Michelle

12 de julio de 2026

Fun Optimistic Sci-Fi

Fun read, very exciting and difficult to put down. Rocky is a lovable character and as a long time sci-fi fan, I'm always down for the 'friendship saves the day' type of story. The movie is an excellent companion and I recommend reading even if you've already seen the film, they compliment and add to each other nicely.If you're looking for a nice and exciting space story to lift your spirits and escape from the slog of everyday life, this is a good pick.Ver más

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Hanay21

20 de abril de 2026

A book worth rereading

This was a book club pick. Honestly, I wouldn't have chosen to read this myself, but I'm glad that I did. I would have missed out on an incredible story.I've been reading a lot of thriller and fantasy books lately, that I forgot how much I enjoy sci-fi. This brought it back for me. There's a lot of science-heavy discussions in the book and I loved it! When I got to a subject or term I didn't know, I would go online and learn more about it. I feel that Grace is a dork like me because he wouldn't curse. He had little anecdotes he uses in place of swearing. Something I definitely do myself!A lot of the book is the MMC talking to himself. Surprisingly, it worked. There's so much humor that it kept the story going. There was not a lull. Usually I dislike info-dumping as an introduction to get all the background story told, but I didn't mind it at all. Maybe I'm being biased because I love science talk.**SPOILERS AHEAD**What makes the whole plot engaging is the fact that the plot doesn't seem too fantastical. It's something that could happen. There's a lot of ethics and morals involved in determining what should be done. I would hate to be in a position where I have to chose what's best for everyone. That's why Stratt is a necessary character. I hated some of her decisions and how she operated, but you need someone who's focused on the general welfare of humanity. I would be too focused on myself, my family, etc. As much as it hurts to admit, I'm selfish (and a coward) like Grace. I wouldn't want to die. But was it right for Stratt to force him on the mission? This could also be taken religiously. If God has a plan and things happen for a reason, is it our right to deter what's going to happen? God wiped out the world many times because of humanity's sins, what if this was God's doing? So many questions and debates on right vs wrong, ethics vs morals, and religion vs humanity made for a incredible book club discussion.I love how this book ended. I wish I could continue reading about Rocky and Grace's adventures, it's that fascinating. However, I think Grace staying on Erid was the best outcome. If the roles were reversed, I don't think Rocky would have the same welcome. I feel that those in charge would have dissected and kept Rocky hostage, all in the name of science. Just as the Astrophage were first introduced, the first things the scientists did was poke and probe. Essentially torturing the Astrophage to see what makes them tick. I think Rocky would have the same fate.Oh, and my favorite part is the relationship between Rocky and Grace. I cried so many times when I was reading. Scared that something bad was going to happen to either of them. Especially in the scene where Rocky busted out of his tunnel to save Grace. I got upset and told the book that 'if Rocky dies, I swear, this is the worst book ever!' And the scene where Rocky learns about radiation poisoning. How he slowly becomes aware of what happened to his crew, his friends. I was a mess.This book is definitely one that I could go back and reread.I did watch the movie afterwards. There's a lot of differences to adapt the story to screen, but it was okay. They got the humor down pat, but I didn't get the direness of the whole situation nor the special bond that both MCs had.Ver más

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Elizabeth

Grace, Rocky save stars

Content: frequent moderate language, with a handful of F-words | 4.5/5 starsI'm going to need a moment. This book was so good. It had it's flaws, but I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. As someone who never reads syfy, this was such a great introduction. There were two major points that brought my start rating down. First being all the cursing, I'm just not a fan of that in books I read. Second was the constant mention of evolution. I got annoyed after hearing it being talked about 5+ times.I did like the writing style, it was so easy to get into despite all the science words being thrown around that I didn't understand. The friendship between the MC's was so sweet. I thought the ending was perfect. I went into this story blind, I didn't even read the back of the book. I really enjoyed the cold open & being able to learn about the world around us right along side the MC. I also enjoyed the humor/sarcasm in this book.I binged this book in 3 days & I'm so glad I read it before seeing the movie. While the movie was good on it's own. Knowing the extra details about the story really enhanced the experience for me. As a visual person, seeing everything come to life in the movie really helped with understanding the story better for me. I had a hard time picturing the control room while reading, so that was helpful.Ver más

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Maverick007

19 de julio de 2026

great reads

Project Hail Mary is an absolute masterpiece of hard sci-fi. Andy Weir does it again — this book is every bit as gripping and clever as The Martian, but with even higher stakes.The story follows Ryland Grace, who wakes up alone on a spaceship with no memory of how he got there or why he’s on a desperate mission light-years from Earth. What follows is a brilliant blend of problem-solving, scientific ingenuity, and heartfelt moments that had me completely hooked from the first page.Weir’s greatest strength is making complex science feel accessible and exciting. You’ll learn real physics, biology, and astronomy while cheering for characters that feel incredibly real (yes, even the non-human ones). The twists are perfectly timed, the tension is relentless, and the ending is deeply satisfying.If you love smart, optimistic sci-fi with humor, heart, and “one more chapter” energy, this is essential reading. Easily one of my favorite books of the last few years.Highly recommended — 5/5 stars.Ver más

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Daniel

10 de mayo de 2021

Proof that lightning strikes twice ... Weir has done it again!

