And I absolutely loved it. It is honestly one of my new favorite books. I am going to tag basically this whole post as spoilers because the thing that truly makes this book amazing does not start until almost 100 pages in.

SPOILERS

FOR THOSE ON APPS THAT CAN’T HANDLE THEM

SPOILERS

spoiler

I love stories about friendship and the friendship between Grace and Rocky was truly beautiful. They are both lost and confused and in a horrible situation but they both take everything in stride. They see a way to help eachother and to not have to do it alone and they grab onto it with both (all five) hands. The way they both accept the other’s habits knowing there are things that are fundamentally different between each other is a lesson for everyone.

The growth we see from Grace is also some of the best I’ve read. We learn later that he chose the self-centered path by refusing to join the Hail Mary crew on his own. Then, when faced with a very similar choice he chooses to save Rocky and his people instead of himself. I honestly cried.

Not only are our two main characters amazing but they are FUNNY! I laughed out loud so many times!

Overall I cant wait to re-read this one a bit down the line.

END SPOILERS

So, have you read this one? What did you think?

  • CashmereWitch
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    1 year ago

    I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I did not like The Martian at all. I’ve seen so many people say they love Project Hail Mary and that it got them out of their reading slumps and you have to read it. Do you think there’s a chance I’d like this one even though I did not like The Martian? I want to give it a chance because so many people whose opinions I trust seem to really like it, but idk, maybe Weir just isn’t for me.

    • projectazar@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      What specifically didn’t you like about The Martian? Hail Mary is weirder and in some ways, a more exciting story, but Weir’s writing style is the same in both books and there is some similarity in the plots.

      • CashmereWitch
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        1 year ago

        I didn’t connect with the character very much, and as much as I appreciated the realistic hard sci fi approach, I just didn’t find it interesting to read from a story standpoint. Sometimes it felt like I was reading a science textbook instead of a compelling narrative.

        • OldFartPhil
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          1 year ago

          I didn’t hate The Martian, but I did not love it. I really liked Project Hail Mary, though. The sciencey stuff was still there, but it was bolted on to a much more compelling and interesting story.

          • CashmereWitch
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            1 year ago

            Yeah, I wouldn’t say I hated it, but maybe it was just hyped up too much and I expected more. I don’t mind the sciencey stuff if it fits in with a good story, but I just wasn’t that interested in the story in The Martian. Project Hail Mary does sound like it’s more intriguing, I guess I should just read it and find out for myself.

        • capybeby@sh.itjust.worksOP
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          1 year ago

          Honestly I haven’t read the Martian (just seen the movie) but I think you might have a better time with Hail Mary. The science is defiantly still prominent and robust but we don’t have a single main character which I think sews the science and story together better.

    • sloonark
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      1 year ago

      I thought The Martian was just ok, but I didn’t like Project Hail Mary. It’s full of ridiculous and contrived coincidences and convenient events rather than actual problem solving. I know a lot of people love it but IMO it’s very weak writing and plotting.