Status
Available
Call number
Publication
[Malmö] : Produced by Swedish Agency for Accessible Media, MTM, 2022
Description
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.
User reviews
LibraryThing member riofriotex
I really enjoyed Andy Weir's first book, The Martian, but I didn't like this one quite as much, despite the similarities - man marooned alone (this time in space), using his science smarts to solve problems. The difference here was this time he had an alien to help him - and that put the book a
I got this as an e-book so my husband could read it too - he really liked The Martian movie, which was true to the book. He didn't care for this one, though, for the same reasons as me. The alien, although interesting and likeable, made it too much of a fantasy for us. However, I'm glad I read the book and would still recommend it to others as much better than much of what passes for science fiction today.
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little too much in the fantasy realm, as opposed to the old-fashioned pure science fiction of The Martian.I got this as an e-book so my husband could read it too - he really liked The Martian movie, which was true to the book. He didn't care for this one, though, for the same reasons as me. The alien, although interesting and likeable, made it too much of a fantasy for us. However, I'm glad I read the book and would still recommend it to others as much better than much of what passes for science fiction today.
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LibraryThing member john257hopper
This is Andy Weir's third hard SF novel, and is more in the vein of The Martian than Artemis, a race against survival using limited resources. A deadly phenomenon arises on the sun, minute entities that reduce the amount of heat and light coming to Earth (christened "astrophages", i.e. star
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eaters). The Hail Mary mission is sent into space to investigate and try to address this problem before life on Earth is wiped out through global cooling (in an ironic twist on real life events, before the mission launches, an attempt is made to reduce the cooling by deliberately destroying part of the Antarctic ice shelf to accelerate global warming). By the time the story begins, the lone survivor of this mission, Dr Ryland Grace, meets a being from an alien civilisation which is suffering the same terminal problem. To cut a long very hard SF story short, Dr Grace and the alien find a solution, though there is a bittersweet ending to the story for the human hero. I found the constant flitting back and forth in time a little annoying, and I would have preferred a more linear narrative, but this had some good tense moments. Show Less
LibraryThing member ericlee
Andy Weir's first published book, The Martian, was a sensation - and rightly so. For me, it reawakened an interest in science fiction. His second book, Artemis, sold well but had mixed critical reviews. I, for one, didn't love it. His third outing is a bit of a return to the formula of The Martian
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but with one added feature: an alien being who is called 'Rocky'. The book takes the basic idea of The Martian - lone astronaut with an extraordinary grasp of math and science - grappling with a series of technical challenges and overcoming them all - and puts it on steroids. There were whole episodes in the book that I could not follow and I'm sure others couldn't as well. But this is not the book's main weakness: that falls to 'Rocky'. Where 'The Martian' had a likeable main character facing life-threatening challenges alone, here we got a loveable spider-like ammonia-breathing blind alien. It doesn't work and while like many others I read the book to the end just to find out what happens, I can't recommend it. Show Less
LibraryThing member Verkruissen
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
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 5 "jazz hands"?
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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 5 "jazz hands"?
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LibraryThing member bookworm12
I enjoyed pieces of this, particularly the beginning and end, but it was way too long and repetitive and I lost interest in the middle. I put the book down for months, only picking it back up to finish it before the end of the year. I did enjoy the overall story, it just should have been shortened
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quite a bit. The audio version is well done. Show Less
LibraryThing member bragan
A man wakes up, alone, on a spaceship. He's only very slowly beginning to remember how he even got there, but it quickly becomes apparent that he's on a mission with incredibly high stakes. In fact, the entire future of humanity depends on him remembering what he's there to do and coming up with
I almost feel like I shouldn't enjoy this one anywhere near as much as I did, because aspects of it are just incredibly, ridiculously implausible. Like absolutely everything about how this mission was put together and why this particular guy is part of it, not to mention the whole contrived amnesia gimmick. But, boy, did I enjoy it a lot, anyway. Like, a lot. It's a fun, fast read, one that's nerdy in all the best ways, with some real tension (especially towards the end), some surprisingly emotional moments, and some cool science-fictional ideas. And, doggone it, sometimes you just really, really want to watch super-smart (yet relatable) people coming up with clever ways of solving problems and overcoming obstacles. Basically, it's the sort of thing that will probably appeal to just about anybody who liked The Martian. Heck, part of me can't believe I'm actually saying this, given all the aforementioned ridiculousness, but I honestly think I enjoyed it more than The Martian.
