Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (author of The Martian)

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Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (author of The Martian)

Post by FlyingPenguin »

If you loved The martian, this is a story that is similar in that there is a smart science guy who has to figure out the solution to a myriad series of problems. It's The Martian on crack.

Set in present time, this is the story of the sole survivor of a desperate space mission to save humanity.

Full of the same kind of humor as The Martian. The science is great, the plot is great, the character is great.

I'm listening to the Audible version and it's the same reader (Ray Porter) that reads all the Bobiverse books, and he's wonderful.

HIGHLY recommended.
A lone astronaut must save the earth from disaster in this incredible new science-based thriller from the number-one New York Times best-selling author of The Martian.

Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission - and if he fails, humanity and the Earth itself will perish.

Except that right now, he doesn't know that. He can't even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.

All he knows is that he's been asleep for a very, very long time. And he's just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.

His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, he realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Alone on this tiny ship that's been cobbled together by every government and space agency on the planet and hurled into the depths of space, it's up to him to conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.

And thanks to an unexpected ally, he just might have a chance.

Part scientific mystery, part dazzling interstellar journey, Project Hail Mary is a tale of discovery, speculation, and survival to rival The Martian - while taking us to places it never dreamed of going.
https://www.audible.com/pd/Project-Hail ... B08G9PRS1K
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Re: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (author of The Martian)

Post by FlyingPenguin »

Finished this a couple of weeks ago. I have to say,. in many ways it's a better book than The Martian, but only because there's a much grander story involved.

Highly recommended.
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Re: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (author of The Martian)

Post by Losbot »

Damn you. Now I need to get a copy of it.
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Re: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (author of The Martian)

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Also, if you haven't read Armada by Ernest Cline, then give it a try. Damn good book. Hopefully will make it to the big screen.

It's just another day of high school for Zack Lightman. He's daydreaming through another boring math class, with just one more month to go until graduation and freedom - if he can make it that long without getting suspended again.

Then he glances out his classroom window and spots the flying saucer.

At first Zack thinks he's going crazy.

A minute later he's sure of it. Because the UFO he's staring at is straight out of the videogame he plays every night, a hugely popular online flight simulator called Armada - in which gamers just happen to be protecting the Earth from alien invaders.

But what Zack's seeing is all too real. And his skills - as well as those of millions of gamers across the world - are going to be needed to save the Earth from what's about to befall it.

Yet even as he and his new comrades scramble to prepare for the alien onslaught, Zack can't help thinking of all the science-fiction books, TV shows, and movies he grew up reading and watching and wonder: Doesn't something about this scenario seem a little too...familiar?

Armada is at once a rollicking, surprising thriller, a classic coming-of-age adventure, and an alien-invasion tale like nothing you've ever heard before - one whose every minute is infused with author Ernest Cline's trademark pop-culture savvy.
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Re: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (author of The Martian)

Post by Losbot »

Follow up. I'm about 27 chapters in and really enjoying this book.

Side note: The reader (Ray Porter) sounds an awful lot like you, Bob. Seriously. In my head, he sounds a lot like you.
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Re: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (author of The Martian)

Post by FlyingPenguin »

I'll take that as a compliment. When I hear Ray Porter's voice, I think of Bob from the Bobbiverse novels because he reads them also. And I can picture the protagonist from Project Hail Mary being Bob from another timeline :)

Yeah that was a fun read. Will likely re-read it again.
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Re: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (author of The Martian)

Post by Losbot »

Just finished the audio book. LOVED IT. Thanks for recommending it. What an emotional roller coaster. Would love to see a movie made of it as well.
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Re: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (author of The Martian)

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Is it worth getting the book or the audio version?
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Re: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (author of The Martian)

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Executioner wrote: Thu Oct 14, 2021 11:12 pm Is it worth getting the book or the audio version?
Either one but I have to admit, the audio book was done VERY WELL.
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Re: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (author of The Martian)

Post by FlyingPenguin »

It all depends on your tastes. I read audiobooks 90% of the time nowadays (working out, biking, driving, or just sitting on the porch). I find it easier to get through slow parts that way, so I'm all in on audible versions, although I often take the option to buy the Kindle version bundled with it for an extra couple of bucks (and you can jump back and forth between them and it keeps track of your bookmarks and where you are).

I still prefer reading a book or kindle if it's non fiction. Science or history books can be pretty hard for me to listen to.

As Los said, the reader is very good in this book. He's one of audible's best sci fi readers. I'm very used to his voice because he reads some of my favorite books.
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Re: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (author of The Martian)

Post by Executioner »

Wow what an incredible book! I'm at chapter 16. Hard to believe the thought that went into making this book. Wonder if they will make a movie out of it? Chris Nolan?
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Re: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (author of The Martian)

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Finally fished it yesterday. I was somewhat disappointed at the ending... {edited for spoilers}

Looks like they will be making a movie from this book: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12042730/
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Re: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (author of The Martian)

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Edited out your description of the ending as it's a spoiler. I disagree, though, I thought the ending was satisfyingly different. It would have been a LOT easier to do the typical and expected ending.

I am on the fence about a movie. It would have to be the right director, who cares enough about he book, and who has the power to override the bean counters who will inevitably try to destroy the screenplay. However, at least the screenplay writer listed was a producer on The Martian so there's hope.
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Re: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (author of The Martian)

Post by Losbot »

Glad you liked it, Exec. I have to agree with Bob that the ending was great because it was not what I was expecting. Nice to see something different.
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