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deedireads 's review for:
Project Hail Mary
by Andy Weir
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.
TL;DR REVIEW:
Project Hail Mary is a fast-paced, fun read. The prose isn’t particularly special, but it’s very exciting, and the math/science/plausible sci-fi premise really makes it stand out.
For you if: You like dad joke humor (and you don’t hate math or science).
FULL REVIEW:
Project Hail Mary was my first read by Andy Weir (I know, I know, I need to read The Martian), and my final nudge to pick it up was its nomination for the Hugo.
The story is about an academic-scientist-turned-junior-high-teacher named Ryland Grace. It starts with him waking up aboard a spaceship, alone, with a medical robot/computer tending to him, and no memory of where he is, who he is, or how he got there. Throughout the book, his memory comes back to him in flashes and we piece together not only what’s going on but also how he ended up on the ship himself. One thing he remembers early on, though, is that Earth is facing a mass extinction event.
In a nutshell, I had a lot of fun reading this book. The prose is nothing super special, but Weir really knows how to keep you hooked and reading. But now I understand the real reason people love him, which is that his premise/science/math is just so…plausible. He really knows his stuff, and there are very few moments when you feel like you have to suspend disbelief. It feels like any of these things could happen, given what we know about science today. So of course it is a bit heavy on math and science, although I thought it was done in an exciting and approachable way — that said, if you really hate math, this might not be for you.
Also, be warned: The slightly-bro-ish dad joke humor is strong here. There were a few moments where I was like “BOOO lolol,” as well as a few that felt just a toe over the line. The first few chapters also felt like they were trying a bit too hard (five uses of the term “butt tube” in four pages?), but it did eventually settle down into its zone.
Last thing I’ll say: I have read a lot of buzzy books before, but I’ve never had so many people in my DMs telling me how much they loved a book, invested in knowing how I felt about it. That alone makes me feel like it’s a strong Hugo contender (since the winner is decided by vote).
TL;DR REVIEW:
Project Hail Mary is a fast-paced, fun read. The prose isn’t particularly special, but it’s very exciting, and the math/science/plausible sci-fi premise really makes it stand out.
For you if: You like dad joke humor (and you don’t hate math or science).
FULL REVIEW:
Project Hail Mary was my first read by Andy Weir (I know, I know, I need to read The Martian), and my final nudge to pick it up was its nomination for the Hugo.
The story is about an academic-scientist-turned-junior-high-teacher named Ryland Grace. It starts with him waking up aboard a spaceship, alone, with a medical robot/computer tending to him, and no memory of where he is, who he is, or how he got there. Throughout the book, his memory comes back to him in flashes and we piece together not only what’s going on but also how he ended up on the ship himself. One thing he remembers early on, though, is that Earth is facing a mass extinction event.
In a nutshell, I had a lot of fun reading this book. The prose is nothing super special, but Weir really knows how to keep you hooked and reading. But now I understand the real reason people love him, which is that his premise/science/math is just so…plausible. He really knows his stuff, and there are very few moments when you feel like you have to suspend disbelief. It feels like any of these things could happen, given what we know about science today. So of course it is a bit heavy on math and science, although I thought it was done in an exciting and approachable way — that said, if you really hate math, this might not be for you.
Also, be warned: The slightly-bro-ish dad joke humor is strong here. There were a few moments where I was like “BOOO lolol,” as well as a few that felt just a toe over the line. The first few chapters also felt like they were trying a bit too hard (five uses of the term “butt tube” in four pages?), but it did eventually settle down into its zone.
Last thing I’ll say: I have read a lot of buzzy books before, but I’ve never had so many people in my DMs telling me how much they loved a book, invested in knowing how I felt about it. That alone makes me feel like it’s a strong Hugo contender (since the winner is decided by vote).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Death, Medical content
Minor: Grief