Cover Image: Project Hail Mary

Project Hail Mary

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Member Reviews

Andy Weit nails it again! A master of lonely space travel storytelling that exudes humor and emotion in equal measure.

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Oh Andy Weir! LOVED this book! The Martian and Artemis were so incredible and I was overjoyed that I saw Project Hail Mary available on NetGalley.

Ryland Grace is awakened to no memory of where he is or who he is. The sole survivor on an earth-saving mission, he is the only chance at survival.

Right off the bat you are just sucked into the story of his awakening. I felt like I read it too fast without time to savor it, but who can blame me?? This was just such a good book, and I can't recommend Andy Weir books enough to everyone I meet.

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So much fun! Everything was done well. I really enjoyed the process of discovering what happened in the past through Grace's recovering memory. This new book is written in a similar way as "The Martian" with humor and lots of math and science which gets explained really well. I was a bit worried about how things would wrap up at the end, but I'm very happy with the ending too.

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I couldn’t believe my luck when I was approved to review the Netgalley pre-release ebook of this science fiction novel. I’ve been a fan of Andy Weir’s since The Martian came out and I’ve been waiting for his next piece in breathless anticipation (as such my comments should probably be taken with a grain of salt). Keeping that in mind, I will now proceed to singing the various praises that this wonder of a novel deserves.
We open this fast paced, intricate, and utterly engrossing novel with the awakening of a certain astronaut – I would tell you about him but he doesn’t know anything about himself at this point so that would be cheating – in a certain spaceship with the two dead bodies of people he doesn’t remember. Throughout the narrative, Dr. Ryland Grace slowly remembers the emergency of epic proportions (world ending to say the very least) that brought him on a suicide mission to another solar system. To tell you any more really would spoil it, but take my word for it as a long time fan, Weir’s newest novel doesn’t disappoint (okay fine, one spoiler which you may skip if you are so inclined, you are going to fall in love with a certain alien named Rocky).
Perfect for fans of realistic, humorous, edge-of-your-seat science fiction writing, especially those who already love The Martian or Artemis. Weir takes us a little further this time, but he does it with his usual blend of science realism and detailed writing, making us believe every minute.

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Another great read by Andy Weir! I loved the unveiling of the story through present day narratives spliced with flashbacks. As Ryland remembered more and more, the path that led to him waking up, alone and disoriented, on a space ship, was revealed with both tense and humorous moments interspersed. Ryland is a classic Weir protagonist, smart, capable, and quick witted. The situation he finds himself in is out of this world, but that's also a staple in an Andy Weir novel. This book takes us farther outside our solar system and introduces some scenarios for Ryland to untangle. Does he stay alone throughout the book? You'll have to read it to find out!

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I thoroughly enjoyed Andy Weir's new book. The premise itself is extremely interesting, and Weir is able to navigate much of the complicated science quite well for his readers. In the same vein as The Martian, this is a book heavy on science (i.e. jargon, problems, questions, explanations etc...) and finding the balance between simply getting though the science while moving the story along is certainly a challenge. Weir continues to do this quite well, although I will admit to skimming through some of it and/or not going back and re-reading parts that I may not have completely understood. For some readers (like myself) understanding the science enough to engage with the story is all that is needed. The main character is also very similar to the one in The Martian, however, this really did not detract from the story at all (this may be because I find him funny, like-able and relatable). Finally, while the ending may not be what readers might suspect (and some may be disappointed), it was one that I 1) absolutely did not predict and 2) very much enjoyed. All in all, this was a terrific read.

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Weir has an infectious appreciation for science that makes difficult concepts engaging without overwhelming the narrative. Accidental heroes on an impossible mission will challenge you to rethink our place in space, our impact on the environment, and the language of friendship.

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Yes! Yes ! Yes! This is the book that I wanted from Andy Weir. I think that it even surpasses The Martian. The story is told both in current time and in flashbacks which added to the tension. Our main character is relatable and so human it hurts at one point. The science is both believable and understandable, which is really hard to do. I think that the ending was absolutely perfect. I have already added this book to the purchase list for our library.

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How do I review this book without ruining it with spoilers? Let's see, the author went back to the one person narrative with mad science/engineering background that made his first book so good. This book was just as awesome.

If they ever make a movie for it, I'll be first in line. The book moves back and forth between before Grace is on the spaceship to when he's on the spaceship. it moves very nicely between the different scenes..

I confess I would love a sequel, but at the same time, it ended in a way that I think is right for Grace's character.

There is a lot of growth in this story, cell growth, character growth, world growth. The world building is awesome.

I confess that some of the math/science stuff was over my head and my brain/eyes glazed over at points during the novel but I stuck with it and dang it was good.