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some way to do it. And it is not going to be easy...I almost feel like I shouldn't enjoy this one anywhere near as much as I did, because aspects of it are just incredibly, ridiculously implausible. Like absolutely everything about how this mission was put together and why this particular guy is part of it, not to mention the whole contrived amnesia gimmick. But, boy, did I enjoy it a lot, anyway. Like, a lot. It's a fun, fast read, one that's nerdy in all the best ways, with some real tension (especially towards the end), some surprisingly emotional moments, and some cool science-fictional ideas. And, doggone it, sometimes you just really, really want to watch super-smart (yet relatable) people coming up with clever ways of solving problems and overcoming obstacles. Basically, it's the sort of thing that will probably appeal to just about anybody who liked The Martian. Heck, part of me can't believe I'm actually saying this, given all the aforementioned ridiculousness, but I honestly think I enjoyed it more than The Martian.
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LibraryThing member majkia
What a fabulously upbeat story. Lots of science!!!! Science!!!!! Rocky! And Engineering!!!!!
The sun is dying with an infection of some sort, and all Earth is activated to figure out what the heck is going on and stop it. And it ends up that a high school science teacher, who doesn't want to go offRocky, being the alien hero!
The sun is dying with an infection of some sort, and all Earth is activated to figure out what the heck is going on and stop it. And it ends up that a high school science teacher, who doesn't want to go off
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to space to save the world, is the one true Earth hero. Show Less
LibraryThing member JHemlock
Project Hail Mary is a home run on all fronts. Such a wonderful story with beautifully maddening characters. Science. Oh Yes. Lots of science and it is wonderful. The writing is great, the story better and the ending knocks it all out of the park. A one way mission to save humanity turns into
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something much larger...if that can be imagined. A mission to save friendship. The way Weir crafts the main character and gives him a choice of whether to same himself and earth or...(you just have to read the book) is so full of heart it will cause the reader to cry. I admit...I teared up at the end. At one point Ryland Grace is told by someone "I have no respect you" What a statement. The underlying portents for Grace making the choice he makes at the end can be seen from several sides but obviously the point of that reasoning will be different for each reader. Show Less
LibraryThing member JJbooklvr
I don't think it is possible to geek out any harder over all the science! Brings back my college physics days when we would do off the cuff calculations to solve the craziest things. Sure to be on my Best of the Year list for 2021.
LibraryThing member iffland
Don't believe the hype. Very disappointed. Pretty sure my last Weir book for some time like been there done that.
LibraryThing member witchyrichy
I read Project Hail Mary as part of the fall Kindle challenge to read spooky stories or mysteries. This was definitely leaning towards the mystery side rather than spooky as Andy Weir takes us on another interstellar adventure with an erstwhile hero, middle school science teacher Ryland Grace, and
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his alien sidekick Rocky. I read until I couldn't keep my eyes open on Wednesday night then settled in the next morning. The book moves between present and past with Ryland struggling to survive even as his memory returns of the events leading up to the present. And it easily filled in the Bingo card about a STEM related topic: there was science, technology, engineering and lots and lots of math. Show Less
LibraryThing member mysterymax
My first five star review of the year. That says it all.
LibraryThing member Familiar_Diversions
The main character wakes up with no memory of who he is, where he is, or what's going on. Memories gradually come back to him. His name is Ryland Grace, and he was part of a crew of three that was put in suspended animation on a ship called the Hail Mary. Why him? He doesn't know. What,
The only other book by Weir that I've read is The Martian, which I generally enjoyed. In some ways, Project Hail Mary initially seemed very similar: a lone male protagonist whose life depends on his scientific knowledge, boatloads of dedicated scientists back on Earth who get a lot done but generally aren't very compelling characters, and a good mixture of humor and dark/tense moments. The amnesia added something new, although Ryland was a little more annoying than I remembered Mark Watney being - he reminded me very strongly of Mike, the protagonist in Peter Clines' The Fold. Thankfully, Ryland gradually improved (or the ship and science stuff did a better job at distracting me), and one part later on in the book did directly address one of the issues I had with him.
