Project Hail Mary: The Sunday Times bestseller from the author of The Martian Paperback – 29 Sept. 2022

It's just after 2am and I started this book perhaps 12 hours ago.It is wonderful. I'm reviewing it here with some potential spoilers, although I hope they're not significant to the overall enjoyment of the book.This story is a perfect mixture of what humanity could achieve at its best, if we were all to work together - but also what we are capable of in that same scenario. Our base essences: self-preservation; survival instinct. Fear.It's cleverly told; there's one character, really. One human. Yet the story is told in a series of flashbacks, so the character cast actually feels significant; the one narrator is made three-dimensional by his own memories, and in the same way, we learn much of the situation without information dumps.It has a deliciously unsatisfactory end. We know what we need to know and no more; questions go unanswered.This is a sci-fi full of real science. There's not enough to lose a novice like me, but there's enough, and it's plausible enough, that I feel both invested in the potential reality of the plot, and also utterly terrified at the thought of trying to edit this manuscript.I have never read an #andyweir book before this. I've never even seen the film adaptation of #TheMartian. But #projecthailmary had me laughing out loud, gasping, tearing up, and, most of all, questioning... Questioning everything, in all honesty, from what I would do in Grace's shoes (or, more accurately, grippy socks), to what we actually know about the cosmos, to the base nature of life itself. Sometimes, all these things at once, and then the laughter took me by surprise, and that, in itself, was a wonderful thing.

Like many, many others, I LOVED ‘The Martian’ and was then extremely disappointed by ‘Artemis’. I also read ‘Randomize’ for good measure and gave it a 1 star review. At that point I thought ‘The Martian’ was a one-off fluke and that my time with Andy Weir was up but I started reading some really, really positive reviews about ‘Project Hail Mary’, so good that I couldn’t ignore them as I still had the thrill of ‘The Martian’ with me so I started on ‘Project Hail Mary’ and I WAS HOOKED!Like ‘The Martian’, ‘Project Hail Mary’ has one main character and he wakes up in an odd situation. Ryland Grace wakes up naked in a spaceship light years from Earth, lying down on a bed, surrounded by cameras, wearing a breathing mask and connected to more tubes than he can count. He also cannot remember anything about himself or how he got there. Through flashbacks scattered throughout the book, we learn more about Ryland and how he ended up in this situation and what this means for Earth and the human race.OK, wow, where do I start? I was hopeful that this would be as gripping as ‘The Martian’ but I was not prepared for the emotional pull. The blend of maths and science with emotion and humour was wonderful. ‘Project Hail Mary’ is smart, complex and entertaining but it is also thrilling, witty, imaginative and emotionally stirring. This is so much more than a science story, it’s about hope and finding connections in the most unlikely of places, it’s about overcoming fear and adversity and digging deep and rising to the challenge.I am not going to pretend that I understood all of the science and I can’t comment on how accurate it might be but Ryland was a great character - very, very similar to Mark Watney in ‘The Martian’ but I found myself liking Ryland more. The story flows well and we’re never stuck in any one situation for too long. I don’t want to give too much away but the supporting characters are brilliant also. To really get the best out of this book I think you need to take some of the interactions and situations with a pinch of salt and just enjoy them for what they are, go with the flow.It’s obvious how wonderfully nerdy Andy Weir is and it’s also obvious how happy random science stuff makes him and that enthusiasm is infectious. Andy Weir is back in full force and I’m ridiculously happy about that and cannot wait to see what he comes up with next.

