that the filmmakers' choices of streamlining the plot were wisely chosen cuts. Do we really 

 the section where Grace borrows fuel from the beetles? It's not very interesting, it just showcases how smart he is, but that's also like 80% the way through the book; I think we know he's a smart guy several hundred times over by then.

And that's not the only instance, it happens plenty of times before and even again AFTER this, just before the very end. It's extremely clunky and starts to feel like science-thesaurus ramblings, or worse, Weir just masturbating his space-obsession factoids and brilliance in front of everyone barely-disguised as plot.

This book has horrible pacing issues. Someone needs to tell Weir about story beats and how to chill out a bit on throwing in yet another problem that needs a solution explained tediously.

BUT, this book shines in its partnerships and cooperation. In an attempt to avoid spoilers, I'll say there are many cute moments in the book and brief bits of action are written pretty well. And again, the overall plot and its mechanisms are good ones.

I won't be reading his third book. "The Martian" was a better movie than book and so was this. A pattern is emerging: when the "Artemis" movie comes out, I'll just pretend it's original.

I do not recommend "Project Hail Mary", the book. I do recommend the movie.

Evan

Andy Weir is great at coming up with plots, but someone needs to tell him to ease up on the "problems" that arise along the way.

I know: problems are what make a story interesting. If Frodo just tossed the ring in an unguarded volcano, which was in his backyard, it wouldn't make for a great trilogy. With Weir, however, I think someone needs to tell him that each plot point should probably only have one problem and solution.

  

Like I did with "Annihilation", I will try not to compare this to the film; but there's no denying that the filmmakers' choices of streamlining the plot were wisely chosen cuts. Do we really need the section where Grace borrows fuel from the beetles? It's not very interesting, it just showcases how smart he is, but that's also like 80% the way through the book; I think we know he's a smart guy several hundred times over by then.

And that's not the only instance, it happens plenty of times before and even again AFTER this, just before the very end. It's extremely clunky and starts to feel like science-thesaurus ramblings, or worse, Weir just masturbating his space-obsession factoids and brilliance in front of everyone barely-disguised as plot.

This book has horrible pacing issues. Someone needs to tell Weir about story beats and how to chill out a bit on throwing in yet another problem that needs a solution explained tediously.

  

BUT, this book shines in its partnerships and cooperation. In an attempt to avoid spoilers, I'll say there are many cute moments in the book and brief bits of action are written pretty well. And again, the overall plot and its mechanisms are good ones.

  

I won't be reading his third book. "The Martian" was a better movie than book and so was this. A pattern is emerging: when the "Artemis" movie comes out, I'll just pretend it's original.

  

I do not recommend "Project Hail Mary", the book. I do recommend the movie.

Nathan Rogers

If I was rating this book critically, I’d probably give it less than five stars. But luckily, I don’t read to critique. 

I wish I could describe this book in a way that could communicate how I felt when I was reading it. Quite literally, my life felt brighter for a week because I knew as soon as I got home I could keep reading Project Hail Mary. It was so fun in a way that a lot of the more existential nihilistic stuff I usually read isn’t, it was genuinely refreshing. Grace and Rocky’s relationship was so pure in a why that most franchises that delve into the realm of aliens aren’t. Rocky isn’t hostile, Astrophage (despite being the main “antagonist”) isn’t hostile and they’re never assumed to be - Hail Mary nails the sense of wonder in the pursuit to find and communicate with extraterrestrial life without all the fear and violence most alien heavy media tend to drift towards.

Grace is a dorky, nerdy and overwhelming hopeful character who was an absolute joy to read. His contrast with Stratt was excellently executed, and when they dropped 

 bombshell (in the last 100 pages of the book no less), I genuinely cried along with Grace. That made his actions for the previous 400 pages feel so much more meaningful than they already did and made each choice he made after all the more impactful. And not to mention him going back for Rocky. Oh my god. I cried for at least 10 minutes.

Rocky was a pleasure too. His manners of speech were so funny, and I love the way Weir made sure to capture his body language in such a believable way. His willingness to sacrifice himself from Grace because of what happened to his crew resulted in another 10 minute crying episode. 

