Reviews

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

apholtz's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

vaudevillianveteran's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

“Human beings have a remarkable ability to accept the abnormal and make it normal.”

I loved this book so much, my skin is tingling. I have a habit of hoarding books that I'm starting to love so I can ration them but I couldn't even manage that with this. This is one of my *favourite* books. I went in with the expectations of The Martian 2 - now that's not a bad thing, I enjoyed The Martian but going in blind with this and instead getting

Spoiler

cooperation between humanity and an alien planet to stop a life ending event?

I had a blast from start to finish. Andy Weir makes some of the finest main characters in novels, I remember really liking the main character from The Martian but Grace is a whole other matter.

Spoiler

Him and ROCKY? MY HEART. PLEASE. I literally just finished this and I'm ugly crying from the way this ending made me feel. I cannot even express myself properly.

I cannot pretend that I'm a STEM-girlie, a lot of the time while I enjoy Science Fiction, I can find myself struggling with hard science in my fiction - though usually I manage to get through if I enjoy the premise enough like Three Body Problem. The Martian was definitely more hard science than this- this had scientific elements but a much more fantastical tone - this was 100% not a detriment.

Spoiler

I have never cared so much about an alien in my life. The chemistry between Rocky and Grace as they face against the astrophage. The prose is BUTTER SMOOTH and a joy to read. Imo the use of Grace finding out bits and pieces about how he came to be in the Hail Mary is very satisfying and honestly, I did not foresee that he was strong-armed into it. Literally my only complaint is that there were more than a few stereotypical elements on the side characters but FUCK IT WE BALL, I STIILL HAD A GOOD TIME.

Spoiler

The ending with an aging, cared for Grace going back to teaching Eridian children? Please no. Let's not talk about Rocky being back with Adrian either and that the buds just hang out now. I'm an emotional reader anyway but this book was devastating.

sneakya3's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

buchanan215's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

fictzn's review against another edition

dnf’ed this a year ago and the only reason i can remember is being annoyed with grace’s plot armor. yep thats it

lolli's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

riverlethe's review against another edition

4.0

The first half of the book (and the flashbacks) had me ready to give up. Every character seems to have the same egotistical snarky attitude and it feels like the author is winking at the reader, saying “aren’t I just the funniest?” No. No, you’re not. It’s wearing. Are you 12?

But part of the way through it seemed to lessen and the other plot points became more interesting. The narrator seems to have some unnoticed growth, and while the ending is far fetched, even for a scifi novel, it felt satisfying to me.

howardtaftmd's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

blinkmq's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

kayladaniella's review against another edition

5.0

5/5 stars

Besides The Martian, this is the best science fiction book I have ever read. Andy Weir is one of the most incredible authors when it comes to incorporating science, story, and funny, in a novel. This book is nothing short of perfection. I loved the flashbacks to the past just as much as the present POV. It was so different than The Martian but just as amazing. Andy Weir is an auto buy author and everyone who loves science fiction should be reading his works.