Project Hail Mary: From the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Martian - Soon to be a major motion picture

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

Andy Weir wrote “The Martian” so I was expecting good things, and this did not disappoint. I’ve only ever seen the film of The Martian but this has similarities in the main character - knowledgeable and determined - and in the style - science based, obstacles to overcome and a few surprises. What I liked best was the mystery. Ryland Grace wakes up alone from an induced coma not even knowing his own name and not understanding that he’s on a spaceship. His memory comes back in snatches so we are learning about his world with him. This back and forth in time can be tedious in some books but it works seamlessly here. Ryland has to save the Earth and he attempts this with the help of an alien. How do you even begin to communicate with an alien? This concept is explored in interesting detail. It is helped by the fact that the alien is actually fairly similar to a human, a fact not lost on the author who even suggests we could have a common ancestry - what an intriguing idea. The story is peppered with simple science, enough that it makes sense but not so much that it overwhelms. It is logical and practical, and predictable mistakes happen which makes you feel clever “I thought that might happen!”. A totally enjoyable book, loved the plot and the characters. A bit of a daft resolution but forgivable given the impossibility of any other happy ending.

I'm not sure how to start this review. I've already read The Martian and enjoyed that enormously so, I was looking forward to reading Project Hail Mary, recommended as it was by a friend. It's a curious book. The premise is that an unknown "thing" is essentially diminishing the power of our sun and if it is not stopped, life on Earth is going to end. What follows this discovery is the moving to stop it or at least have a go at trying, and that's where Dr Grace comes in, a schoolteacher who becomes integral to the mission to stop the threat. It is fair to say that Grace has mixed feelings about his role and Weir has chosen to show how Grace's pathway to becoming the saviour of Earth is charted, through depicting the present and how he is involved in the process now, and through flashbacks, showing his involvement in getting Project Hail Mary off the ground (excuse the pun). The main action of the book takes place in space and centres on Grace finding a solution to Earth's problem. What is interesting is that he doesn't do it alone and the friendship that he strikes up with a fellow being is the strength of this book, its development throughout being heartwarming, funny and incredibly believable, making for a great novel read. The scientific working out though? Less great. However, I understand that extensive explanations of the science are essential in a book of this nature and readily admit to being naturally Arts focused. I am also conscious that Weir is more than likely dumbing down everything to make it accessible to the average reader. Still, for me, a little arduous. I was glad, then, that interspersed with the space stuff was the Earth stuff, because it provided a diversion from the intensity and almost claustrophobic nature of the space mission, with more humans and just more plot which was less samey than the space endeavours. The rest of it was imaginative and surprising and extremely uplifting. The only other comment to make is it was distinctively Weir. You could have The Martian and Project Hail Mary placed in front of you and it wouldn't take a rocket scientist (pun intended) to work out that they were by the same writer in terms of character voice, plot development and theme. All that said, it was good.

No spoilers paragraph: A plausible human extinction threat and tackling it with risky solution attempt that captures your imagination by its ambitious scale yet also on a human/person individual level. There's science and maths but I didn't need to understand it much merely to trust it, but I did enjoy the problem-solving and the character interactions, especially the outsider's view of us. There are minor errors, I noticed, including a fairly major one near the end, but they don't ruin the book nor diminish my great affection for it. Starting in the present day, in the middle of things, and using a series of flashback scenes and using 1st person point-of-view, all create mystery and keeps our hero's adventure immediate. Andy Weir also writes with good humour, and seamlessly includes actual humour, so despite dangers and possible doom it's not a 'dark book'; I heard myself laughing out loud at times. Andy Weir is a writer you can trust, in that for a while I was worried he'd go all Hollywood and unnecessarily kill off a major beloved character. The ending is very satisfying, no loose ends, and without the irritating Hollywood-style cliffhanger designed for a sequel - for me this self-containment increased the re-reading pleasure. I read it 3 times within 2 weeks and parts also. I've left it alone for a while to try and ensure this review isn't too visceral. Mild spoiler paragraph: This (and 'The Martian' also by Andy Weir) is one my favourite and most enjoyable sci-fi reads (I've been reading sci-fi since mid-1960s). One of the best 'buddy' novels too. Canny structure, as starting 'in media res' (in the middle of things) and the flashbacks, though extremely common techniques (dating as far back as the ancient Greeks), work well here by creating mystery right from the start and, importantly, enables you to start in the present. If Andy Weir had written the scenes in straightforward chronological order it'd've been dull and taken half the book to get into space - if you want to see what that's like, read the W_k_p_dia synopsis. I bought the book on Kindle, and several hard copy paperbacks for hubby and members of my family. There are a few, and varied, cultural references. With younger readers in my family I had to explain the 'Rocky' film references including a name/planet name, and also the reference to the text-game 'Colossal Cave Adventure' (1976; I played it 1979), and USA football 'hail mary' desperation play jointly referenced with Roman Catholicism's rosary 'hail mary [full of grace]' and the main character's surname Grace. It's led to unexpected but nice sharing of aspects from the book e.g. "watch me sleep?" The proof-reader missed several things e.g. (in the Kindle version anyway) a read-out of a scientific measurement should be in italics (as it's a different speaker). I believe the penultimate sentence should read "...speed of light, question?" which the editor should've picked up.

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

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

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

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

Great book finish reading 4 times, and decided to support the author with a hardcover copy, recieved in great condition in a nice little amazon box.