Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir 5*

[MargieD2017]

I so enjoyed this book!! 6 stars wouldn't be enough. It was thought provoking, exciting, sensitive and placed you in a scifi fiction that was full of scientific narrative that shaped the believable reality. I can't imagine myself awaking millions of miles away from my planet, not remembering my name or anything of my past, accompanied by two corpses and no one else but the robotic caregivers and muliple computer screens.. well, until ..., .

Ryland slowly recovers his memory and the reader is aware of these memories by Weir's creative writing style where mostly alternating chapters track his current position against 'how he got here' chapters.

I can't speak more highly of this novel though I will say that if you have a dislike for science, technology and/or physics you will struggle with this book that is a least half describing and discussing the application of these disciplines. I found these parts enlightening and don't believe the book would be as good without every word of it.

The book's ending leave you pondering if you woud have done the same. Please do read this book. Give it go even if you are uncertain of your concern regarding the sciences. Andy Weir makes the science easy to understand.

[John]

I'm sure that this book is good read; however, I loved listening to it,

[Karin]

Wow, I hadn't realized it was shelved literary fiction--I should comb that list. I'm a fan of Andy Weir's writing.

[Book Concierge]

Yes, especially if your eyes glaze over when reading about science, try the AUDIO!!!!!

[Robin P]

It's the same with The Martian, fabulous on audio, even the "science stuff" that I would have thought would be boring.

[Theresa]

I read it and it was fabulous - even all the science stuff that isn't my thing at all.

Wonderful review, Margie, and agree with all!

[Joy D]

This is one of the best books that incorporates lots of science that I have ever read. I absolutely loved it! Lots of Sci Fi also qualifies as Lit Fic, since it generally makes a point about human nature or the human condition. So, if you're not a big Lit Fic fan, check out Sci Fi such as:
The Book of Strange New Things
A Canticle for Leibowitz
Solaris
The Man in the Maze
Anathem
Speak
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
The History of Bees
The Humans

[Theresa]

You know another book loaded with science that was one of the first, decades ago, that thrilled readers like me who are not into science or grasp it that well and it was way over our heads? And we did not care because the story and writing was so good?

The Hunt for Red October

Even Sean Connery was not able to save the poor movie adaptation.

[Robin P]

Theresa wrote: "You know another book loaded with science that was one of the first, decades ago, that thrilled readers like me who are not into science or grasp it that well and it was way over our heads? And we ..."

I've only seen the movie and I loved it. The episode this week where a Russian pilot defected to Ukraine (along with his considerable knowledge) was described as a "real-life Hunt for Red October".

[Theresa]

It is a case of the book being so much richer. Now that 35 years have passed since I read the book, I find the movie more enjoyable.

Tom Clancy eerily previewed many things that have happened since, and I do not believe it is a case of real life getting the ideas from his books. At least in his earlier ones. Most shocking in a way was the ending of Debt of Honor came immediately to mind after 9/11 - my NYC friends, who had also read it,and I talked about how in shock we kept thinking 'this was in a Tom Clancy book'.

[Kristian]

Spiffing piece of work. Spellbinding.