Project Hail Mary in On The Same Page

Jan 22, 2022 Joy D rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: space, science-fiction, favorites, zzck, friendship, reviewed, journeys, adventure, environmental, 2022-top-50

What a pleasure! This book is full of science, reasoning out solutions to difficult problems, creativity, humor, friendship, teamwork, communications, and a quest to save the earth. Protagonist Ryland Grace wakes up from a deep sleep and finds himself in what appears to be space. We gradually learn how he got there via flashbacks. The main storyline focuses on his journey and the goal.

There is a great deal to be learned from this book in many scientific disciplines, but it can also be read as a ...more

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Sep 22, 2021 Tawallah rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-actually-owe, sci-fi, audiobook, d-j-catch-up

Rating 3.5 stars

This hyped space opera has been quite divisive since its release. And that not surprising, I can understand both the love and the frustration with this one. I liked it enough but it required lots of suspension of belief to really enjoy. But, the underlying themes are solid.

Like everyone else, the less said about the plot, the better. The initial setup is Ryland Grace awakes alone on board a space ship from a coma with retrograde amnesia. We soon learn he is on his way to save E ...more

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Jul 08, 2021 Eirelyn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi-space, sci-fi-hard, sci-fi-futuristic-feels, zz4-25-stars, 2021-books

4.25 stars

***HERE, THERE BE SPOILERS***

I really liked this book. I tried not to compare it to The Martian, but I had read that the month before this one and absolutely loved it (one of my favorite books ever!), so it was difficult not to. But I tried to read this one as its own entity.

I felt like Ryland was very well developed. In fact, all of the characters were, including Rocky. I loved the relationship & friendship between Ryland & Rocky, and I am so glad that they remained friends throughout 4.25 stars

***HERE, THERE BE SPOILERS***

I really liked this book. I tried not to compare it to The Martian, but I had read that the month before this one and absolutely loved it (one of my favorite books ever!), so it was difficult not to. But I tried to read this one as its own entity.

I felt like Ryland was very well developed. In fact, all of the characters were, including Rocky. I loved the relationship & friendship between Ryland & Rocky, and I am so glad that they remained friends throughout the entire novel. I also really enjoyed all the backstory, as Ryland remembered more and more of his past. I also found it interesting (and rather refreshing, really) that Ryland absolutely, under no circumstances, wanted to be a part of the mission. He was terrified of going into space and had to be physically forced to do it, entirely against his will. When he finally remembered this fact, he mentioned something about how he was a coward, but honestly, I think most people would have had this reaction. He was not an astronaut; he was a science teacher. He never wanted to nor planned to ever go into space. That was not something that was even on his radar, and then suddenly, it was thrust upon him against his will. The refreshing part, however, was that he remained very human in his reaction. He didn't "rise to the occasion" and suddenly become this heroic person who decided to take on any life-threatening challenge that came his way (at least, not until he was already into it & had no other way to survive). He had to physically be forced onto the ship against his will. Of course, he did rise to the challenge once he was already in space, but a lot of that was self-preservation -- he was already in space, so everything he did was to survive. At least, until the end when he decided to put Rocky's life ahead of his own in order to save him & the Eridians.

I felt very satisfied with the ending. Ryland had mentioned earlier in the book that he really had no one back on earth (except his students, who would be all grown up by the time he returned), so I was glad that he and Rocky got to live together on Erid for the remainder of Ryland's life and that Ryland was also able to do what he loved in teaching the little Eridian children.

I was so happy that Ryland went back to help Rocky, once he realized the problem Rocky would be facing (& unable to fix himself). I was also glad that Rocky's "people" were able to solve the problem of Ryland's food on Erid. I didn't understand why they couldn't just, molecularly, create food that he could eat, so I was glad when he mentioned that that was exactly what they ended up doing.

I'm so glad this didn't turn into a "typical" alien/space story, where one or both of the species end up betraying or killing the other. It was so refreshing to see the two species able to work together & help each other out, with no ulterior or nefarious motives. All in all, I really enjoyed this book & the characters, and I found myself eager to come back to it each day. ...more

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Nov 13, 2021 Melissa rated it it was amazing

Oh my gosh! Such a great read!! I also didn't get too lost on all the scientific jargon to figure out what was happening in the story. Very well written and I think it would make a remarkable movie. Highly recommend!!! ...more

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May 03, 2022 Josie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Weir does space writing so well, especially when it comes to explaining principles and concepts; however, I couldn't fully invest in or enjoy the story bc the only reason the MC survives is sheer luck/hand of the author. Bc Weir knows Grace's contact with an alien species is going to work out, Grace becomes completely stupid (even though he's a BIOLOGIST) when it comes to safety and bio-hazards. And I get it; that stuff is boring and takes forever. Alien may not have happened if they'd followed ...more

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Sep 14, 2022 Dayna rated it it was amazing

My first 5 star of the year!!!

I genuinely love this book. There is this one moment in the book that pops into my head all the time and has me always dissolving into stitches because its oh so very scientific: "Um."

The humor I loved in The Martian is still prevalent. Oh, I swear the best part of this book was Rocky. Loved him. Loved the dynamic between Rocky and Ryland.

I'm so buying this the next time I get the chance. ...more

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