Project Hail Mary

by Andy Weir

[Leigha]

Ryland Grace goes on a suicide mission to save earth only to discover humans may not be the only intelligent life in the solar system in this hard adult science fiction.

It took me forever to read this book partly due to the timing and partly due to the genre. I’ve had a really hard time reading in October. My family has had some non-COVID medical issues, and it’s been difficult adjusting to our new normal. Additionally, the election shenanigans and the stress at work have killed my ability to concentrate on anything other than happy re-reads. My review might have been different if I had read the book at a different time.

Project Hail Mary is going to appeal to die hard science fiction fans, but it left me completely behind. The complex science of the story was not accessible to a lay science person. I never connected to the main character. He didn’t feel believable or realistic as the protagonist. Rocky is the most likeable and complex character, but it’s Ryland who needs to carry the story. The book uses one of my least favorite writing techniques – an overuse of flashbacks to explain the character’s actions. It was actually utilized well in this book, but I still hate the technique. Others will probably enjoy the balance between the past and present.

tl;dr This book never captured my attention – the complex science left me confused and I never connected to the main character.