Andy Weir has established that he knows how to, "science the shit out" of things. Which allows Project Hail Mary to be a novel that is unbelievably believable. Weir's combination of laugh-out-loud-humor and terms-of-service-level scientific detail, is reminiscent of the character he has created in, Ryland Grace. Project Hail Mary isn't just science and sarcasm though, by the end of the novel you will be emotionally invested in the world and characters Weir has created.

Ok, so Andy Weir does one thing, but goddamnit he does it well and <i>Project Hail Mary</i> does not disappoint. The story centers around the improbably named Ryland Grace, a middle school science teacher who is also humanity's only hope of survival. Does Weir send a middle school science teacher to space? Yes. Does something go wrong stranding him by himself? Yes. Is there an unexpected wacky alien sidekick? You bet. It's perfectly funny, thrilling, and nerdy all around.

Something about this gave me a sort of <i>Short Circuit</i>-y vibe but I'm not mad at it. Hurry up with the movie adaptation of this one, Hollywood I'd watch the heck out of it.

Overall it was a delight to read and I tore through it. If you liked <i>The Martian</i>, if you like your science fiction to include math problems, if you were one of those kids who loved doing "Odyssey of the Mind" in middle school this book will be right up your alley.

If you are a fan of Andy Weir's novel The Martian, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that he has a new novel coming out, and it's great. The bad news is it's not coming out until May. I was fortunate to read an advance reader copy. I will reread it or listen to the audio when it is published.

A man wakes up. He doesn’t know who he is. He doesn’t know where he is. A cool female voice is asking him “what’s two plus two?”

This book is so funny. Not like laugh out loud all the time, although I did laugh out loud at times, but the main character's humor resonates with me. Also he never swears, for reasons, which amused me to no end. (“‘Holy moly!’ I say. ‘Holy moly’? Is that my go-to expression of surprise? I mean, it’s okay I guess. I would have expected something a little less 1950s. What kind of weirdo am I?” (p. 20 of the ARC)) (I wonder if this is a reaction to complaints about all the swearing in The Martian.)

There’s a lot of joking about how hard it is to be an American scientist because you grew up with imperial units but need metrics for science. I totally want to hang with this guy. There's a great bromance (for lack of a better word). I don't want to spoil the book too much but it's a very touching relationship and reflection on friendship. There is also a strong female character.

I recently read another book about someone who wakes up on a spaceship alone and doesn't know who they are - Across the Void by S.K. Vaughn. Project Hail Mary is so much better. And there is a very good, scientific reason why the main character wakes up not knowing his name or immediate past in Project Hail Mary.

Did you enjoy the movie Arrival? Well, Project Hail Mary isn't really like Arrival, but it is too. Very science-y. Full of wonder. You know all those movies, books, and TV shows where all the aliens want to do is kill us? This book...isn't like those either.

If you are a Star Trek fan, think - the best of Star Trek. Cooperation and problem solving. I was honestly crying tears of joy at the very end (or perhaps I should say my face was leaking - you'll get that after you read the book). Extra points for believable pop culture references.

I'm glad Weir has switched back to a male main character. My biggest issue with his second book, Artemis, was that I just didn't buy the internal voice of the female main character. There were a couple of places in Project Hail Mary that seemed a little silly and out of place, but only a couple. On the whole I fell into this book and didn’t want to leave.

Project Hail Mary is a definite recommend from me. Can't wait to read it again. Can’t wait for the movie. (Two words: jazz hands. You’ll get that after you read the book too.) The Galesburg Public Library will own it in every format in which it is available in May 2021.

Ryland Grace goes on a suicide mission to save earth only to discover humans may not be the only intelligent life in the solar system in this hard adult science fiction.

It took me forever to read this book partly due to the timing and partly due to the genre. I’ve had a really hard time reading in October. My family has had some non-COVID medical issues, and it’s been difficult adjusting to our new normal. Additionally, the election shenanigans and the stress at work have killed my ability to concentrate on anything other than happy re-reads. My review might have been different if I had read the book at a different time.

Project Hail Mary is going to appeal to die hard science fiction fans, but it left me completely behind. The complex science of the story was not accessible to a lay science person. I never connected to the main character. He didn’t feel believable or realistic as the protagonist. Rocky is the most likeable and complex character, but it’s Ryland who needs to carry the story. The book uses one of my least favorite writing techniques – an overuse of flashbacks to explain the character’s actions. It was actually utilized well in this book, but I still hate the technique. Others will probably enjoy the balance between the past and present.

tl;dr This book never captured my attention – the complex science left me confused and I never connected to the main character.

Andy Weir once again takes readers into space from the perspective of a lonely astronaut. Meet Ryland Grace, a junior high science teacher extraordinaire, who finds himself floating through space aboard a ship and struggling to remember how he got there. As his memories return, he realizes how the stakes are for him and the entire planet. An unexpected discovery may change everything.

Fans of The Martian will feel a familiarity with the story, but the storyline differs enough to be entertaining and satisfying. I am not a regular reader of science fiction, but once again, Weir has drawn me with his space-age storytelling, even if I am unable to follow all of the science. Ryland Grace is likable, his journey is remarkable, and the book is unpredictable. Project Hail Mary left me thinking about space for days. I will be recommending this title to patrons.

This book takes everything that was great about The Martian and adds a wonderful new element (which I’m not going to mention, to avoid spoilers). I like how all of the science elements are worked out in such detail, but not to such a degree that it bogs down the story (and easy enough for me, a non-scientist, to follow).

