Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Ryland Grace wakes up alone on a spaceship with no memory of who he is or why he’s there. All he knows is that humanity’s survival may depend on him — and he’s millions of miles from Earth. As his memory returns, he uncovers a daring interstellar mission, a dying Sun, and an unexpected friendship that changes everything.

The Martian

I read and enjoyed The Martian by Andy Weir back when it came out in 2011 (wow, that long ago?). It had an enterprising and resourceful protagonist — engaging and witty — with high stakes and plenty of drama. I do remember thinking Mark was a bit snarky at times, but I liked the mix of physics, chemistry, and good old space engineering.

I’d say Project Hail Mary is a natural progression from that, just on a much bigger scale. You don’t get higher stakes than having to save humanity, not just yourself. It also touches on those big questions like: is there anyone else out there? And if so, what would we say if we met them? I’d say it has as much in common with Interstellar (loved that movie) as it does with The Martian — but it’s still grounded in good old-fashioned storytelling with a likeable lead.

Amnesia and Science

Part of the mystery is how Grace ends up millions of miles from home. He wakes up on a spaceship with no idea how he got there. So both he and the reader are discovering the backstory together — a clever device that slowly reveals his identity and mission.

I really struggle with science — start talking physics or chemistry to me, and if you listen closely, you can hear the fan in my brain start to whirr as it starts to shut down. I was awful at it in school and always leaned more towards the arts, and it’s a real blind spot for me. I worried a bit before starting whether I’d hate the science-y parts, but I remembered The Martian being pretty accessible.

(Side note: I’m fascinated by space and planets. I can easily lose an hour listening to Brian Cox or some random YouTuber. The scale of it all is mind-bending, and I often fall into a kind of awareness reverie — awed by the universe and the idea of ever-expanding consciousness. I’ve been thinking a lot recently, especially with my interest in non-duality, about time as a concept. A recent favourite: “What existed before the Big Bang?”)

Anyway — it turned out fine. There were moments when the formulae went over my head or it got a bit too technical, but most of it is easy to follow. It’s explained simply, often with humour, and Weir really excels at that. You get the sense of what’s at stake without needing to understand every equation. It’s like enjoying a good meal without knowing every ingredient.

And the science — though important — isn’t the heart of the book. I’d argue this is just as much about relationships, mystery, and (definitely) problem-solving.

Emotional Heart

Jeez, it’s hard to talk about this book without giving something away about the plot. One of the things that maybe surprised me most was how much of an emotional heart it had. There I was, keeping up with the various puzzles being solved, enjoying the space banter and whack — along comes a final section that hits you right over the head.

There’s plenty in here about cooperation, sacrifice, and ultimately, connection.

I liked that it had an emotional punch to it — it blindsided me completely. Sometimes I sit down with expectations of a book, and it’s brilliant when those get completely upturned. There was something in those last sections that gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling mixed with a bit of awe. And we’ll leave it there.

(I should also add that it’s quite a long book - 480 pages hardback alone. I actually didn’t realise that until I was doing this review, as I read it on Ebook, but it’s a sign of just how easily it zipped along).

Summary

If you’re anything like me and not fussed on anything that contains too much science, don’t fret — you’ll still get a sense of the stakes without having to understand every detail. It’s all explained in a fun and accessible way. At times, it felt like science class taught by a stand-up comedian.

What you’ll enjoy more is a character who’s all too human, lashings of humour, and a book with a real emotional arc. I wasn’t expecting it to be so tender and moving.

Who says science ain’t got a heart?

First published May 4th 2021

Paperback 677 pages Random House

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