According to a 2003 article on the NASA website, "NASA-funded scientists have recently learned that cloud-to-ground lightning frequently strikes the ground in two or more places ..." and that the third and fourth strokes of a lightning flash will follow the same path as the second stroke. In other words, lightning DOES strike the same place twice.But you don't need to search the web for this information. If you want proof that lightning strikes twice, just read Andy Weir's newest book, Project Hail Mary, and you'll see that Weir has created a giant sci-fi bestseller, in the same electric path as The Martian.Ryland Grace has a puzzle on his hands. He wakes up without a clue as to where he is, but he seems to be alone except for a computer AI that was keeping him alive. Unfortunately it didn't seem to be doing the same for two others in his ... wherever he is ... as he notes the decayed corpses in their creches on the ... well, it's a ship. A space ship. And bit by bit Grace puts the pieces of the puzzle together.An alien microbe has been discovered. Ryland Grace is brought on to the science team to learn more about the life form because Grace, currently a middle school science teacher, wrote papers about the notation that there does not need to be water to create life. Only in a biozone such as Earth's would water be needed, but other building blocks could be used in other systems.The science community as a whole mocked Grace, which is why he left and went on to teach kids, but now, he may be the best suited to understand this new life form. And as he remembers more and more, he also remembers that this life form is feeding on the energy output of the sun, which is decreasing the energy that gets to Earth, which spells disaster - as in the end of all life as currently known - on Earth if something isn't done.Scientists discover that Sol isn't the only star that is losing its energy output - likely due to the alien consumption, but that there is one star, in the center of all the known stars losing their energy, that remains constant with its output. In which case, the answer to the survival for Earth is likely found there, at Tau Ceti.The world's best scientific minds come together (by force and coercion) to create a ship that can get to Tau Ceti in twelve years (using the alien microbe as fuel) with shuttle pods to bring back answers to how to save the planet, but for the crew, it's a one-way trip.Knowing why he's there is only the first puzzle for Grace. Now he has to figure out how to save Earth. There's a very small window of time for him to discover the way to save the human race and get the answers sent back. Take too long and the shuttles will return to a dead planet.This book is amazing.Author Andy Weir brings us back to the magic that made The Martian so successful - an abandoned scientist trying to survive. But Ryland Grace's story is more complicated because he's not just trying to survive, but also help humanity survive.There's lots and lots of science - which is part of Weir's writing signature - and there's also a really wonderful story.It's hard for me to tell you just what I liked about this book because anything I write will be a spoiler and a huge part of the joy in this book is making the discoveries with Ryland Grace.Grace is our main character, but through the liberal use of flashbacks, we have a full cast of characters - at least one quite important to the story. Everyone is unique and individual which makes it easy to read, but just as with The Martian, where Mark Watney's personality carries the story, Ryland Grace here is the smart-mouth, sometimes funny, obsessed scientist infusing his personal tastes into his discoveries. He's also quite smart - which is good since he will need his intellect to save all of humanity.This is a page-turner. I did not want to put this book down. Neither did my 21 year old son who picked up my copy after I was well into it and finished it before I did. And days later he's still talking about how much he liked it and quoting sections of it to me at the dinner table.I hope Ballantine Books will do a very large print run because this is going to be huge seller and you definitely don't want to miss out on the biggest thing to come out in 2021.Looking for a good book? Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is proof that lightning strikes twice as this has all the excitement and energy of Weir's debut novel, with a more complicated storyline that will hold the reader all the way to the end.

Brenda Geraci

6 de junio de 2026

Will Read Again and Again

I bought this book after seeing excerpts from the movie Project Hail Mary. Oh, my, what a book! Absolute page turner. I kept going back to reread some portions. Now I can't wait to see the film by its name. It's a story of science fiction, yes, but so much more. It speaks to the universal need of relationship, companionship, to have someone to believe in, trust in, and be the best friend of all. Grace was the recipient of such a friendship in an little alien that looks like a spider made out of rock, hence Grace names him Rocky. You will belly laugh, cry sad and happy tears, bite your nails until they bleed, and cheer, cheer, cheer for these characters as they race to discover a way to save both their planets from what is causing their suns to dim and lose power to sustain life. Touches every emotion you have whether you want it to or not. A must-have for any lover of books that will, as Rocky says, AMAZE, AMAZE, AMAZE!Ver más

7 personas la encontraron útil