The author of THE MARTIAN has another winner! The story opens with a man who doesn't know who he is, where he is, or what he's doing. The reader learns everything at the same time as the protagonist, which is genius! I don't want to give away anything, so I will just say that it is another fascinating space story, filled with humor, science, irony, and friendship. I highly recommend this well-written, clever, original and terrific story. Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for providing an ARC.

I really enjoyed this book, I think it stands up with his other two, and just like Artemis I walked away laughing and looking forward to the next one. Weir has a very distinctive tone when he writes, and it bleeds through this title. But in the best way.

Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me. I appreciate what Weir was doing here, but I just couldn't get behind the main character's narrative style. Of course, this won't stop me from buying the book for our collection, as I'm sure it'll be quite the hit with most of our patrons.

I think my main problem was the "goody-two-shoes" attitude of the main character. By no fault of Weir's, I was expecting another Mark Watney, and instead of that I got kind of his antithesis. But the strong science aspects are still there, and the well-rounded side character are there too. So again, not for me, but definitely will be recommending it to those looking for sci-fi, or interested in Weir.

Thank you to Andy Weir, Ballentine Books, and NetGalley for sending me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so happy to get an advance reader copy of this book! I absolutely love his books The Martian and Artemis.

This book has some similar elements to the other two: lots of science, a likeable and funny protagonist, and space. In some ways it is very different but I can't specify exactly how without giving too much away.

Suffice it to say I loved this book very much. I will be buying it in multiple formats for my library and I'll read it again, as I have his other titles. This author is wonderful and I look forward to more books from him in the future.

I loved this book and especially its characters. I was not sure what to expect going in but I was NOT disappointed. Another winner from Andy Weir!

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A stand alone novel from Andy Weir, the author of The Martin and of Artemis. Project Hail Mary is similar to The Martian in that the main character has a sequence of problems to "science" solve but it is not derivative of The Martian. The problems are different. and this novel is told in alternating chapters of present and flashback.
There are a continuous series of surprises that all make sense as the story unfolds. I hate spoilers so that is all you get from me.

Read it and stay thru the end.

It may be his best book so far. Hard to say for sure as The Martian made such an impression but I suspect this one is better.

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 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 "jazz hands"?

"Project Hail Mary" is another great sci-fi read by Andy Weir. I'll definitely be recommending this to patrons.

Need a new Andy Weir fix? Have you worn out your copy of The Martian as well as your DVD of the movie adaptation? Already have Artemis memorized, too? Then you will be happy to hear that a new adventure is on the way, but not until May 2021. Just think of it as your next vacation read and congratulate yourself on planning ahead.

If you have read those other two books, then you are familiar with Weir's style. And you know that his characters have some science skills in common, but they are definitely not carbon copies of each other. One is an astronaut/botanist/space-pirate (technically). The other is a lunar dweller/black market dealer/criminal. And now we have a new protagonist to meet. Except...this character doesn't even know who he is or how he came to be in a spaceship alone. So how are we supposed to know him or understand him? Bit by bit, of course, just as he comes to remember or relearn things about himself.

The science is still there. A spaceship full of equipment. A mission (we all assume) that depends on his success. But will his memories return in time to help him complete the mission, whatever it might be? As the clues slowly resurface in his memory, or are pulled from the ship's computers, the situation does not look good - for our hapless hero or the rest of humanity.

I can't really go into details without letting loose spoilers, and no one wants that to happen. I can tell you that I enjoyed this character and his storyline. If I had to rate them, he would fall in between Mark Watney and Jasmine Bashara on my personal list of favorite characters. And the situations he confronts and problem-solves his way through are the sort of thing that sci-fi fans generally enjoy.

Go ahead and pre-order the book - you know you want to, and you won't regret it.

Man, I love Andy Weir.

Another wildly smart and imaginative journey into space. The science is fascinating and the dry humor is perfect. I loved the friendship in this one - I really connected here. I appreciated that the hero was flawed and not exactly "heroic" to begin with, but ended up growing and becoming something great. In a way I wished I was there with him. (But not really, because....space and imminent death, etc.)

I love Andy Weir and I recommend him for people who don't think they like science fiction. He blends, sci/fi, mystery and suspense together into one fun ride. He's an author that I don't mind losing sleep for!

Holy cow I loved this book!! I’m the type of person who likes to sit and read a little before I go to bed and also a little when I wake up in the morning if I get up before my alarm. I stayed up wayyy too late at night because I didn’t want to stop and on one occasion I was actually late to work in the morning because I kept reading even after my alarm went off 🤪 I would highly highly recommend this book!!

I can not praise this book highly enough. I loved the entire thing and could not put it down.
The book does an excellent job of starting with a mystery of where we are and why we are there. A single individual, who initially has amnesia, wakes up and finds himself in space. As the book progresses he discovers where in space he is and begins to recall why. This is where the book gets exciting as we discover the problems the world is facing and our astronaut must begin to figure out how to solve them. I love the flashbacks as you see how earth responds to a crisis and learn more about our astronaut.
Major spoiler here, so be warned, but eventually our astronaut makes first contact with rocky, an alien. They learn to communicate and eventually begin to work together to combat the threat to both thier planets. I love the relationship here and it is by far my favorite part of the book.
I'll avoid spoiling the conclusion but the book does an amazing job of keeping tension high, cultivating emotions, and making the reader feel engaged with the characters and story. I loved the ending.
I have always been an andy weir fan and this book was one his best yet. Highly recommended.