Some people may consider what I'm about to mention a spoiler, but I feel like it needs saying since it was part of the reason why I caved and read this. One of the best things about Project Hail Mary, and the thing that really set it apart from The Martian, was the first contact aspect. I won't give too many details, but as someone who generally enjoys "first contact" science fiction, I was impatient to get to that part of the book and it did not disappoint. As much as I enjoyed it, though, that aspect didn't feel quite as believable as all the Hail Mary and astrophage stuff, particularly at the end. Beyond all the hand-waving away years of scientific problem-solving, there were cultural/societal aspects that didn't really ring true to me.
Project Hail Mary got pretty bleak at times. Although this book wasn't about climate change, it did reference it, and I couldn't help but think about it as a couple scientists grimly explained what was likely to happen in the next few years, even if Ryland was 100% successful. That said, I'd still call it optimistic sci-fi, focused more on what could be accomplished with science and teamwork than on doom and gloom.
I think The Martian was better overall, but I still enjoyed this a lot. If I were ever to reread it, though, I imagine I'd skip or skim large chunks of the first half of the book just so I could get to Rocky faster.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
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specifically, was he supposed to do? He doesn't know that either. But he does know that his mission is vital to the survival of life on Earth, and since his two other crew members died at some point during the trip, he's going to have to accomplish his mystery mission on his own.The only other book by Weir that I've read is The Martian, which I generally enjoyed. In some ways, Project Hail Mary initially seemed very similar: a lone male protagonist whose life depends on his scientific knowledge, boatloads of dedicated scientists back on Earth who get a lot done but generally aren't very compelling characters, and a good mixture of humor and dark/tense moments. The amnesia added something new, although Ryland was a little more annoying than I remembered Mark Watney being - he reminded me very strongly of Mike, the protagonist in Peter Clines' The Fold. Thankfully, Ryland gradually improved (or the ship and science stuff did a better job at distracting me), and one part later on in the book did directly address one of the issues I had with him.
Some people may consider what I'm about to mention a spoiler, but I feel like it needs saying since it was part of the reason why I caved and read this. One of the best things about Project Hail Mary, and the thing that really set it apart from The Martian, was the first contact aspect. I won't give too many details, but as someone who generally enjoys "first contact" science fiction, I was impatient to get to that part of the book and it did not disappoint. As much as I enjoyed it, though, that aspect didn't feel quite as believable as all the Hail Mary and astrophage stuff, particularly at the end. Beyond all the hand-waving away years of scientific problem-solving, there were cultural/societal aspects that didn't really ring true to me.
Project Hail Mary got pretty bleak at times. Although this book wasn't about climate change, it did reference it, and I couldn't help but think about it as a couple scientists grimly explained what was likely to happen in the next few years, even if Ryland was 100% successful. That said, I'd still call it optimistic sci-fi, focused more on what could be accomplished with science and teamwork than on doom and gloom.
I think The Martian was better overall, but I still enjoyed this a lot. If I were ever to reread it, though, I imagine I'd skip or skim large chunks of the first half of the book just so I could get to Rocky faster.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
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LibraryThing member spiritedstardust
I DNFd this and wow I’m in the minority but the writing in this is terrible.
It honestly sounded like a cheesy sci-fi movie that is all pace and no substance.
Every sentence has a million !?!?!?! Used - the dialogue sounded so inorganic and the exchanges felt rushed.
There were so many things that
Like this is the dude who is saving the planet?
The constant back and forth with - I have amnesia and don’t know this - *has flashback providing exact info he needs *- oh great now I can move forward one space - rinse and repeat .
This book is not for me at all.
It honestly sounded like a cheesy sci-fi movie that is all pace and no substance.
Every sentence has a million !?!?!?! Used - the dialogue sounded so inorganic and the exchanges felt rushed.
There were so many things that
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happened that seemed illogical. Like this is the dude who is saving the planet?
The constant back and forth with - I have amnesia and don’t know this - *has flashback providing exact info he needs *- oh great now I can move forward one space - rinse and repeat .
This book is not for me at all.