I still don't like spiders though. :)

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This book isn't what I was expecting. It has a lot of twists in it that I didn't see coming. It is a fun read, but it starts out a bit slow. The pace picks up in the book about halfway through, and I felt myself becoming more and more invested in the story as it went on. By the end, I couldn't put the book down because I had to know what was going to happen. It is a well written book but I will admit that I was hoping for something closer to The Martian and this is definitely different.

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As much as I enjoyed The Martian, getting into Artemis was difficult so I'm delighted that Andy Weir's third novel, Project Hail Mary is an absolute winner.

Ryland Grace wakes up not knowing where he is or even what his name is. He discovers he's on a spaceship and his two crewmates are dead. Where is he going and what's his mission?

This is Weir at his absolute best. Writing a nerdy guy facing a life or death crisis and sciencing his way out of it. Alternating current Grace trying to figure out what's happening with past Grace as flashes of memory come back is a fabulous storytelling device. The reader discovers the story along with Grace. Focusing on Grace and just a handful of other characters keeps the story's focus on Grace and his mission.

The story's fast-paced and incredibly suspenseful with huge stakes and a looming deadline. Weir writes the science in a way that even a non-science person like me found it accessible and understandable. Even better, the science didn't slow down the story or break the tension.

For fans of Neal Stephenson's Seveneves, this is one smart and compelling story!

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So so good! What an original story full of everything and more that made the Martian one of my favorite books. Adventure, survival, peril, and confirmation of life outside the earth’s biosphere. I lost sleep speeding through this fantastic story from one of my favorite authors. Put it on your TBR list and you won’t regret it!

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This was TERRIFIC- even better than The Martian, and I really loved The Martian. There’s a whole other level or two to this novel, but I’ll avoid spoilers. Just mark your calendar and add this one to your TBR list.

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I didn’t think it would be better then the Martian, and it was! I was worried after Artemis but when I saw this pop up on NetGalley (thank you) I requested it, and boy am I glad I did. Weir takes the same concept as The Martian, man alone left to survive in space and gives that man Another sentient being to share that with. It was such a beautiful friendship that I cried when the book was over. I loved that we are left not knowing exactly what happened on Earth, it seems strange to say but it made the ending that much better. Can’t wait for the movie and I hope that they just do us all a favor and cast Matt Damon again, because that is who I saw in my head the whole time.

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This was a lot to take in, but it was interesting. Lots of what I expected from Weir - science, calculations, one person charged with accomplishing something one person would never be reasonably expected to do on their own - and some things that I didn't expect - but that would be spoilers. Definitely worth checking out when it comes out, and I look forward to seeing who narrates it (and how, for that matter).

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Andy Weir has written yet another amazing story!! His ability to weave complex, heartfelt storylines with scientific theory is incredible. Project Hail Mary will most definitely be going on my bookshelf!

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I thought this novel was absolutely excellent! I have enjoyed Weir’s other books, but this one is simply much better- it’s got a great premise and plot with phenomenal timing and characters. I was never bored, tired or bothered by any aspect of this book, and I think that says a lot, as it’s not particularly short! This will be a pretty timeless book, I imagine.

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I loved this book! I thought that this book was better than the Martian. What elevated it to me was the exciting new concept and the personal relationships in this book. One of my favorite books of the year.

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I should start off by saying I loved Andy Weir's The Martian. I've read it like three times. I still don't understand the science but I enjoy Weir's explanations of the science. Project Hail Mary is Weir's third novel. It begins with our unnamed protagonist waking up from a coma with memory loss. He gradually realizes that he had two companions but both are now dead. His only help is a pair of robot arms that hand him food and deal with medical issues. Oh and they stop him from leaving the room until he can remember his name.
I believe the name is a reference to a Hail Mary Pass in football, the meaning of which I had to look up. It's a long pass thrown as time runs out. Basically a last ditch effort to save the play. Based on the text, it doesn't refer to a Hail Mary prayer, a catholic prayer to the Virgin Mary.
Normally I like to offer my pros and cons for any title I review but honestly I'm having trouble coming up with cons. I'm so in love with this book that I'm struggling to see its flaws. The science is, yet again, above my head. And at times I had to skim a paragraph because I knew I wasn't going to understand what Weir was explaining. For pros, it moves fast, the stakes are high and the characters, though competent beyond belief, are relatable. I cannot recommend this enough.

And I'd like to add a postscript that you won't understand until you've read the book: If they make a movie of this one, I want Alan Tudyk to voice/perform as Rocky.

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This is Andy Weir at his best. The low number of characters means that he can focus on characterization, while the high action content moves the story along at a quick pace. There is so little that can be said without giving away plot points, because all of the really good stuff is also the stuff that makes this story one of the finest in the science fiction genre. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

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