Even the side character, though very minimal, felt just fleshed out as their protagonist counterparts. I loved Dimitri and Leclerc.

All in all, an amazing book. Andy Weir, you’ve outdone yourself again. 

Stevie Fisher 

If I was rating this book critically, I’d probably give it less than five stars. But luckily, I don’t read to critique. 

I wish I could describe this book in a way that could communicate how I felt when I was reading it. Quite literally, my life felt brighter for a week because I knew as soon as I got home I could keep reading Project Hail Mary. It was so fun in a way that a lot of the more existential nihilistic stuff I usually read isn’t, it was genuinely refreshing. Grace and Rocky’s relationship was so pure in a why that most franchises that delve into the realm of aliens aren’t. Rocky isn’t hostile, Astrophage (despite being the main “antagonist”) isn’t hostile and they’re never assumed to be - Hail Mary nails the sense of wonder in the pursuit to find and communicate with extraterrestrial life without all the fear and violence most alien heavy media tend to drift towards.

Grace is a dorky, nerdy and overwhelming hopeful character who was an absolute joy to read. His contrast with Stratt was excellently executed, and when they dropped that bombshell (in the last 100 pages of the book no less), I genuinely cried along with Grace. That made his actions for the previous 400 pages feel so much more meaningful than they already did and made each choice he made after all the more impactful. And not to mention him going back for Rocky. Oh my god. I cried for at least 10 minutes.

Rocky was a pleasure too. His manners of speech were so funny, and I love the way Weir made sure to capture his body language in such a believable way. His willingness to sacrifice himself from Grace because of what happened to his crew resulted in another 10 minute crying episode. 

Even the side character, though very minimal, felt just fleshed out as their protagonist counterparts. I loved Dimitri and Leclerc.

All in all, an amazing book. Andy Weir, you’ve outdone yourself again. Amaze amaze amaze!!!!!

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is a high-stakes space sci-fi adventure that's heartwarming as well as heartbreaking. The book has been on my list for years, but I was a bit hesitant to read it... unsure if it could live up to the hype. And I’m glad, it did.

It’s about Ryland Grace, a middle-school science teacher turned astronaut (who wakes up alone on a spaceship with no memory of his mission), and “Rocky,” an engineer from the planet Erid. As Grace’s memories return, he realises he’s Earth’s last hope for destroying a star-eating microbe called Astrophage.

This is one of those rare sci-fi stories that feels both wildly imaginative and oddly believable. Yes, the story seems quite real... something that can actually happen someday. Unlike many sci-fi, the science in Project Hail Mary felt real, not just futuristic tech.

It’s conversational, sarcastic and filled with some nerdy enthusiasm that I could see myself in. The book was funny and engaging throughout. Plus, it made scientific concepts feel approachable, giving you an idea of how physics, space science and astronomy work in general. It was all charming for me... knowing how things work just for the sake of knowing them.

The story alternates between Grace’s present-day survival in the Tau Ceti planetary system and flashbacks to his days on Earth. Even with these constant timeline shifts, it never felt confusing. The transitions were smooth.

Rocky, the alien engineer, was a lovable character. The communication at the beginning felt quite adorable, almost like talking to a baby and figuring out what they want to say. Project Hail Mary might become my favourite science fiction (ever) just because of the Grace-Rocky friendship.

If there’s one slight downside to the book, it’s that the space part felt like it ended a little too soon. I wanted more moments of Grace and Rocky running science experiments and building new things.

But no complaints. The book left me smiling at the ending. Fully satisfied, content to heart. And I’m writing this all still teary-eyed.

Project Hail Mary is definitely a recommendation. But beware, it’s gonna ruin other space sci-fi books for you. It’s part survival thriller, part science deep-dive, and part story about friendship. The info-dumps may feel a bit too much, but they don't drag the story a lot.

Abhijeet Kumar

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is a high-stakes space sci-fi adventure that's heartwarming as well as heartbreaking. The book has been on my list for years, but I was a bit hesitant to read it... unsure if it could live up to the hype. And I’m glad, it did.