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LibraryThing member LyndaInOregon
Weir goes back to the well of man-in-space for this new novel, throwing problem after problem at his protagonist – this time an unlikely astronaut (just how unlikely doesn’t completely unspool until well after the halfway point) who is the sole survivor of a desperate mission to literally save
There’s a lot of juggling going on in the structure here, as Weir has to transmit a believable but understandable threat and then come up with a technological response that can be comprehended by the non-tecchie and accepted as within the realm of possibility for those who are more at home in the science behind the action. On top of that, he has to figure out how to maintain a story flow that doesn’t become overwhelmingly claustrophobic with just a single character to carry the action. That’s where flashbacks come in, as his engaging, somewhat ingenuous, narrator reveals to the reader (and to himself, as his damaged memory begins to heal itself) how he came to be in his currently precarious position.
There’s another ace up Weir’s sleeve; however there’s no way to discuss it without opening up a large can of spoiler. Suffice to say that this, much like ‘The Martian’, becomes an engaging exercise in “how will this new challenge be met with the resources at hand?”
The action drags a little toward the end, and skirts dangerously close to “The Perils of Pauline” territory, as each time problems are met and conquered, another half dozen pop up to keep the stew boiling.
Ultimately, the story is a testament to what it means to break through barriers, to refuse to admit defeat, and to just how much one man is willing to surrender for a life not his own.
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the Earth. There’s a lot of juggling going on in the structure here, as Weir has to transmit a believable but understandable threat and then come up with a technological response that can be comprehended by the non-tecchie and accepted as within the realm of possibility for those who are more at home in the science behind the action. On top of that, he has to figure out how to maintain a story flow that doesn’t become overwhelmingly claustrophobic with just a single character to carry the action. That’s where flashbacks come in, as his engaging, somewhat ingenuous, narrator reveals to the reader (and to himself, as his damaged memory begins to heal itself) how he came to be in his currently precarious position.
There’s another ace up Weir’s sleeve; however there’s no way to discuss it without opening up a large can of spoiler. Suffice to say that this, much like ‘The Martian’, becomes an engaging exercise in “how will this new challenge be met with the resources at hand?”
The action drags a little toward the end, and skirts dangerously close to “The Perils of Pauline” territory, as each time problems are met and conquered, another half dozen pop up to keep the stew boiling.
Ultimately, the story is a testament to what it means to break through barriers, to refuse to admit defeat, and to just how much one man is willing to surrender for a life not his own.
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LibraryThing member callmecayce
I have to be honest, I almost didn't read this book. After loving [The Martian], I didn't like Weir's next book and so was reluctant to pick this up. However, after my sister recommended it (specifically the audiobook), I thought I'd give it a try. Well, I'm certainly glad I did! Project Hail Mary
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is an excellent and engrossing read. Not only was the story fantastic, but Weir's ability to balance hard science and the story has improved. The Martian was a good book, but very heavy on the science. Project Hail Mary, while being filled with lots of science, managed to blend it together nearly seamlessly. I am also impressed with Weir's skill at writing characters, something that has also improved compared to his previous books. I loved this book and the characters quite a bit. I also want to briefly mention Ray Porter's excellent narration and the audio effects used in the audiobook version - for me, I don't know that I'd want to experience the novel any other way. What a fun, tense, ride. Show Less
LibraryThing member Allison_Krajewski
"Time for science!"
Project Hail Mary is the third book by Andy Weir, and possibly my favorite (with The Martian in a close second, followed by Artemis). I really enjoyed all of these books, but in different ways: though they have similar themes, they tell vastly different stories.
Project Hail Mary
I feel like Andy Weir has a really unique voice for his characters. He doesn't try to hard to make himself sound smart (though he obviously is). His characters (Dr. Ryland Grace) are down-to-earth and nerdy; I also loved the little nods to pop culture (e.g. The Beatles, Rocky, etc.) -- it really feels like you are in someone's head following along with their internal monologue. This style of writing also really makes the science feel accessible. And, as a scientist myself, I really appreciate Weir's attention to detail about the different minutiae of what can go wrong...and thinking through how to fix it. It's a little bit of a departure from The Martian (and Artemis) in the sense that Project Hail Mary feels a little more *fantastical* (and maybe slightly less technical), but it was a really good read, and I highly recommend it.
