Project Hail Mary: A Novel

Awesome storytelling. The science is good and compelling. What a great way to make the reader contemplate self, place in the stars and what it is to be human. Great book!

I went in with low expectations and was pleasantly surprised. It’s smart, fast-paced sci-fi with just enough science to feel clever without bogging things down. More heart and humor than I expected, and genuinely fun all the way through. A great read.

I don't read a lot of sci-fi because it's just not my favorite genre, but man did I really enjoy this one! It was so profoundly interesting and heartbreaking and utterly terrifying that it had me on the edge of my seat multiple times. I definitely recommend the audio version of this. The narrator does a great job and getting to hear his conversations with Rocky was just truly heartwarming. I loved the timeline jumps between the present and the backstory leading up to present although with the audio it was a bit challenging because there really wasn't an indicator of the change like you'd see in a book, so it would take my brain a second sometimes to realize we'd changed timelines. My only real critique is that it got sooooo technical and detailed at times that I would find myself spacing out (no pun intended). The science was incredibly interesting and important to the story but just a lot at times. But this is a definite read!

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.

4.75 ⭐️’s Project Hail Mary was my book club pick for November. I went in fairly blind aside from knowing it involved a crisis and space. So many people have recommended this book to me, specifically the audiobook, and I have to agree. I don’t even know how it’s possible to eyeball read this one (IYKYK). The story opens with Dr. Ryland Grace waking up not knowing who he is or where he is and we quickly realize that he has amnesia. As his memory slowly returns through flashbacks, he discovers he’s the sole survivor of a three-person crew on an interstellar mission to save humanity from an alien life form called Astrophage that’s consuming Earth’s sun. The dual timeline structure between past and present is incredibly engaging as we piece together the mystery alongside Grace. We learn about the Petrova Problem, how he became involved in Project Hail Mary, and the desperate race to find a solution before Earth faces catastrophic crop failure and mass extinction. I don’t typically read straight sci-fi (I’m more fantasy-adjacent), but this book grabbed my attention pretty quickly and I easily became obsessed with this story. There’s genuine humor, unexpected emotional moments, and I found myself both laughing and crying, sometimes within the same chapter. The science is fascinating without being overwhelming, and Andy Weir does an incredible job making complex concepts accessible while keeping the stakes incredibly high. I cannot stress this enough: listen to the audiobook. Ray Porter’s narration is phenomenal, and there are elements of the story that simply don’t translate the same way on the page. Trust me on this, it is a completely different (and superior) experience. My only critique is I wanted more. The single POV structure means that once Grace’s memories catch up to present day, we lose insight into what’s happening on Earth, and I was desperate to know how humanity was surviving through the crisis back home. Either way, I still really enjoyed Project Hail Mary. Going in blind was a solid decision. I thought this would be comparable to The Martian (lone astronaut problem-solving in space), but I was completely blown away by the direction it took. This book surprised me in so many ways. It’s been a solid 4ish weeks since I’ve finished listening and I am still thinking about this book. If you’re even remotely interested, pick up the audiobook and let yourself be surprised.

Project Hail Mary is one of the most gripping, emotionally satisfying, and cleverly written sci-fi novels I’ve ever read. From the very first page, I was hooked by the mystery and momentum—and it never let go. The story blends science, survival, and humor with perfection. The pacing is spot-on: never slow, never rushed. Just like The Martian, Andy Weir’s signature wit shines through, but here he adds a surprising amount of heart and emotional depth—especially in the bond between the characters. The climax is absolutely epic, and the conclusion left me stunned in the best way. It’s not just a great sci-fi story—it’s a celebration of friendship, sacrifice, and problem-solving at the edge of the universe. If you want a book that makes you laugh, think, and maybe even tear up a little—this is it. A modern sci-fi classic.

I'm not a big fiction reader tending mainly to stick to non-fiction science, history, biographies etc but enjoyed The Martian so thought I'd give Project Hail Mary a go and am thoroughly pleased I did. The story is interesting and well-written and I enjoyed the past / present way of telling the story. The science is well-researched and plausible and the inter-play between the characters very enjoyable.

I am a little speechless. What a beautiful book. I read it in a frenzy. Thank you Andy Weir!!! Erik

I loved this story so much! It was the perfect story for me. Easy to read, great pacing, relatable character (for me), amazing story about overcoming, courage, friendship, adventure and awesome science. Highly recommend.

I absolutely adored PHM. It has everything: adventure, humanity, encounters with alien life forms, suspense, science, and, yes, emotion. I was in awe of the book. What a story. A rather ordinary science teacher is sent to a distant star to save planet Earth and meets an alien, Rocky, who is trying to save his own planet. A beautiful friendship blossoms between the teacher and the alien. It's such a beautiful story. Not a scientific person myself, I wasn't in the least put off by the science in the book. In fact, it's wondrous. This will stay with me for a long time. A truc sci-fi masterpiece and a great story, whether you like the genre or not.