Project Hail Mary is a compelling page-turner with a few niggling issues that are hard to look past. The third book from Andy Weir, this talented sci-fi author shot to fame after the release of The Martian. This, as you may know, went on to become a box office smash hit.Following up from that was always going to be difficult and Artemis released to mixed reviews. Project Hail Mary then is the third title in Weir's sci-fi repertoire, returning to the roots of what made The Martian so compelling.It's difficult to talk about Hail Mary's story without diving into spoilers but for the purposes of this review, we'll be as vague as possible. Much like The Martian, Hail Mary follows the journey of a lone astronaut but instead of relying on the survival of one man, astronaut Ryland Grace has the fate of the whole planet on his shoulders.Working as a school teacher, Grace finds his world turned upside down when he learns an impossible truth. The sun is dying, slowly being eaten alive by strange microbes known as astrophage. It's a global catastrophe and this doomsday clock could spell the end of life as we know it. Extreme weather, famine and another ice age all stand in line, greedily waiting to gobble up Earth's prospects of survival.With the best brilliant minds on the planet working together, Grace is one of three astronauts tasked with trying to stop this threat. When Grace wakes up aboard the Hail Mary, the most sophisticated rocket ship ever created, he does so with a fractured mind. He can't remember who he is or what he's doing aboard this ship.His crewmates are gone, his ship seems to be off-course and something stirs in the recesses of deep space. Can Grace work to save the day? Or is Earth doomed to its fate?This essentially serves as the crux of drama here, with a ticking clock hanging over the book's plot and maintaining that aura of an urgent page-turner. With a little shy of 500 pages, Hail Mary certainly takes its sweet time. Unlike something like Stephen King's 11.22.63 though, the narrative here is split between flashbacks and the present day narrative.Early on, this actually works quite well and keeps a sense of mystery hanging over each chapter. What happened to Grace in the past? Why is he aboard this ship? And what on earth is the significance of The Beatles?Unfortunately, these flashbacks drag on for far too long and bog down the later parts of the novel. There's a big twist here too and to be honest it completely flatlines. Had this revelation come 10 chapters earlier then it could have had a much more significant impact on the story. Instead, it sort of just shrugs its way into indifference, allowing the plot to continue rocketing forward without giving it a second thought.Having said that, the main narrative zips along at a relatively decent pace, with lots of scientific rationale and theories thrown in to explain certain aspects of space travel and astrophage biology. All of this is done with an involving first person perspective.While these long winded explanations are enjoyable and oftentimes convoluted to the point of fascinating, some of the later descriptions stand out like a sore thumb. One such example: "I'm going to mad science a solution" feels like a lazy line of dialogue after so much careful scientific crafting.The characters back on Earth are largely archetypal too, although Grace is certainly a charismatic protagonist. His little quips and observations are both amusing and help to give a sense of urgency toward the plot. However, the real stand-out here is a character we meet midway through the story called Rocky. No spoilers here of course but he's by far the best part of this story.It helps too that the ambiguous ending is one of the best parts of this story. The final chapter wraps everything up in a satisfying manner, with the final couple of lines for the novel bringing everything around full circle and delivering a satisfying narrative journey for our protagonist.Given the length of this book though, one can't help but feel Hail Mary is overlong. Some of the flashbacks outstay their welcome and reveal very little once the mystery is shattered around who Grace is and where he is. There' are a couple of "last gasp" dramatic spikes too that don't work and the overall narrative takes a little too long to get to the point.Despite those gripes though, Hail Mary is a really enjoyable thriller and manages to grab that same aura that made The Martian so good. It's certainly not perfect but the satisfying ending, intriguing premise and a stand-out character in Rocky makes this an easy one to recommend.

El final me hizo llorar. Toda la historia me hizo pasar de la risa al llanto, a la frustración, preocupación, emoción… pasé horas seguidas leyendo este libro y disfruté cada minuto.

Project Hail Mary is a gripping sci-fi novel that takes readers on an unforgettable interstellar journey. Written by a master storyteller, this novel showcases breathtaking imagination, compelling characters, and a captivating plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.Pros:1. Stellar Sci-Fi Setting: The novel's intricate sci-fi universe is richly detailed, offering an immersive and awe-inspiring experience for readers.2. Engaging Plot: Project Hail Mary's plot is filled with unexpected twists, intellectual challenges, and emotional depth, leaving readers enthralled throughout.3. Complex Characters: The protagonist's evolution and the supporting characters' depth make them relatable and compelling, adding an emotional resonance to the story.4. Thought-Provoking Themes: The novel delves into themes of resilience, discovery, and humanity's place in the vastness of the cosmos, sparking contemplation and discussion.5. Stellar Writing: The author's masterful storytelling and evocative prose make Project Hail Mary a pleasure to read, even for those new to the sci-fi genre.Cons:1. None Noted: Project Hail Mary's excellence has been widely acknowledged, and there are no reported drawbacks or shortcomings in its delivery.In conclusion, Project Hail Mary is a remarkable sci-fi novel that captivates readers with its ingenious plot, well-developed characters, and compelling themes. From its riveting storyline to its thought-provoking concepts, this novel is a must-read for sci-fi enthusiasts and readers seeking a captivating literary journey.With no reported drawbacks and widespread critical acclaim, I confidently rate Project Hail Mary with a perfect five stars. Embark on a thrilling adventure into the cosmos with this stellar sci-fi masterpiece - a journey that will linger in your mind long after the last page!

I couldn't put it down. I don't usually read science fiction and was reluctant at first, but I decided to give it a try after reading so many positive reviews. I was fascinated by the narrative, by how it combines interesting facts, tension and humour... It's also thought-provoking. Everything I look for in a book.

Laid out really well, if great little surprises throughout the book that kept you turning the page. Great book for young adults and older adults.

It is a very nice book also the story is gripping. A must read if you like sci-fi.