4.5 stars, though I'll round up to 5 because I really enjoyed it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Project Hail Mary is the third book by Andy Weir, and possibly my favorite (with The Martian in a close second, followed by Artemis). I really enjoyed all of these books, but in different ways: though they have similar themes, they tell vastly different stories.
Project Hail Mary
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follows Dr. Ryland Grace, a scientist who wakes up on a spaceship light-years from home with nothing but two corpses and a medical mechanical arm to keep him company. He doesn't initially know who he is nor how he got there, but as his memory starts coming back in pieces, he starts to remember this very important fact: he is where he is to stop an extinction-level event from happening back on Earth. He is humanity's last chance for survival, and if he fails, well, it's lights out for Earth (literally).I feel like Andy Weir has a really unique voice for his characters. He doesn't try to hard to make himself sound smart (though he obviously is). His characters (Dr. Ryland Grace) are down-to-earth and nerdy; I also loved the little nods to pop culture (e.g. The Beatles, Rocky, etc.) -- it really feels like you are in someone's head following along with their internal monologue. This style of writing also really makes the science feel accessible. And, as a scientist myself, I really appreciate Weir's attention to detail about the different minutiae of what can go wrong...and thinking through how to fix it. It's a little bit of a departure from The Martian (and Artemis) in the sense that Project Hail Mary feels a little more *fantastical* (and maybe slightly less technical), but it was a really good read, and I highly recommend it.
4.5 stars, though I'll round up to 5 because I really enjoyed it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
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LibraryThing member SquirrelHead
Andy Weir pulls off another successful sci-fi novel with Project Hail Mary. I absolutely loved The Martian and felt opposite about Artemis so I was hoping he'd come out with another blockbuster.
Rylan Grace is a junior high school science teacher who loves his job. He is the narrator of this novel
He is on a spaceship and needs to remember his name and certain facts for the onboard computer to unlock areas of the ship. As he slowly remembers details of his former life we learn he was an esteemed scientist with excellent credentials before he burned some career bridges.
Without giving spoilers here it's established Earth will undergo a life extinuishing event. Dr Grace is one of the scientists who may be able to help change the outcome. In my opinion the science, hypothesis and formulas were interesting at first but I could have used less of it. Fun to read and then I felt like I may need to scroll along.
The memories of "life before" and the interaction Dr Grace has with another space entity was interesting. I particuarlly liked the last chapters and the outcome so it was overall a 4 star book for me.
Not on par with The Martian but 100% better than Artemis. We love Andy Weir in our home and have recently purchased his first book (again) after someone failed to return our loan :-( We also just watched the Martian recently - I think this book would have potential to become a cool space movie as well. Ridley Scott, are you listening? :-)
Publication date May 4, 2021 by Random House - Ballentine. Genre: Mystery, Thrillers, Sci Fi and Fantasy.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader's copy of this book. I was not compensated for the review, all opinions are mine.
Rylan Grace is a junior high school science teacher who loves his job. He is the narrator of this novel
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and you will learn more about him as the story goes on. In the first chapters Rylan doesn't know his name or anything about his past as he was in an induced coma for years. He is on a spaceship and needs to remember his name and certain facts for the onboard computer to unlock areas of the ship. As he slowly remembers details of his former life we learn he was an esteemed scientist with excellent credentials before he burned some career bridges.
Without giving spoilers here it's established Earth will undergo a life extinuishing event. Dr Grace is one of the scientists who may be able to help change the outcome. In my opinion the science, hypothesis and formulas were interesting at first but I could have used less of it. Fun to read and then I felt like I may need to scroll along.
The memories of "life before" and the interaction Dr Grace has with another space entity was interesting. I particuarlly liked the last chapters and the outcome so it was overall a 4 star book for me.
Not on par with The Martian but 100% better than Artemis. We love Andy Weir in our home and have recently purchased his first book (again) after someone failed to return our loan :-( We also just watched the Martian recently - I think this book would have potential to become a cool space movie as well. Ridley Scott, are you listening? :-)
Publication date May 4, 2021 by Random House - Ballentine. Genre: Mystery, Thrillers, Sci Fi and Fantasy.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader's copy of this book. I was not compensated for the review, all opinions are mine.
