Project Hail Mary is pure Andy Weir goodness nerdy, funny, high-stakes sci-fi that somehow makes you care deeply about both humanity and the fate of alien amoebas.
The story kicks off with our hero, Ryland Grace, waking up in a spaceship. He’s alone, hooked up to tubes, can’t remember who he is, or why he’s there. And the first thing he discovers? He’s the only surviving crew member aboard a ship called the Hail Mary.
As Ryland’s memory starts coming back in bits and pieces, he realizes:
- He’s a science teacher (yep, not an astronaut by trade).
- The Sun is dying, thanks to microscopic alien organisms called Astrophage that are draining its energy.
- Earth is facing an extinction-level ice age if someone doesn’t fix this fast.
- He’s humanity’s last hope on a desperate one-way mission to figure out how to save the Sun and therefore, the entire planet.
So yeah… no pressure.
Ryland’s all alone, running science experiments and trying not to freak out. Until…he discovers he’s not actually alone in the cosmos.
Enter Rocky, an alien from a star system also under threat from Astrophage. Rocky looks like a giant spider made of rock, talks in musical tones, and has his own ship parked next to Ryland’s. At first, communication is rough (alien languages and all), but soon they’re teaching each other words, laughing at each other’s weird biology, and forming one of the best interspecies friendships in sci-fi.
The bulk of the book is Ryland and Rocky working together to solve the Astrophage problem, sharing knowledge, and building cool gadgets in their respective ships. There’s tons of science—Weir-style explanations about physics, biology, chemistry—all written in an accessible, often hilarious way.
But it’s not just equations and problem-solving. The book dives into:
- Ryland’s memories of Earth and how he was recruited for the mission
- The ethics of sacrificing one life for humanity
- The loneliness of deep space
- The bond between two very different beings trying to save their worlds
As they get closer to a solution, things go sideways (of course), and Ryland has to make impossible choices. The ending is both thrilling and surprisingly emotional and definitely leaves you thinking about sacrifice, friendship, and what it means to be human.
What I Thought
I absolutely loved Project Hail Mary. It’s funny, geeky, and heartfelt all at once. Ryland Grace is like Mark Watney’s cousin from The Martian: sarcastic, brilliant, and impossible not to root for.
But honestly? Rocky steals the show. He’s adorable in his spidery alien way, and their friendship is so pure and entertaining. I laughed out loud more than once, and the science nerd in me was delighted.
If you love sci-fi that’s smart but not dry, and you want a feel-good adventure where friendship might just save the universe, Project Hail Mary is totally worth your time. Highly recommend!
Ready for a wild ride through space and one of the best bromances in sci-fi history?
Grab your copy of Project Hail Mary and join Ryland and Rocky on a mission that could save the sun and maybe your faith in humanity, too.
