I, like most, loved Andy Weir’s debut The Martian. Maybe it helps that I don’t have a firm grasp on the vast majority of the science in it, but it felt grounded in reality in a way that lots of science fiction isn’t. Naturally, then, I knew I had to read Project Hail Mary as soon as I learned of its existence. I couldn’t not return to that well with Weir; I watched the Matt Damon-led Martian film without hesitation for that very same reason.
With Project Hail Mary, I felt even more like I was in over my head with the science talk. I resorted to skimming before long, content to gleam just the broad strokes. It was all I really felt I needed, because the stakes and emotion behind each moment were what mattered most. And I didn’t feel like treating this as a science textbook, seeing as I’m not even sure if everything in it is based in some level of “fact.”
Reading it this way, I got almost as much enjoyment out of it as I did The Martian. I say almost because the science-heavy writing kinda weighed the proceedings down at times, and because our main character wasn’t quite as lovable as Mark Watney. It also didn’t give me the same sort of emotional wallop that his first book did. I chalk that up to not connecting with Ryland Grace and his motivations as much as I did Watney’s. Perhaps that’s due in large part to hinging so much of its plot on something not human. (The least spoilery way I could think of to put it; I went in not expecting it, so I hope to preserve the surprise for you too)
Whatever the case may be, there was plenty of fun to be had, but I didn’t connect to Grace like I did Watney, and the lack of full closure when it comes to Earth itself did bristle me a little. In short, it was a quick, enjoyable read, but not as memorable a one as his first outing.