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LibraryThing member TempleCat
Project Hail Mary heartens back to the golden age of science fiction, a more innocent time when one could build a rocket ship in one’s backyard and teenagers could outfox alien hordes. In Hail Mary, a junior high school science teacher, Ryland Grace, stars in saving the earth when the sun begins
Weir employs his signature hard science methodology to solve the nitty-gritty physical, chemical and ecological problems that confront his hero (e.g. does that screw tighten to the right or to the left?, how can I get food? ), but this time around those problems span star systems and cross the boundaries of at least four species. The result is suspenseful and exciting but also somehow comforting, illustrating that humans, with all their fears and animosities, can still prevail when the chips are down.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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to dim. (Get it? Hail Mary, full of grace...? Andy Weir does enjoy sprinkling a gentle self-conscious and frequently self-deprecating humor throughout his stories.)Weir employs his signature hard science methodology to solve the nitty-gritty physical, chemical and ecological problems that confront his hero (e.g. does that screw tighten to the right or to the left?, how can I get food? ), but this time around those problems span star systems and cross the boundaries of at least four species. The result is suspenseful and exciting but also somehow comforting, illustrating that humans, with all their fears and animosities, can still prevail when the chips are down.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member Madison_Fairbanks
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Science fiction adventure. Stand-alone. Two time lines: one current crisis mode of the astronaut, the other as he remembers his past leading up to the current situation.
The Sun is under attack by an unknown organism. It’s going to take all the world organizations
Ryland Grace is one of the scientists working on the problem. He’s also the only surviving astronaut left to figure out a solution to hopefully save humanity.
Powerful and complicated.
So much science. I read it all, not really understating. It was a bit too much at times. Yes, I wanted to know how ....but did I need to know all the minutia? I could have lost a hundred pages without too much impact but still admire the mind and intelligence of the author to include it. Anyone that loves science will love the detail.
Yes I will recommend it but stand by a little less would have been fine.
I’m not going to spoil the ending, but will share it had me crying.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
Science fiction adventure. Stand-alone. Two time lines: one current crisis mode of the astronaut, the other as he remembers his past leading up to the current situation.
The Sun is under attack by an unknown organism. It’s going to take all the world organizations
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working together to find a possible solution and prevent billions from dying. Ryland Grace is one of the scientists working on the problem. He’s also the only surviving astronaut left to figure out a solution to hopefully save humanity.
Powerful and complicated.
So much science. I read it all, not really understating. It was a bit too much at times. Yes, I wanted to know how ....but did I need to know all the minutia? I could have lost a hundred pages without too much impact but still admire the mind and intelligence of the author to include it. Anyone that loves science will love the detail.
Yes I will recommend it but stand by a little less would have been fine.
I’m not going to spoil the ending, but will share it had me crying.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
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LibraryThing member JanaRose1
When Ryland Grace wakes he can't remember who he is or what he is supposed to be doing. He quickly discovers two bodies nearby and realizes that he is on a space ship. Slowly, he begins to recover his memory, realizing that he is on a mission to save humanity and unravel the mystery of substance
This book caught me from the very beginning. It was hard to put down and I found myself reading long into the night. Ryland was a fun dynamic character, and it was interesting to see the story unravel. Overall, highly recommended.
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that is quickly dimming the sun.This book caught me from the very beginning. It was hard to put down and I found myself reading long into the night. Ryland was a fun dynamic character, and it was interesting to see the story unravel. Overall, highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member breic
This is *so* much better than "Artemis." It's fun! I think that it approaches "The Martian," though not in believability. This book has a lot more plot points that are simply ridiculous. Weir seems to have acknowledged his weaknesses as a writer—especially characterization—and has written an
> “I hear you have godlike authority over pretty much the whole world right now.” “That’s an exaggeration,” she said. “Not much of one, though,” I said. Redell continued. “Can you get China to orient their industrial base around making blackpanels? Not just them but pretty much every industrial nation on Earth? That’s what it would take.” She pursed her lips. After a moment, she said, “Yes.” … The press used to keep track of the total cost, but around the $10 trillion mark, they gave up. It just didn’t matter. It wasn’t about efficient use of resources anymore. It was Earth versus Astrophage, and no price was too high.
