Rachel Reviews: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

I'm not sure how to start this review. I've already read The Martian and enjoyed that enormously so, I was looking forward to reading Project Hail Mary, recommended as it was by a friend.

It's a curious book. The premise is that an unknown "thing" is essentially diminishing the power of our sun and if it is not stopped, life on Earth is going to end. What follows this discovery is the moving to stop it or at least have a go at trying, and that's where Dr Grace comes in, a schoolteacher who becomes integral to the mission to stop the threat.

It is fair to say that Grace has mixed feelings about his role and Weir has chosen to show how Grace's pathway to becoming the saviour of Earth is charted, through depicting the present and how he is involved in the process now, and through flashbacks, showing his involvement in getting Project Hail Mary off the ground (excuse the pun).

The main action of the book takes place in space and centres on Grace finding a solution to Earth's problem. What is interesting is that he doesn't do it alone and the friendship that he strikes up with a fellow being is the strength of this book, its development throughout being heartwarming, funny and incredibly believable, making for a great novel read.

The scientific working out though? Less great. However, I understand that extensive explanations of the science are essential in a book of this nature and readily admit to being naturally Arts focused. I am also conscious that Weir is more than likely dumbing down everything to make it accessible to the average reader. Still, for me, a little arduous.

I was glad, then, that interspersed with the space stuff was the Earth stuff, because it provided a diversion from the intensity and almost claustrophobic nature of the space mission, with more humans and just more plot which was less samey than the space endeavours. The rest of it was imaginative and surprising and extremely uplifting.

The only other comment to make is it was distinctively Weir. You could have The Martian and Project Hail Mary placed in front of you and it wouldn't take a rocket scientist (pun intended) to work out that they were by the same writer in terms of character voice, plot development and theme.

All that said, it was good.

Rachel Rating: 4/5 stars

This review was first published on Reedsy Discovery: