This book was great, plain and simple. The premise seems so unbelievable, but it is written so well that you get sucked in and believe every word as it goes along. For anyone that is an Andy Weir fan or a fan of Sci-Fi will love this.

Project Hail Mary is a juggernaut of a space odyssey. Weir brings a solar systems worth of human emotions to a story that for the majority of it contains only one human. This book is heavy on the science but I found that interesting and better able to place the reader on the ship with Ryland Grace.
You feel the overwhelming pressure of the task at hand along with him. The story jumps from memories back on Earth to present day keeping you on your toes and moving along at a fast pace. Rocky whom Ryland meets along the way is one of the most endearing literary characters I have had the pleasure to meet. This story and these characters continue to linger and stay with me days after I finished and I imagine will for some time to come. This book was outside of my comfort genres but I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it and honestly could not put it down.

I enjoyed The Martian, and I had high hopes for this one, but it just failed to hit the mark for me. The story was intriguing, but there was so much high-level math & science I had a hard time getting through without skimming.

The story kept going back and forth in time as the main character, Dr. Ryland Grace, regained his memories. I found the 'before' chapters to be far more interesting than the 'after' chapters. I just feel like it's trying too hard to be groundbreaking, but not really hitting the mark.

Overall, an interesting book but I would not recommend.

Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. This reminds me of the Andy Weir of the Martian. Yes it is science and math heavy and I did skim through some of that, but I know there are people who will definitely appreciate it. The Sun is under attack from microscopic "beings" and the human race actually comes together to figure a solution out. And oh what a solution. Increase global warming, a ship that's also a centrifuge, genetically pre-disposed to comas scientists, and that's before they even get into space! This was such a fun Andy Weir book!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The synopsis of this book sounded intriguing to me so I requested a copy to read.
Unfortunately, I have tried reading this book on 2 separate occasions and during this 2nd attempt, I have
decided to stop reading this book
and state that this book just wasn't for me.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

This is a story about our last hope, and I’m happy to report that he has good coffee for the trip.

I loved, loved, loved this. This was science fiction at its best- funny, frightening & inventive. I don’t want to include spoilers, but I was so happy with the unexpected element & I loved the end.

Thank you so much Netgalley & Random House for this e-Arc 💙

Ryland Grace, off to save the Earth from a catastrophic solar event meets alien in same situation. Can they work together to save both of their planets?
3 1/2 ⭐️
First off, this is my personal feelings on this book. I never want to discourage anyone from reading a particular book. Ever!! How you see a book and I could differ. Now, that being said, this book did not work for me! I am a huge fan of Andy Weir and was excited to be chosen to read an advanced copy of his new book! His other books had me hooked and I breezed right through them. I’m not sure where the disconnect was. The book seemed extremely slow. The back and forth in timelines seemed monotonous. And the ending just wasn’t satisfying. The only enjoyable part, for me, was the alien, Rocky and he was even a bit annoying. Now, this wouldn’t stop me from reading any future AW books. Still a major fan.

** spoiler alert ** Wow, this book was so different from what I expected, but in the best way. It jumps back and forth between timelines, but in a clean way so it is not confusing.

I was expecting a bit of a space opera with multiple characters and tension, but it turned out to be a rather sweet and incredibly educational tale of an unlikely hero and his alien friend.

Truly, Weir took a likeable but goofy science teacher and turned him into a reluctant savior. I love him for it. I was rooting for Grace the entire way, and his bad puns only solidified my love for him. Toss in a spider like ride or die and you really have the only two characters you need in a story like this. Top it off with that twist at the end, and cherry on top, it was a great read! I hope it gets optioned, I would love to see in movie form!

I could not put this book down. I really enjoyed it, I think maybe more than The Martian, which is saying a lot. Ryland and Rocky were so interesting to follow and I was on the edge of my seat for the entire book. Great read and highly recommended.

Space has always been scary. There’s this unsettling blend of known and unknown when it comes to space – we can see a lot, sure, but there’s so much more that we can’t. It’s a vast mystery whose extreme inhospitality and infinite size make a battle out of every new discovery.