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engineering thriller around them. Yes, it is strange to have an intelligent alien who speaks and acts like a child, but that's better and more believable than the supposedly adult main character in "Artemis." > “I hear you have godlike authority over pretty much the whole world right now.” “That’s an exaggeration,” she said. “Not much of one, though,” I said. Redell continued. “Can you get China to orient their industrial base around making blackpanels? Not just them but pretty much every industrial nation on Earth? That’s what it would take.” She pursed her lips. After a moment, she said, “Yes.” … The press used to keep track of the total cost, but around the $10 trillion mark, they gave up. It just didn’t matter. It wasn’t about efficient use of resources anymore. It was Earth versus Astrophage, and no price was too high.
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LibraryThing member nbmars
Andy Weir has a pleasing, cinematic way of writing. You can imagine his stories playing out in the movies but without the staccato style that is utilized in actual scripts.
The main character in this novel assumes a MacGyver kind of role after waking up from a medically-induced coma in a space
I liked this book much more than his previous books, and I liked them a lot. But with this book, you get an added dimension (which I can't reveal), and an ending that is sheer perfection. (Yes, I reread that last chapter three times! ... so far...)
Evaluation: I hate to say too much about the plot, because discovering it is part of the mysteries that unfold as you read. It is smart, often funny, and profoundly touching. Don’t miss it!
The main character in this novel assumes a MacGyver kind of role after waking up from a medically-induced coma in a space
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capsule - the “Hail Mary.” His brain takes longer to recover than his body; at first he doesn't even know his name. As his memories come back, we learn along with him how he ended up on the ship and what the nature of the mission is. There is a lot of math and physics, but he explains it all patiently, and there are surprises galore. His creativity is amazing.I liked this book much more than his previous books, and I liked them a lot. But with this book, you get an added dimension (which I can't reveal), and an ending that is sheer perfection. (Yes, I reread that last chapter three times! ... so far...)
Evaluation: I hate to say too much about the plot, because discovering it is part of the mysteries that unfold as you read. It is smart, often funny, and profoundly touching. Don’t miss it!
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LibraryThing member mzonderm
Dr. Ryland Grace has been sent on a suicide mission to the Tau Ceti system to try to figure out why, of all the nearby systems, it remains unscathed in the face of an instellar infestation that's causing our sun to dim, which will result in another extinction event on Earth. His crewmates have
As engaging as Dr. Grace is, this book is not without its flaws. For one thing, there is a lot of math in this book. Like, a lot. And I'm sure it's all completely correct, though I confess that I kind of skimmed those parts. But as much as the author seems to think that we're all going to understand the math, he also seems to think that we need to be told that Venus is the 2nd planet in our solar system. Also, the Hail Mary is the most advanced piece of engineering and technology ever assembled, but its computer isn't even as smart as my home assistant. It doesn't help Dr. Grace do anything (except stay alive through his extended coma, which, ok, yes, is pretty important, but once he's awake, he's on his own).
Still, these are easily overlooked in favor of this compelling story, as we wait with baited breath as Dr. Grace holds the fate of humanity is in hands. Can he solve this seemingly insurmountable problem? You'll be rooting for him, and you'll find his experiences stay with long after you read the last page.
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died, and he's got coma-brain, so it takes him a while to remember where he is and why he's there. The reader follows along with Dr. Grace as he slowly regains his memory and sets to work. As a narrator, he has an extremely accessible voice. You can totally imagine yourself being friends with this wry, sardonic, and wickedly smart guy.As engaging as Dr. Grace is, this book is not without its flaws. For one thing, there is a lot of math in this book. Like, a lot. And I'm sure it's all completely correct, though I confess that I kind of skimmed those parts. But as much as the author seems to think that we're all going to understand the math, he also seems to think that we need to be told that Venus is the 2nd planet in our solar system. Also, the Hail Mary is the most advanced piece of engineering and technology ever assembled, but its computer isn't even as smart as my home assistant. It doesn't help Dr. Grace do anything (except stay alive through his extended coma, which, ok, yes, is pretty important, but once he's awake, he's on his own).
