Helpful Score: 2
Wheeee it's "The Martian" in a different solar system and he has to save the world! Weir does this so well - his self-deprecating almost genius hero, telling us everything we need to know while he mcgyvers another solution to a deadly problem. It's so much fun even if most of the science does go over my head, but I know Weir won't pull a fast one on me so whatever it is, he's worked it out so it's plausible. At first I wasn't thrilled with the memory loss thing, but it allows for flashbacks that give Grace his memory back while illuminating an issue he's dealing with during that moment. Rocky is great (I guess that's not a spoiler). Loved the ending too - there were things I really did not want to know, and that worked out just perfectly. Great SF with a plot that doesn't take itself too seriously but isn't meant to be a comedy either.
Helpful Score: 1
I think this is my favorite of the three Weir has written so far, and I really liked The Martian and Artemis. As before, I may have tripped over the scientific theories and jargon here and there, but in no way did it detract from the sheer enjoyment of the original plot. A lone survivor of a suicide mission dealing with alien life forms? Yes! Loved the friendship building between Grace and Rocky. Even the flashbacks didn't interrupt the flow; in fact, they lent insight into the events that led up to Grace's current situation. It's fantastic. I don't know how Weir comes up with this stuff, but I sure hope he keeps them coming. A must read! 4.5 stars.
The Martian by Andy Weir was science-y, geeky, irreverent, and a whole lot of fun. Artemis was a little less geeky, a little more about politic and greed, still fun, but without the intensity of The Martian. While Project Hail Mary does not live up to the intensity and humor of The Martian, it does provide an entertaining read and an important reminder that we are all ultimately one world.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2022/03/project-hail-mary.html
Reviewed for NetGalley.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2022/03/project-hail-mary.html
Reviewed for NetGalley.
Weir goes back to the well of man-in-space for this new novel, throwing problem after problem at his protagonist â this time an unlikely astronaut (just how unlikely doesn't completely unspool until well after the halfway point) who is the sole survivor of a desperate mission to literally save the Earth.
There's a lot of juggling going on in the structure here, as Weir has to transmit a believable but understandable threat and then come up with a technological response that can be comprehended by the non-techie and accepted as within the realm of possibility for those who are more at home in the science behind the action. On top of that, he has to figure out how to maintain a story flow that doesn't become overwhelmingly claustrophobic with just a single character to carry the action. That's where flashbacks come in, as his engaging, somewhat ingenuous, narrator reveals to the reader (and to himself, as his damaged memory begins to heal itself) how he came to be in his currently precarious position.
There's another ace up Weir's sleeve; however there's no way to discuss it without opening up a large can of spoiler. Suffice to say that this, much like âThe Martian', becomes an engaging exercise in âhow will this new challenge be met with the resources at hand?â
The action drags a little toward the end, and skirts dangerously close to âThe Perils of Paulineâ territory, as each time problems are met and conquered, another half dozen pop up to keep the stew boiling.
Ultimately, the story is a testament to what it means to break through barriers, to refuse to admit defeat, and to just how much one man is willing to surrender for a life not his own.
There's a lot of juggling going on in the structure here, as Weir has to transmit a believable but understandable threat and then come up with a technological response that can be comprehended by the non-techie and accepted as within the realm of possibility for those who are more at home in the science behind the action. On top of that, he has to figure out how to maintain a story flow that doesn't become overwhelmingly claustrophobic with just a single character to carry the action. That's where flashbacks come in, as his engaging, somewhat ingenuous, narrator reveals to the reader (and to himself, as his damaged memory begins to heal itself) how he came to be in his currently precarious position.
There's another ace up Weir's sleeve; however there's no way to discuss it without opening up a large can of spoiler. Suffice to say that this, much like âThe Martian', becomes an engaging exercise in âhow will this new challenge be met with the resources at hand?â
The action drags a little toward the end, and skirts dangerously close to âThe Perils of Paulineâ territory, as each time problems are met and conquered, another half dozen pop up to keep the stew boiling.
Ultimately, the story is a testament to what it means to break through barriers, to refuse to admit defeat, and to just how much one man is willing to surrender for a life not his own.
