“A small click from the hatch is the only response I get. After all the meditation and introspection I did to find out my own name, I wish there’d been something more exciting. Confetti, maybe.”
I feel like everyone’s heard of The Martian by Andy Weir (and maybe seen the film starring Matt Damon as solo Mars inhabitant and space pirate, Mark Watney)…but have you also heard of Project Hail Mary?
If you have not heard of Andy Weir’s latest sci-fi but loved The Martian – here is a link to buy the book on Amazon it’s also available on Kindle & Audible (I have the audiobook as well as the Kindle copy – Ray Porter’s narration is absolutely fantastic!). I really cannot recommend this book highly enough.
Weir outdoes himself in Project Hail Mary, once again combining detailed and smart science with his distinct wit and undercurrent of deep emotion existential exploration. The story follows Ryland Grace, a space fearer who wakes on board the Hail Mary spacecraft only to find himself unable to remember his own name or anything about his mission. His two dead crew mates are dead and so it is solely down to Grace to complete the mission to find away to save Earth. It is a lonely task and Ryland feels the weight of all humanity hanging on him heavily.
Ryland’s dry sense of humour and ability to think on his feet, enriches the narrative, giving the reader and the main protagonist some levity in even the direst situation. The story is split between the mission as it unfolds and flashbacks as Ryland begins to remember how he ended up being responsible for the salvation of human-kind on Earth. Along the way he makes unlikely friends and allies, with whom the reader is gifted a wealth of clever banter and touching moments. His dynamic friendship with Rocky (no spoilers here, I won’t explain who Rocky is but suggest you find out for yourself and buy the book) in particular is a highlight in the book – a dynamic, heart-warming relationship which transcends the challenges the mission to save Earth presents them both.
Project Hail Mary is a beautifully crafted plot, layered with scientific concepts and conjecture – ideas beyond our current scientific capabilities and knowledge – which are not only exciting but credible enough to forget it is science fiction and believe that this story took place. Much like the events in The Martian. Andy Weir is a master at blending science fact with science fiction in this way, as well as humour, humanness and the startling ingenuity of intelligent beings in the face of adversity and almost certain death or defeat. If you like a gripping tale which is bound to make you giggle, this book is definitely for you!