Still, these are easily overlooked in favor of this compelling story, as we wait with baited breath as Dr. Grace holds the fate of humanity is in hands. Can he solve this seemingly insurmountable problem? You'll be rooting for him, and you'll find his experiences stay with long after you read the last page.
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LibraryThing member tottman
Once again, Andy Weir brings the goods with Project Hail Mary, his latest novel featuring an inventive astronaut and a thorny science problem. Ryland Grace wakes up on a spaceship far from home, unsure how he got there, who he is, and what he is supposed to do. Grace’s slowly recovering memory
The narrative jumps between Grace’s present situation in the nearby galaxy and the past leading up to the trip which has brought him there. Each time we learn a little bit more about who Grace, a middle school science teacher, is and how he became involved in the project that ultimately sent him into space. The memory fog helps us learn about Grace as he learns more about himself with recollections that come back bit by bit.
Grace needs to find a way to complete a mission that was originally designed for three people and solve the problem in time to save Earth. Nothing is ever a straight line in a Weir novel and a series of obstacles and human error have to be overcome to complete the mission. It takes cleverness, some luck, and some science to come up with a solution. Lots and lots of science. Weir has a gift for making the science both digestible and fun. He even manages to make materials science a lot of fun in this story!
Weir creates characters that find their inner strength and ingenuity, are warm, colorful, and funny. He also describes a multinational group that pulls together for one objective, albeit led by one strong-willed, ruthless character and as they are facing planetwide extinction. The story is full of tension but also heart-warming, funny, and full of fascinating science.
Project Hail Mary is an entertaining ride that will carry you from the first page to the ending that is both unexpected and surprisingly touching. Get in on the ground floor because everyone is going to be talking about this book and you will not regret a moment spent reading it. Highly recommended.
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.
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reveals that the earth’s sun is dimming due to a microscopic life form that is draining its energy. He is the only surviving member of a crew which has been sent to a nearby star to find the cause and hopefully discover a solution.The narrative jumps between Grace’s present situation in the nearby galaxy and the past leading up to the trip which has brought him there. Each time we learn a little bit more about who Grace, a middle school science teacher, is and how he became involved in the project that ultimately sent him into space. The memory fog helps us learn about Grace as he learns more about himself with recollections that come back bit by bit.
Grace needs to find a way to complete a mission that was originally designed for three people and solve the problem in time to save Earth. Nothing is ever a straight line in a Weir novel and a series of obstacles and human error have to be overcome to complete the mission. It takes cleverness, some luck, and some science to come up with a solution. Lots and lots of science. Weir has a gift for making the science both digestible and fun. He even manages to make materials science a lot of fun in this story!
Weir creates characters that find their inner strength and ingenuity, are warm, colorful, and funny. He also describes a multinational group that pulls together for one objective, albeit led by one strong-willed, ruthless character and as they are facing planetwide extinction. The story is full of tension but also heart-warming, funny, and full of fascinating science.
Project Hail Mary is an entertaining ride that will carry you from the first page to the ending that is both unexpected and surprisingly touching. Get in on the ground floor because everyone is going to be talking about this book and you will not regret a moment spent reading it. Highly recommended.
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.
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Awards
Hugo Award (Nominee — Novel — 2022)
Audie Award (Finalist — Audiobook of the Year — 2022)
RUSA CODES Reading List (Shortlist — Science Fiction — 2022)
Green Mountain Book Award (Nominee — 2023)
Lincoln Award: Illinois Teen Readers' Choice Award (Nominee — 2024)
Geffen Award (2023)
NCSLMA Battle of the Books (High School — 2024)
BookTube Prize (Octofinalist — Fiction — 2022)
Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers (Honor Book — 2023)
Dragon Award (Winner — Science Fiction Novel — 2021)
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year (Science Fiction and Fantasy — 2021)
Indie Next List (May 2021)
Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl (High School — 2023)
LibraryReads (Annual Voter Favorite — Hall of Fame — May 2021)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Adults (Selection — 2021)
New York Public Library Best Books: For Adults (Science Fiction — 2021)
Language
Original publication date
2021-05-04
ISBN
9789130048670