It is this place of wonder and fear that so fascinates Andy Weir. The engineer-turned-author returns to those harsh environs with his new book “Project Hail Mary,” venturing deeper into space than in his previous offerings (“The Martian” and “Artemis”) while still maintaining the distinctive wonkiness that renders his work so idiosyncratically enjoyable.

This is a story about one man’s fight to survive in the face of overwhelming odds, bringing to bear every bit of cleverness and intuition in an effort to solve a huge problem. It’s a story of isolation, friendship and the looming specter of incomprehensible loss – all refracted through a prism of well-researched and joyful nerdery. And of course, the science is sound (and in more ways than one).

A man wakes up in a bed, groggy and disoriented. He’s got various tubes going into and coming out of him. And he doesn’t know where or even who he is. There’s a computer voice making demands of him and robot arms deployed everywhere. As he attempts to gather himself, he realizes that there are two other people in the room with him – both seemingly long dead.

Slowly but surely, the man begins to piece together who he is and what is happening through flashes of memory. His name is Ryland Grace, he is in outer space … and it is up to him to save the world.

Grace – a former molecular biologist turned middle school science teacher – was recruited by mysterious government entities of unclear authority to tackle a problem for which his previous research into hypothetical extraterrestrial biology is uniquely suited. There’s a mysterious microorganism that is disrupting our sun. Dimming it. That dimming spells catastrophe on an apocalyptic scale if nothing is done.

When it is discovered that a (relatively) nearby star could hold the key to saving Earth, mankind comes together and undertakes to put together a research mission to find out just what is so special about Tau Ceti.

Gradually, Grace continues putting the pieces together, both about the mission at hand and how he wound up as part of it. Memories bubble up to the surface periodically, even as he furiously works on the problem at hand. He does all that he can manage by himself, but he wasn’t supposed be flying solo. He wasn’t supposed to be alone.

And perhaps … he isn’t?

“Project Hail Mary” is a great example of what Andy Weir does best. Ryland Grace – much like Mark Watney before him – is a nerded-up version of a classic sci-fi heroic trope. He’s a goofball hybrid of sturdy capability and unwavering dorkiness, a blend of the two-fisted spacefarers of the pulp era and the more cerebral champions of more contemporary times. Call him a “competent nerd” – a man left with nothing more than his wits to face off against a seemingly insurmountable obstacle; these are not problems that can be punched away. Instead of utilizing physical gifts, he must save the day with nothing but brainpower and the scientific method.

As per usual, Weir’s done his homework and then some. He’s obviously passionate about the technical minutiae, but where he excels is in his ability to translate that passion to the page. He finds ways to go on at length about this idea or that one while still framing it within the context of the story. One could argue that he perhaps gets into the weeds a bit, but that’s the thing – that’s where he wants to be. He gets there not by accident, but with intent.

“Project Hail Mary” unfolds as two stories in parallel – one in the present, the other through flashback. While the trials and tribulations of isolation in deep space give us the more adventuresome aspects of the story, the context provided by the memories of the Earthbound development of the mission is vital. We can learn who Ryland Grace was without interfering with the narrative flow of the problem-solving half of the story.

It’s also a very funny book. In particular, one significant narrative pivot (that I won’t be spoiling, even though it is early on and I’ve noted other reviewers doing so) opens things up to allow for some hilarity. Some poignancy too, as far as that goes. But yeah – there’s a wonderful embrace of dad-jokiness in this one. Weir’s willingness to have a sense of humor serves as a nice counterbalance to the existential stakes that anchor it all.

But for all the technical geekery and the groanworthy jokes, “Project Hail Mary” is ultimately a story about the human will. At its very large heart, this book is about the power of human ingenuity on scales both large and small, with a reluctant hero whose reluctance becomes ever clearer as the tale is told. It’s evocative of classic hard sci-fi adherents like Isaac Asimov or Larry Niven, only with more optimistic levity – Heinlein with a far dorkier sense of humor.

