All about the Project Hail Mary book

Project Hail Mary is a 2021 science fiction novel published by Ballantine Books and written by Andy Weir, the author of The Martian and some of the most beloved short stories published online, such as “The Egg”. Much like Weir’s first novel, Project Hail Mary is a suspenseful tale of survival, although a first-contact scenario features prominently. The protagonist, Ryland Grace, wakes up on a spaceship with no memory of the events that led to his being there, but the confusion is about to grow into terror as she realizes he’s the only one alive on the ship.

The book is regarded as one of Weir’s best works yet, sitting at a rating of about 4.5/5 on Goodreads, making its way to millions of wishlists on Amazon, and earning whole-hearted recommendations on platforms such as Kirkus Reviews and Locus, as well as in newspapers such as The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and The Washington Post.

The plot overview of Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Without resorting to heavy spoilers, we can say the novel consists of two parallel storylines, each told chronologically: the primary tale is that of Ryland Grace regaining his memory, and the other is told through flashbacks, describing the events that led to the launch of Hail Mary, Ryland’s ship.

Ryland is a junior-high teacher and a biologist chosen for a mission to save Earth. When he wakes up on the ship, he realizes the rest of his crew is dead. After giving them a proper space burial, he must do everything in his power to save the planet as humanity’s last and only hope of survival.

Through a series of flashbacks, we learn the fate of our planet. Years ago, scientists spotted an astrophage, an alien single-cell organism absorbing solar energy around Venus and dimming the Sun. If left unchecked, it is sure to leave Earth frozen in a new ice age, killing billions.

Ryland’s mission is to help Eva Stratt, the leader of the mission, and her group of scientists during their research. Together with two other astronauts, he is chosen to go on a journey to a nearby star, Tau Ceti, which appears to be immune to the astrophage. Sometimes during the trip, the two of his crewmates die in a coma, and Ryland is left alone to figure out a solution, much like Mark Watney in The Martian.

How science plays a part in Project Hail Mary

As in Weir’s other science-fiction books, science plays a major role in Project Hail Mary, and it is Weir’s mastery of presenting the scientific reality of his fiction as corresponding to ours that attracts so many readers. Weir talks about biology, astrophysics, and space travel with confidence, and the reader never stops to question the legitimacy of what is being presented.

Naturally, the novel is still a sci-fi novel, a work of fiction. There are no alien microbes devouring light, and we are from being able to understand dark matter and travel multiple light years in search of a solution to home-turf problems like Weir’s lone astronaut.

Nonetheless, it is a joy to read about the main character’s examination of data, his use of experiments to battle his extra-terrestrial foe, and all other examples of hard science that we’ve come to love in Mr. Weir’s books, for example, the effects of gravity and interstellar travel on the human body.

Major characters in the novel

Although the novel centers around Ryland and his attempt to save the world, several other characters feature prominently in the narrative.

Ryland Grace

Ryland Grace was a high school science teacher with a doctorate in microbiology. He appears to have been somewhat of a loner, living alone in his apartment and doing research on possible alien life in the solar system. His research in astrobiology leads Eva Stratt, the leader of the Hail Mary project, to hire him, and eventually, he becomes her right-hand man and one of the three people sent to Tau Ceti.

Ryland is going to be portrayed by Ryan Gosling in the upcoming movie adaptation of the novel.

Yáo Li-Jie

Yáo Li-Jie was a member of the initial crew set to take the journey to Tau Ceti. He’s a Chinese commander working together with a Russian enginner, Olesya Ilyukhina, and an American scientist, Martin DuBois. When DuBois and his backup die in an explosion, it is up to Ryland to take his place and accompany Li-Jie.

Olesya Ilyukhina

DuBois dies on Earth, but Olesya Ilyukhina and Yáo Li-Jie die on their way to Tau Ceti, and Ryland gives them both a space burial. Ryland recalls Ilyukhina as cheerful and bawdy.

Eva Stratt

Eva Stratt is the one in charge of the Hail Mary project. She’s a Dutch woman, an ex-administrator at the European Space Agency now given full authority to deal with the astrophage situation as she sees fit. Thanks to her restless work on figuring out a solution, she is the second hero of the story.

Rocky

Rocky is the main alien character, an engineer from the 40 Eridani triple star system and a survivor of a space radiation incident that wiped out his crew. As his planet is also threatened by the astrophage, he shares Ryland’s goals.

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FAQs

Is Project Hail Mary difficult to read?

No; Project Hail Mary is written in plain English, and its entertaining style makes it highly accessible to readers of all backgrounds and reading experiences.

Is Project Hail Mary being made into a movie?

Yes, the novel is being made into a movie, and it stars Ryan Gosling in the main role.

Is Project Hail Mary a kids book?

The novel is not for kids, but it can be read by teenagers.

Do I need to read Artemis before Project Hail Mary?

No, it is not necessary to read Artemis first.

Does Project Hail Mary have a sequel?

The book does not have a sequel as of now.