Project Hail Mary
by Andy Weir
Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Have you ever wondered what would happen if an AP
Astrophysics textbook married Mission Impossible? This book would be the
offspring.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is the saga of one Ryland
Grace, a middle-school science teacher who somehow gets drafted into saving
civilization. The story is told from Grace’s point of view and is written in
the first person.
Grace is the perfect example of an unreliable narrator. As the
book begins, Grace awakens on a spaceship, apparently after a years-long coma.
At first, he can’t remember how he got where he is or even his name. The story
switches back and forth between the present time aboard the ship and Ryland’s
memories as they resurface.
Grace is a likable and sarcastic hero. Following along with his growing
understanding of the situation is entertaining because of his wisecracks and
asides. He held my interest even though he was the only human being in the
majority of the book. Ryland encounters an alien spacecraft with
a solitary alien crew member. He dubs the creature “Rocky” and a nearby planet
“Adrian.” (Ha!) Rocky and Ryland learn how to communicate and become colleagues
and fast friends. As crazy as it sounds, this inter-lifeform friendship is believable
and is the core of the story.
Project Hail Mary puts the “science” back in “science
fiction.” A great deal of the narrative is devoted to Grace using his scientific
knowledge to solve the complicated problems he faces. I must admit that I spaced
out a bit (see what I did there?) with some of the more complicated scientific
passages. (Damn it, Jim, I’m an English major, not a scientist!)
Many science fiction stories have perfunctory endings, along
the lines of “after a big space battle, the planet was saved. The end.” I
loved how this book had one more chapter after the big civilization-saving
climax. The last chapter neatly wraps up Ryland’s story.
This is easily the most entertaining science fiction book
I’ve ever read. Five enthusiastic stars.
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