“Project Hail Mary” is a ton of fun, a deep space adventure with room for technical specs and plenty of tension, with a self-deprecatingly sarcastic-yet-capable hero thrown into the mix (as well as some buddy comedy vibes from a most unexpected source along the way). All of it driven by that same delicious blend of curiosity and fear that keeps us looking to the skies in the first place. If you’ve liked what Andy Weir has given you in the past, you’ll love this one.

Andy Weir will never be known as a great writer but he is a great science fiction thinker and he has returned to his strength here of mostly not writing dialogue. One character thinking through some big ugly scientific issues is definitely his strength and it shines here--and shines a light on all of the science which I can't evaluate. But I did enjoy the premise very much, even flipping back and forth in time as our main character regains his memories. I needed some chunky sci fi for my adult brain and this fit the bill.

I really enjoyed The Martian. The book was great, and the movie was just as good. A rare occurrence. I did not read Artemis because everyone said it was not as good. But when I saw Project Hail Mary and read the description I could not resist. This book felt a bit like The Martian: A guy alone in space unsure if he will survive. Weir has this formula down. Project Hail Mary is about saving Earth from an alien species that is starting to dim the sun. Enter an international task force ready to solve the problem. Ryland Grace is a middle school science teacher, and the first person to interact with the species. In the past Ryland had written a paper saying not all life would require water if found on other planets. This is why he's chosen to look at the new species. Of course we find out later there are other reasons he was chosen.

I do not want to give away the plot. It is a decent read, but I did get annoyed with the English speaking white male saving the day trope. Not to mention the many stereotypes of other cultures - Russians constantly drinking vodka comes to mind. There is also too much science detail at times and glossing over of action instead. The ease of Ryland communicating with an ally he meets also felt ridiculous. I found myself rolling my eyes quite a bit. The ending is what made me round this up to three stars instead of two. It showed character growth for Ryland and felt right.

If you enjoyed The Martian you will like this book. And you'll probably hear Matt Damon's voice when Ryland speaks because of it. The characters felt similar. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

WOW.

That's the first word that comes to mind. When I received my advanced copy, I knew I would like it...but never knew I would fall madly in love with it. So much so that I ended up staying up extra late to finish it. I just could not stop reading and learning and laughing and sighing in frustration at our complex protagonist. Similar to The Martian, Weir masterfully catalogs the wins and losses while keeping you on your tip toes with the dynamic science and boots-on-the-ground work being done.

But I have a secret...I think it's better than the Martian. Why?

Well...

*SPOILER*

BECAUSE ROCKY IS THE BEST NON-HUMAN CHARACTER TO EVER EXIST. For a while, my favorite aliens belonged to Arrival...but wow, Rocky not only was completely realistic and uniquely described, but his little personality won me over.

For a sci-fi novel, this book has something for everyone; it’s heartfelt, it’s funny, it’s definitely science-y with plenty of fiction, but overall, it’s a well-rounded, enjoyable read. Weir’s dry wit and humor that was prevalent in The Martian is back in full force. From the very beginning, I was laughing out loud and rereading passages to my husband because he wanted to know what was so funny. There isn’t much I can say in a review for fear of spoiling any of the surprises, but I’m anxious and excited for the movie version, since it’s already been optioned, because as much as I would love to see how they recreate some of my favorite scenes, part of me knows that they’ll undoubtedly fail to capture it in just the right way to satisfy my imagination. While the science talk can become a bit technical and would cause me to space out (pun intended) at times, most of it is written in a way that us laypeople can understand complex concepts and still remain interested and engaged. The structure of the novel, with well-placed flashbacks answering many of the questions that come up during the present timeline, keeps the story fresh and moves it along at a fair pace.

Everything about this story was fantastic and I cannot recommend it enough.

An advanced copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher. The opinions are my own.

My full review is in this video: https://youtu.be/bI7-aGH2BPs

Usually, I don’t like describing books (or movies) through other books or movies, but in this case the easiest way for me to tell you what "Project Hail Mary" is like is to say that it is "Interstellar" meets "The Martian", but with amnesia. The stakes are extremely high, the main character is alone, tasked with cancelling the apocalypse, but he can’t even remember his own name. Thankfully, his memories are slowly coming back, and he finds much needed help where he didn’t expect it.

