And I absolutely loved it. It is honestly one of my new favorite books. I am going to tag basically this whole post as spoilers because the thing that truly makes this book amazing does not start until almost 100 pages in.
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FOR THOSE ON APPS THAT CAN’T HANDLE THEM
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I love stories about friendship and the friendship between Grace and Rocky was truly beautiful. They are both lost and confused and in a horrible situation but they both take everything in stride. They see a way to help eachother and to not have to do it alone and they grab onto it with both (all five) hands. The way they both accept the other’s habits knowing there are things that are fundamentally different between each other is a lesson for everyone.
The growth we see from Grace is also some of the best I’ve read. We learn later that he chose the self-centered path by refusing to join the Hail Mary crew on his own. Then, when faced with a very similar choice he chooses to save Rocky and his people instead of himself. I honestly cried.
Not only are our two main characters amazing but they are FUNNY! I laughed out loud so many times!
Overall I cant wait to re-read this one a bit down the line.
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So, have you read this one? What did you think?
Amaze amaze amaze!
The audible version is also recommended. Mad props to all the folks who made the audio book.
It’s so good. Once the other character shows up and you hear him talking and Grace starts making sense out of what he’s saying it’s like the book just lights up. That was a really nice touch.
Yes how I read (listen) to the novel 3 times so far. Excellent novel. I love Rocky and the whole novel is wonderful.
I enjoyed how it built up slowly it was those extra touches that made the difference.
I really should read the physical book to see the difference.
But is is a novel I will enjoy over and over again no different than listening or reading The Martian over and over again.
Best audiobook I’ve ever listened to. It adds stuff that the book surely can’t manage.
It’s a great book for sure. Two things I really liked are
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I haven’t read a good alien contact book in a long time, so I really enjoyed that part. Also, the whole arc of “I must have been convinced to do the right thing because I’m here - I guess I’m a good guy, and Rocky did the same.” Was really powerful.
And, of course, Weir does a really good job with hard SF, keeping things anchored and believable.
Yes I loved that arc! I loved that he does prove it true in the end.
Obligatory: fist my bump!
Jazz Hands
I loved it too. It got me out of a really long reading funk.
Sure, it’s kind of hand-wavey in parts, and the science doesn’t always make sense, but it’s just so damn fun. I thought the character of Rocky never fell into tropes, and it was great how much personality and humor we get out of him.
Weir is definitely hit or miss from novel to novel, but when he hits he knocks it out of the park.
Absolutely true. It took me 2 days to finish PHM. And I just can’t finish Artemis. I have to force myself to read it.
I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I did not like The Martian at all. I’ve seen so many people say they love Project Hail Mary and that it got them out of their reading slumps and you have to read it. Do you think there’s a chance I’d like this one even though I did not like The Martian? I want to give it a chance because so many people whose opinions I trust seem to really like it, but idk, maybe Weir just isn’t for me.
I thought The Martian was just ok, but I didn’t like Project Hail Mary. It’s full of ridiculous and contrived coincidences and convenient events rather than actual problem solving. I know a lot of people love it but IMO it’s very weak writing and plotting.
What specifically didn’t you like about The Martian? Hail Mary is weirder and in some ways, a more exciting story, but Weir’s writing style is the same in both books and there is some similarity in the plots.
I didn’t connect with the character very much, and as much as I appreciated the realistic hard sci fi approach, I just didn’t find it interesting to read from a story standpoint. Sometimes it felt like I was reading a science textbook instead of a compelling narrative.
I didn’t hate The Martian, but I did not love it. I really liked Project Hail Mary, though. The sciencey stuff was still there, but it was bolted on to a much more compelling and interesting story.
Yeah, I wouldn’t say I hated it, but maybe it was just hyped up too much and I expected more. I don’t mind the sciencey stuff if it fits in with a good story, but I just wasn’t that interested in the story in The Martian. Project Hail Mary does sound like it’s more intriguing, I guess I should just read it and find out for myself.
Honestly I haven’t read the Martian (just seen the movie) but I think you might have a better time with Hail Mary. The science is defiantly still prominent and robust but we don’t have a single main character which I think sews the science and story together better.
Definitely my favorite book I’ve read this year so far. It’s so so soooo good
Yes Yes Yes! I loved Hail Mary! I also enjoyed The Martian, both the book and the movie. I liked Artemis, but not as much as the other two. Weir does a good job telling a story from the first-person point of view. The sarcastic tone of the main character in each story may not work for everyone, but I enjoyed it.
Artemis was okay and I read it twice but I didn’t love it. Not like the other two novels. But Project Hail Mary was if not one of his best books so far.
I read this about a year ago and I loved it. I had watched The Martian before but had never read the book. It encouraged me to read the book. I loved it as well.
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The Martian was 8/10 for me, but PHM was 11/10. It’s just awesome.
Thoughts about Grace’s sacrifical acts:
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I think there’s a big difference between sacrificing yourself for unknown others, when someone else could potentially do it (or you can convince yourself of that) and knowing that someone you know and care about personally WILL DIE, and NO ONE else can do anything about it.
Grace was always a good person, it’s the personal stakes that changed.
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Oh I definitely agree the Grace is a good person the whole time. He works so hard on this project mostly because of his kids. He wants them to have a future.
But going on the Hail Mary was the way to save the kids. He tried to say someone else could do it but conceded when Scott pointed out how bullshit that was. And when push came to shove he said “Okay, it’s true! I’m afraid! I don’t want to die! I worked my ass off on this project and I deserve to live!” (Pg 392)
But even though he worked his ass off to save earth and to find a solution, he decided that Rocky deserves to live, not him.
So I agree with your overall point, but I think Grace changed a lot too.
I teared up big time at the end when Grace realizes what’s happened to the astrophage and has to make that discission. Easily an all time favorite.
I had some fun reading this one but Andy Weir’s main characters always make me cringe. Also his writing about sex and how he writes/develops his women characters.
I loved it! One of the best books I’ve read ever. This definitely got me out of my reading slump
Loved Hail Mary…I read The Martian after seeing the movie. I’ve read somewhere Hail Mary movie is in the works…kind of was thinking Hail Mary would work as a mini series.
I’d love to see a movie as well!
