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A review by katykelly
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
5.0
I fell in love with Mark Watney in chapter 1 of The Martian. And I'm not really a huge sci-fi fan. But now I think Andy Weir is just going to become one of those very few authors I pick up and read without knowing much about the new title.
This is excellent stuff. Contemporary yet fantastical, full to the absolute brim with science yet still - amazingly - accessible. A narrative about where we could be heading, and the heights we might have to reach to fix our problems.
A man wakes up, with no memory of where he is, why he is there, or even who he is. Which isn't great, as he appears to be in space. Slowly regaining some memories, he pieces together the story of his arrival at this point in time, alone in deep space, sent out to see if there is a solution to a global problem - the sun is cooling down. Humanity, all life on Earth is counting on his craft, and his mission. Great.
What a plot! To watch a man, all by himself, much as Mark Watney did, take the challenges thrown at him, alone, is exhilarating, and you can't help cheer for him internally. With two time frames, of Ryland in the now, in space. And Ryland Grace the teacher on Earth, working out what is happening to the Sun, becoming involved in the global search for solutions. And then of course.... well, the story GETS BETTER!
Oh, I loved this. The audio was perfect, though Ryland's voice seemed a little old for my liking, but that's personal taste I think. I loved the up-close approach, with Ryland talking to me, telling me his story through the Audible app, I couldn't get enough of this story.
Weir either knows his science intimately or is the best blagger on the planet. It was wonderful. I can't go into the plot without offering some major spoilers, so I won't.
I did laugh out loud a few times, Weir has a wonderfully wry sense of humour, and creates humour, tension and an awful lot of interest in science. There are some very memorable characters, some minor but unforgettable, and this plot... you really don't know where it's going to go... but it's far-reaching, intelligent and, oh, just impossible not to enjoy.
Loved, loved, loved. Would read again. And I can't wait to see a film version!
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
This is excellent stuff. Contemporary yet fantastical, full to the absolute brim with science yet still - amazingly - accessible. A narrative about where we could be heading, and the heights we might have to reach to fix our problems.
A man wakes up, with no memory of where he is, why he is there, or even who he is. Which isn't great, as he appears to be in space. Slowly regaining some memories, he pieces together the story of his arrival at this point in time, alone in deep space, sent out to see if there is a solution to a global problem - the sun is cooling down. Humanity, all life on Earth is counting on his craft, and his mission. Great.
What a plot! To watch a man, all by himself, much as Mark Watney did, take the challenges thrown at him, alone, is exhilarating, and you can't help cheer for him internally. With two time frames, of Ryland in the now, in space. And Ryland Grace the teacher on Earth, working out what is happening to the Sun, becoming involved in the global search for solutions. And then of course.... well, the story GETS BETTER!
Oh, I loved this. The audio was perfect, though Ryland's voice seemed a little old for my liking, but that's personal taste I think. I loved the up-close approach, with Ryland talking to me, telling me his story through the Audible app, I couldn't get enough of this story.
Weir either knows his science intimately or is the best blagger on the planet. It was wonderful. I can't go into the plot without offering some major spoilers, so I won't.
I did laugh out loud a few times, Weir has a wonderfully wry sense of humour, and creates humour, tension and an awful lot of interest in science. There are some very memorable characters, some minor but unforgettable, and this plot... you really don't know where it's going to go... but it's far-reaching, intelligent and, oh, just impossible not to enjoy.
Loved, loved, loved. Would read again. And I can't wait to see a film version!
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.