Project Hail Mary
by Andy Weir · first published 2021
59% recommend35% neutral6% critical
Why HN recommends it
Fun, hopeful hard sci-fi in the vein of The Martian, with science-driven problem solving and a story that's hard to put down. Suits readers wanting an upbeat, accessible space adventure; the audiobook is often praised.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission–and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish. Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it. All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company. His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, he realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Alone on this tiny ship that’s been
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…Intelligence, by Jeff Hawkins. The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race, by Walter Isaacson. Klara and the Sun, by Kazuo Ishiguro. Hamnet, by Maggie O’Farrell. Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir.
on “Books I loved reading this year” ↗My Summer scifi has thus far included "Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir and "Dark Matter" by Peter Straub. Both are fast-past and engaging until the end. I wouldn't recommend either if you haven't read Dune, book 1, though. Read it.
on “New sci-fi and fantasy books to check out this August” ↗If these ideas interest you, check out Andy Weir's book Project Hail Mary. I can't clarify why without spoilers.
on “Bugs are evolving to eat plastic” ↗I recently heard Project Hail Mary mentioned. I didn't know Andy Weir wrote a third book until that moment. It's a great novel on par with The Martian, and after the success of The Martian, I'm surprised I didn't hear about Project Hail…
on “A martian’s review of The Martian (2015)” ↗Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (author of The Martian) goes into the relativistic effects as well, and it includes a crazy (made-up) fuel that could make it possible. Great easy read: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54493401-project-hail-ma...
on “How far could a spaceship go if we never ran out of thrust? (2020)” ↗These are all things I've experienced in the past three years, though some started or came out earlier. The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (even better if you liked Children of Time) Ted Lasso on Apple TV+ Star Trek: Discovery on CBS/Paramount (especially Season 2) Letterkenny on Hulu Cobra Kai on Netflix The Country Things…
on “Ask HN: What is your favorite piece of entertainment of the last three years?” ↗The sci-fi novel "Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir. Captivating, and a lot of fun.
on “Ask HN: What's the best book you read in 2021?” ↗…Corelel[3] series by Kaia Sønderby. I read both books and immediately started looking around to see if there were more. I Am Not a Serial Killer[4] by Dan Wells was an enjoyable surprise. The Martian and Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Of older vintage that I find I've revisited over the years are: The Chrysalids[5] by John Wyndham. The White Mountains, The City of Gold and Lead, and The Pool of Fire which comprise…
on “Ask HN: What is your favorite fiction book?” ↗Fiction I discovered and read Blake Crouch this year - Dark Matter - Recursion - Upgrade - Pines I also discovered and read - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - Gravity by Tess Gerritsen - A Man by, At the End of the Matinee Keiichiro Hirano It's between Recursion and Project Hail Mary for me. I am leaning more towards Recursion. Non-fiction…
on “Ask HN: What is the best thing you read in 2022?” ↗For space sci-fi fans, I highly recommend the new book by Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary. Andy Weir is the writer of The Martian. Similar story line but detailed enginnering skills.
on “Neal Stephenson – Announcing Termination Shock” ↗…from them. I'll start: * Re-reading Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson. I had forgotten the story leading up to Rhythm of War. I had forgotten how fun Sanderson's world is. * Just finishing up Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Great book. I didn't read Artemis, but The Martian was awesome. * Grit by Angela Duckworth. Really speaks to me and has me re-examining my own loss of focus and tenacity in pursuits, and…
on “Ask HN: What are you reading this month?” ↗This is actually a similar idea to the latest novel by Andy Weir (Author of "The Martian"), "Project Hail Mary", which is great and I highly recommend if you liked "The Martian".
on ““The Martian” + Starship” ↗…recently and havent sorted into the library. Factfullness by Hans rosling: The world is awesome, stop focusing on some tiny negatives that are being mispresented by the media. Martian, Artemis, and Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir: Contemporary top scifi author Starship Troopers by Robert A Heinlein: The movie was awesome, until you read the book and see the movie as an abomination. Pheonix and Unicorn Projects by…
on “Ask HN: What are some must read books?” ↗…Problem, as far as HN recommended books go, but I think I’m still going to have to start avoiding books recommended here. To answer the original question (and remain within sci-fi), then new Andy Weir book Project Hail Mary was pretty good. Not quite on the level of The Martian, but good enough to recommend to others.
on “Ask HN: What's the best book you read in 2021?” ↗The Martian Ready Player One Project Hail Mary Name of the Wind Dresden Files Eye of the World (Wheel of Time) We Are Legion (We Are Bob) The Blade Itself (First Law Trilogy) Dungeon Crawler Carl The History of Ancient Egypt (Bob Brier…
on “Ask HN: Favorite audio book for long drives?” ↗