It’s about Ryland Grace, a middle-school science teacher turned astronaut (who wakes up alone on a spaceship with no memory of his mission), and “Rocky,” an engineer from the planet Erid. As Grace’s memories return, he realises he’s Earth’s last hope for destroying a star-eating microbe called Astrophage.

This is one of those rare sci-fi stories that feels both wildly imaginative and oddly believable. Yes, the story seems quite real... something that can actually happen someday. Unlike many sci-fi, the science in Project Hail Mary felt real, not just futuristic tech.

It’s conversational, sarcastic and filled with some nerdy enthusiasm that I could see myself in. The book was funny and engaging throughout. Plus, it made scientific concepts feel approachable, giving you an idea of how physics, space science and astronomy work in general. It was all charming for me... knowing how things work just for the sake of knowing them.

The story alternates between Grace’s present-day survival in the Tau Ceti planetary system and flashbacks to his days on Earth. Even with these constant timeline shifts, it never felt confusing. The transitions were smooth.

Rocky, the alien engineer, was a lovable character. The communication at the beginning felt quite adorable, almost like talking to a baby and figuring out what they want to say. Project Hail Mary might become my favourite science fiction (ever) just because of the Grace-Rocky friendship.

If there’s one slight downside to the book, it’s that the space part felt like it ended a little too soon. I wanted more moments of Grace and Rocky running science experiments and building new things.

But no complaints. The book left me smiling at the ending. Fully satisfied, content to heart. And I’m writing this all still teary-eyed.

Project Hail Mary is definitely a recommendation. But beware, it’s gonna ruin other space sci-fi books for you. It’s part survival thriller, part science deep-dive, and part story about friendship. The info-dumps may feel a bit too much, but they don't drag the story a lot.

I’m having a hard time writing a review that would do this book justice.

The whole thing just felt so human. Even with all the science and space stuff, it really comes down to connection, trust, and doing what you can for those you love.

The characters are so lovable and relatable. My face was leaking but the ending was everything I needed and more. 

So worthy of the hype. I can’t wait to finally go see the movie now!

Amaze! Amaze! Amaze! 🚀

I’m having a hard time writing a review that would do this book justice.

I LOVED IT SO MUCH!!

The whole thing just felt so human. Even with all the science and space stuff, it really comes down to connection, trust, and doing what you can for those you love.

The characters are so lovable and relatable. My face was leaking but the ending was everything I needed and more. 

So worthy of the hype. I can’t wait to finally go see the movie now!

my secondary school science knowledge was used more making sense of this book than it’s ever been in yEars

probably first sci fi book i’ve properly read and ,,, i did prefer the movie :: more dumbed down but just my speed with the right amount of heart.

i do just love bros being bros : the earnestness & pure intentions of rocky to just,, care for grace ?? because it’s obvious that he would!! not because it’s an obligation ?? gets me every time yeah maybe they are ”good people”

my secondary school science knowledge was used more making sense of this book than it’s ever been in yEars

probably first sci fi book i’ve properly read and ,,, i did prefer the movie :: more dumbed down but just my speed with the right amount of heart.

i do just love bros being bros : the earnestness & pure intentions of rocky to just,, care for grace ?? because it’s obvious that he would!! not because it’s an obligation ?? gets me every time yeah maybe they are ”good people”

Read it before the movie came out. I loved it. even the science stuff. the movie skips a lot of science and reasoning and few important events, the book is always much better. this was my first scifi book and i will definitely pick more like these now. 

Rutik 

Proiectul Hail Mary

SUCH A FUN BOOK! Not my normal genre but I wanted to read before watching the movie and I am SO EXCITED for the movie now!!!! LOVE

Emma Freeman

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?

rocky, grace, and their friendship is everything to me

mint

elissa

Love the creativity and the thoroughness of the book. I was sucked in for at least 4/5ths but the last bit felt hard to get through. There’s a twist - there’s always a twist - and I felt the author leaned in to science too deeply during that twist, losing my attention a bit. I wanted drama in the last part, not to follow a science lesson.

Sarah Wilson

A great adventure and a new take on sci-fi that really engaged me more than other sci-fi books have in the past. The characters were compelling as well as the story. Definitely worth a read.

