Project Hail Mary

About the book

Book author: Andy Weir

Imagine what it would be like to wake up somewhere, with tons of tubes and electrodes all over your body, having no idea who you are or why you got there. Well, that’s what happened to our protagonist Ryland. We follow his story from two angles: what he is currently doing, and his periodic flashbacks as to how he got there in the first place. He gradually remembers that he was sent to the Tau Ceti solar system, 12 light-years from Earth, to find a means of reversing a solar dimming event that could cause the extinction of humanity.

Reflection and takeaways

* Spoiler warning *

I loved this book. The story was compelling, but also backed up by an amazing effort to get all the science plausible. I felt like I was reading something well thought out.

Ryland is lucky enough to initiate first contact when he gets to Tau Ceti. He finds an unlikely friend and coworker in Rocky, the friendly Eridanite from 40 Eridani who is also stranded, tasked to fix the same extinction event. Their interaction story and chemistry is amazing. I found all of their exchanges, especially when it developed into sarcasm and self-deprecating humor to cope with everything absolutely hilarious. I do that all the time, it’s the best.

I hope whatever aliens we meet in the future are as awesome as these fictional ones from 40 Eridani.

Why did I pick it

I had heard about it, and found a good deal where I usually buy my books.

Verdict

⁵⁄₅. I couldn’t put the book down and finished it within less than a day from first opening it. The book is getting turned into a film starring Ryan Gosling. I can’t wait.