I had so much fun reading this, and I think fans of "The Martian" will not be disappointed. If what you’re looking for is an outer space adventure, a story of survival and hope, filled with science and humor - "Project Hail Mary" is the book for you.

I will say, I can see some readers having a hard time with the science. Personally, I loved reading the scientific portions, but I remember seeing this complaint about "The Martian" - that the novel had too much science in it. This book has MORE science than "The Martian", though it's still presented in a way everyone should be able to understand.

In the end, this was a really enjoyable the novel - it’s something that I wanted to keep reading, I wanted to know what happens next, and didn't want to put it down. "Project Hail Mary" is definitely a treat for sci-fi fans who are looking for something fun and fast paced, but still rooted in science.

I'm by no means a huge sci-fi buff, but every once in a while there's a premise for a book in this genre that really catches my eye and I have to check it out it. This was my first time reading something by Andy Weir, but I doubt it will be the last.

The book follows the journey of Dr. Ryland Grace, who wakes up on the interstellar ship The Hail Mary with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As we follow along, we learn though snippets of returning memory just who he is and the emotions behind this man who is both a teacher and a scientist. With an alien-matter that is quickly destroying the sun (and therefore placing humans on the brink of extinction also) on the loose, he finds himself as the only man who might possibly be able to stop it and save humanity, but he realizes it will mean sacrificing himself.

At times hilarious (I found myself laughing out loud) and at times full of great despair, but ultimately engaging all the emotions with a love for humanity and a hope for the future ultimately prevailing. Weir knows how to write all the technical mathematic and scientific jargon without losing the interest of a reader who knows next to nothing on these subjects. Applause all around on that endeavor. An overall well written novel and one that is highly entertaining to boot!

I absolutely loved this book. This was not my genre, I loved The Martian. Andy Weir has a gift for making science fun relevant.

Dr. Grace is an amazing protagonist. He is likable, believable, and entertaining. I loved this book! I have already recommended it to Many friends and purchased it for my library.

I'm a huge fan of Andy Weir and always look forward to his books. I was pleasantly surprised by Project Hail Mary. It was a bit slow at times, but overall a very enjoyable read. I'll be honest, I loved Mark Watney. Ryland Grace- the main character of this book- does not compare. Go into this expecting a different character. I didn't laugh out loud as much as I did with the Martian but I definitely still felt for Ryland. Actually, I could relate to him more. Sure he was brilliant but he felt more like an every day person (I mean, he was a teacher after all). And I loved Rocky. That relationship was a wonderful surprise. The obstacle/plot of the book was very interesting and as a science person, I loved it. Definitely would highly recommend this book. With not as much foul mouthed cursing, this book can even be incorporated into a curriculum which is nice.

First, thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I loved The Martian by Andy Weir and was so excited to receive a copy of his newest release. I am usually not big into sci-fi but I find his books so interesting and so well written that I forget it isn't all real and completely lose myself in the story. His information is so well researched and thought out that it all seems plausible, even in such sci-fi extremes. I loved Project Hail Mary. I was so in to the characters and the storyline right from the start and did not want to put the book down until I finished it. I loved the dual narrative of past and present and learning how the mission came to be and why he was on it. I loved the tension and suspense created as you get to experience being awoken in outer space with him. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to everyone. I appreciated that the language was much more milder in this novel.

Math and science geeks unit! Mr. Weir is back with yet another quirky book that you need to read before it becomes a movie! Ryland Grace wakes up with no clue where he is or why he is there. Over the next several hundred pages his humor and wit (and thankfully excellent science skills) help him navigate trying to save the world, maybe multiple worlds! Once again Mr. Weir gives us an irresistible set of characters and an interesting and unique situation to immerse ourselves in. I loved the well thought out and explained problems and setting. I have no clue if the math or science were sound, and really it doesn't matter. What does matter is: who is going to voice Rocky in the movie adaptation?