BC Hark

The friendship carries this whole story. Outside of that, it’s not really anything we haven’t seen before. Still adorable.

Emilee Keawe Oldroyd

Me senti assistindo um filme enquanto lia e que privilégio é saber que vou ver o filme ainda essa semana??!? Legal demais, passa longe de qualquer coisa que eu já li, em questão de gênero e de tudo, sinceramente. A quantidade de eventos fazem o livro ser uma grande montanha russa de acontecimentos e emoções, mas eu não poderia imaginar um final melhor. No fim das contas, ele nasceu para ser professor, um grande homem que ensinou e aprendeu com o Rocky, um ser completamente novo em todos os sentidos. Estou impactada como futura professora! 

Larissa Campos

Project Hair Mary

getting deeply attached to a metal space spider who asks to be fisted was not on the agenda for the big 2026. neither was crying bc of a sci-fi book, but here we are. absolutely spectacular.

Hayley Jolliffe

This might have been the best audiobook I’ve listened to this year. ROCKY IS MY GOAT. ROCKY IS FRIEND!!!

abhi 

did not expect to cry over a sci fi book but here we are!

the best book I’ve read recently, no doubts about it!

The way Andy transports you to the story, slowly, is so deep and careful.

It’s an approach to human-alien connection that we barely get or think about. So humanized and beautiful, rhe friendship between Grace and Rocky… can’t wait for the movie!!!

Denis Crepaldi

the best book I’ve read recently, no doubts about it!

The way Andy transports you to the story, slowly, is so deep and careful.

It’s an approach to human-alien connection that we barely get or think about. So humanized and beautiful, rhe friendship between Grace and Rocky… can’t wait for the movie!!!

i love when the sci-fi was a story about love and compassion the whole time 

I’m an insufferable hipster so I hate when popular things are good. This is so good.

Bo Heroman

& audiobook-Javier Guerrero Gimeno ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Maria

Wow. Such a great listen - the Ray Porter narration was great and really let me engaged through some pretty dense science throughout. Recommending to all with any science interest. 

Paige Paul

Neste novo thriller científico de Andy Weir, autor best-seller de Perdido em Marte, um astronauta precisa encontrar sozinho um jeito de salvar a Terra da destruição. Ryland Grace é o único sobrevivente de uma desesperada missão de emergência — se ele falhar, toda a humanidade e o planeta Terra serão destruídos. Mas no momento ele não sabe disso. Ryland não se lembra nem do próprio nome, muito menos de sua missão ou de como cumpri-la. Tudo o que ele sabe é que dormiu por muito, muito tempo. E que despertou a milhões de quilômetros de casa, com apenas dois cadáveres como companhia. Com os colegas de tripulação mortos e as memórias confusas retornando aos poucos, Ryland vai perceber a tarefa impossível que tem nas mãos. Viajando pelo espaço em sua pequena nave, cabe a ele descobrir a resposta para um enorme mistério científico — e derrotar a ameaça de extinção da nossa espécie. O tempo está acabando, e o humano mais próximo está a anos-luz de distância, então Ryland terá que fazer tudo isso sozinho. Ou será que não? "Dois mundos em perigo, um astronauta competente (mas humano e cheio de falhas), inúmeros mistérios científicos para resolver, e toda a humanidade em risco. Qualquer fã de ficção científica das antigas (como eu) vai amar." — George R.R. Martin, autor de A guerra dos tronos "Ler Devoradores de estrelas é como ir em uma excursão ao espaço sideral com o melhor professor de Ciências que existe — e a tarefa da sua turma é salvar o mundo. Uma das viagens mais originais, envolventes e divertidas que já fiz." — Ernest Cline, autor de Jogador no 1 "Sempre fico impressionado com a forma como Weir escreve ficção científica de um jeito maravilhosamente acessível, sem comprometer nem a ciência nem a ficção. Um livro que posso indicar para qualquer pessoa com a certeza de que ela vai adorar." — Brandon Sanderson, autor de Mistborn

Project Hail Mary A Novel

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