Project Hail Mary
{5/5} “They have some of the best supercomputers in the world. I needed their supercomputers and engineers to try all kinds of scenarios and propagation models for how Astrophage could get around in the galaxy. Back to the point: These local stars have been dimming for decades. And the rate of dimming increases exponentially — just like we’re seeing with the sun.”
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, published in 2021
Ryland Grace is on a spaceship sent on a last-ditch effort to solve the problem of the Astrophage, alien microbes that are draining the energy from the sun. When he wakes up he’s lost a lot of memory, which gradually comes back. His 2 colleagues are dead, he has an unintelligent computer, and he discovers he’s in a different solar system.
With a delightful main character and a gripping story, this is the book for you today. It even includes a reference to Zork.
It’s about mistakes that happen when you’re absurdly tired and taking painkillers, being sent on a mission against your will, and the process of using science to solve a problem.
The conversations between Grace and his new friend* are thrilling.
The common structure of alternating sections in the present with flashbacks is used to great effect, with the main character remembering more of his own memories.
This is the 1st book I’ve read by Weir. I previously reviewed the movie The Martian based on his novel.
Spoiler alert
*An alien who’s in the same place for the same reason