Name: Project Hail Mary
Rating: 4.507153231663036 (1377 reviews)
ISBN: 9780593135204

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

A lone astronaut is on a desperate, last-chance mission to 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 a computer and 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, The Hail Mary is a tale of discovery, speculation, and survival to rival The Martian--while taking us to places it never dreamed of going.

I bought this back when it first came out didn't read it until this year when the movie was released. Quickly became my favourite book ever, which is saying something. The science in the book is explained really well, so if you aren't a huge space nerd (like I am!) it's still readable.

Taylor

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?

Sobbing idk. Now THIS is science fiction at a Ted Chiang-level of speculation and Ursula Le Guin level imagination, but in a fun Weir tone and humor.

Jessica Ho

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.

Book Review: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Project Hail Mary was a really enjoyable read! The writing is excellent, and the story leans heavily into scientific principles, mathematics, and problem-solving.

If you're a science and math nerd who enjoys a good space opera, this book might be right up your alley. Just be ready for plenty of scientific explanations along the way!

The cast of characters is relatively limited, but considering the scope and direction of the story, it makes sense. I didn't find it took away from the overall experience.

My one lingering thought? The ending leaves a little room for interpretation. I'm genuinely curious whether we'll ever get a short story or even a second book exploring what happens after the events of this one.

Overall: A clever, science heavy sci-fi adventure that's worth picking up, especially if you enjoy stories that make you think.

No spoilers, just highly recommend giving this one a read!

Book Review: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Project Hail Mary was a really enjoyable read! The writing is excellent, and the story leans heavily into scientific principles, mathematics, and problem-solving.

If you're a science and math nerd who enjoys a good space opera, this book might be right up your alley. Just be ready for plenty of scientific explanations along the way!

The cast of characters is relatively limited, but considering the scope and direction of the story, it makes sense. I didn't find it took away from the overall experience.

My one lingering thought? The ending leaves a little room for interpretation. I'm genuinely curious whether we'll ever get a short story or even a second book exploring what happens after the events of this one.

Overall: A clever, science heavy sci-fi adventure that's worth picking up, especially if you enjoy stories that make you think.

No spoilers, just highly recommend giving this one a read!

I absolutely adored the movie, and I absolutely absolutely absolutely adored the book. People in my life know that I don’t read. Not even a bit. Obviously trying to change that by being on this app but that’s besides the point. This book completely robbed me of all my attention. Especially on the final 100 pages, I found myself unable to stop. Love, friendship, and hope are all themes that I get from this story. The friendship that Grace and Rocky form is an incredible testament to what is possible when people set aside their differences and work together. None of what they accomplished could’ve been done by either one of them alone. That willingness to learn from each other, assist each other, and be patient with one another, is what saved the stars. 

Andrew Silva

i don’t tend to lean optimistic, but this book shows how beautiful and resilient humanity can be. so profound even in its moments of levity. connection is always possible and it is everything. i love this book with my whole heart.

nina

The book is certainly entertaining, and I genuinely enjoyed how the premise unfolds. The protagonist finds himself in a situation filled with questions and virtually no answers, and I particularly liked how he gradually makes progress, whether through scientific experiments or fragments of his hazy memory.

The scientific explanations are excellent. Every action has a reason, a calculation, or some underlying principle behind it, all described in 

. However, in my opinion, this relentless attention to detail eventually becomes the book's greatest weakness.

With each passing chapter, I found myself seeing it less as a novel and more as a screenplay, despite never having watched the film adaptation. There are so many technical specifics that the reading experience gradually becomes tedious and exhausting.

There are genuinely funny moments, but also painfully awkward attempts at comic relief, secondary characters who seem to exist solely to serve a particular purpose, and the usual astronaut clichés.

Ultimately, it's a good book, but I can't shake the feeling that the narrative was crafted more with a potential film adaptation in mind, meticulously laying out every detail for the screen, than with the intention of telling a genuinely compelling story on the page.

Enzo Furtini

The book is certainly entertaining, and I genuinely enjoyed how the premise unfolds. The protagonist finds himself in a situation filled with questions and virtually no answers, and I particularly liked how he gradually makes progress, whether through scientific experiments or fragments of his hazy memory.

The scientific explanations are excellent. Every action has a reason, a calculation, or some underlying principle behind it, all described in extraordinary detail. However, in my opinion, this relentless attention to detail eventually becomes the book's greatest weakness.

