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A review by joshpow3ll
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
After reading Artemis last year, I was ready to not read another Andy Weir book ever again. But people online kept insisting Project Hail Mary was his best so far, so I had to give it a try.
In some ways, it's more of the same. Fast-paced space-based action that's dripping with science explainers at every turn. It's Weir's niche and he and his fans clearly enjoy his work when he doesn't stray. It's not amazing writing, but I can't lie that I didn't struggle to put it down, reading into the early hours of the morning.
That being said, Weir still can't write a believable woman (thank goodness we weren't stuck in one of their perspectives like we were in Artemis) and his humour is permanently stuck in high school locker rooms. The blatant mild oaths peppered throughout ensure that this book will be allowed in said high schools where his target audiences are.
I also yelled at my copy of the novel when I saw the dedication. So cringy and trying way too hard to be cool, which also goes for many other aspects of the story.
I think what makes Weir's stories appealing on a surface level to nerds like me is their plots are logical puzzles that our protagonist just needs to look at from the right angle to figure out. There is only as much complexity as the rules of physics will allow, and no need to explore human emotional nuances while they do so.
If reading Weir makes you want to find well-researched narratives with strong scientific extrapolation but is actually written beautifully, then you should read Stories of Your Life and Others and Exhalation by Ted Chiang, particularly the former's titular short story. But some fun action for a few hours from time-to-time can't hurt either.
In some ways, it's more of the same. Fast-paced space-based action that's dripping with science explainers at every turn. It's Weir's niche and he and his fans clearly enjoy his work when he doesn't stray. It's not amazing writing, but I can't lie that I didn't struggle to put it down, reading into the early hours of the morning.
That being said, Weir still can't write a believable woman (thank goodness we weren't stuck in one of their perspectives like we were in Artemis) and his humour is permanently stuck in high school locker rooms. The blatant mild oaths peppered throughout ensure that this book will be allowed in said high schools where his target audiences are.
I also yelled at my copy of the novel when I saw the dedication. So cringy and trying way too hard to be cool, which also goes for many other aspects of the story.
I think what makes Weir's stories appealing on a surface level to nerds like me is their plots are logical puzzles that our protagonist just needs to look at from the right angle to figure out. There is only as much complexity as the rules of physics will allow, and no need to explore human emotional nuances while they do so.
If reading Weir makes you want to find well-researched narratives with strong scientific extrapolation but is actually written beautifully, then you should read Stories of Your Life and Others and Exhalation by Ted Chiang, particularly the former's titular short story. But some fun action for a few hours from time-to-time can't hurt either.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Drug use, Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Vomit, Alcohol