With each passing chapter, I found myself seeing it less as a novel and more as a screenplay, despite never having watched the film adaptation. There are so many technical specifics that the reading experience gradually becomes tedious and exhausting.

There are genuinely funny moments, but also painfully awkward attempts at comic relief, secondary characters who seem to exist solely to serve a particular purpose, and the usual astronaut clichés.

Ultimately, it's a good book, but I can't shake the feeling that the narrative was crafted more with a potential film adaptation in mind, meticulously laying out every detail for the screen, than with the intention of telling a genuinely compelling story on the page.

Good read, middle part was a bit rough to get through. Movie was a good depiction.

Troy Shukla

Phil

Henry Sorensen

I never though I wanted a super-intelligent alien rock as a friend but now I do

Maya

For the last few months I've tried to read this book, I couldn't get past the math and science, I started in June but I heard the audiobook was better so l returned an audiobook for a credit and was happy to read this book while listening, took me less than two days to finish and while I wasn't expecting the ending to happen the way it did, friendship and team work are very important so thanks to the actor the author and everyone who made it their mission ( pun intended) to bring this story to life and especially bring it to life with the movie that I will see around or on my dads birthday which is in march. Happy reading and enjoy you nerdy folks, I do hope all my science teachers and science teachers around the world play this audiobook whenever kids have the opportunity to sit back and read, to teach kids the importance of friendship, teamwork and just overall that they can do anything.

Though I don't love Weir's writing style and I don't love Grace's somewhat dopey, happy-go-lucky character, I still really enjoyed this book. Besides Grace, Rocky was a charming little guy. I wish the book explored his culture more and explored what his mission was like for him, especially the part where he was the only survivor amongst his massively sized crew (compared to the Hail Mary) and what effects that would have on him. The other members of the Hail Mary team - Stratt, DuBois and Shapiro, Yáo and Ilyukhina, Dimitri and Lamai and Lokken - are decently well-rounded characters and enjoyable to read about. The twists at the end, first where Grace discovers he did NOT volunteer for the Hail Mary mission, and where Grace decides to go with Rocky away to Rocky's home world, were fun to read for the first time. The scientific writing involving the space travel, logistics of Earth's survival after the Hail Mary's launch and the taumoeba and Protrova line and whatnot were easily the best parts of the book and my favorite to read. The book's central focus, the friendship between Rocky and Grace, was quite charming. Frankly, if the relationship between Rocket and Grace didn't work, this whole book falls apart so it's a good thing that these two are at least mostly enjoyable and their rapport with each other is humorous and pleasant. Lastly, this book set off a bit of a space kick for me that lasted a few months and that I'm only just coming down from. Overall, I enjoyed my time with Project Hail Mary and appreciate it getting me back into Kerbal Space Program if nothing else.

Beatrice

I don't know how many literary heroes we have like Ryland. But it's refreshing to encounter a mediocre hero who hides behind other forms of intellectual discourse because of rejection. He is no Arnold nor Picard. His best weapon is curiosity, which makes him effective. 

Nate

I hoped ryland went to earth, but still what an ending. I love this book

Rudransh

Kenneth LeFebvre

<strong>First contact at its finest </strong><br /><br />The American response to the pandemic has taken a toll on my optimism for humanity, but the story of Hail Mary depicts the human spirit I have always hoped was real.

First contact at its finest 

The American response to the pandemic has taken a toll on my optimism for humanity, but the story of Hail Mary depicts the human spirit I have always hoped was real.

Gaston Tonietti

OMG! Without doubt, muh kind of sci-fi. Straight to my favourites shelf.

Never did I think a book could make me feel all the things a movie could, if I’m totally honest.

However, this is an absolute blast of an adventure. It’s got enough heart and spirit to really ignite something within, and the depth of detail from the author is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. 

The relationship between Grace and Rocky steals the show, but the layering of storytelling between the events on Earth and at Tau-Ceti are done impeccably well. Every sentence feels important.

Never did I think a book could make me feel all the things a movie could, if I’m totally honest.

However, this is an absolute blast of an adventure. It’s got enough heart and spirit to really ignite something within, and the depth of detail from the author is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. 

The relationship between Grace and Rocky steals the show, but the layering of storytelling between the events on Earth and at Tau-Ceti are done impeccably well. Every sentence feels important.

I really loved this one.

Laughed, cried, clenched my butt. 10/10 Andy Weir thank you for giving us platonic soulmates

Project Hail Mary A Novel

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