After having recently read The Martian by Andy Weir, I decided I would also try his latest book, Project Hail Mary. For me, what made The Martian so enjoyable was the humor, mixed in with the science, as well as an always tense, though fascinating space adventure. I could only hope that Project Hail Mary would be more of the same.
The Situation: Waking up from a deep sleep can be a disorienting process. But Ryland Grace is not waking up from a normal night's sleep. He has been in a deep coma for a very long time, and now, he is not even sure where he is, or who he is. From initial observations, it (slowly) becomes clear that he is in a spacecraft of some kind, and he is not alone. Two others are with him, but it seems their bodies did not survive the trip. It is clear that Ryland was well taken care of during his journey, and it looks like he has the ship's automated medical robots to thank for that, though that does not solve the issue of his memory, and what he is supposed to be doing. It will certainly take some time for Ryland to fully remember who he is and his mission. Coming to terms with the fact that he is millions of miles from home is only the beginning, and things get interesting when he spots another spacecraft.
The Problem: Earth is in trouble. It seems the sun is getting dimmer, and if the situation continues for much longer, a mass extinction event is imminent. Before he became one of the crew mates on the Hail Mary, Ryland was a middle school science teacher and loved his job. He knew his students thought of him as the "cool teacher," and he relished that. However, once news got out about what was happening to the sun, his life changed forever. Sought out because of a paper he wrote in college, Ryland soon becomes one of the key people in the planet's attempt at saving itself. But now he is far from home, with only fuzzy memories of what has happened and what he is supposed to do, and two dead bodies whose names he cannot immediately remember. Fortunately, he is incredibly good at science, and the ship seems to have everything he needs. Still, the clock is ticking, and Earth is counting on him.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction book set in a time that could easily be present day. When scientists realize that the sun is getting dimmer, therefore slowly making Earth colder, the nations of the world band together to find a solution, and Project Hail Mary is it. There is plenty of science, as well as space travel, politics, and a picture of what it takes to put together a space project of this magnitude when time is extremely limited. Laws and policies have to be ignored, the issue of funding is no longer discussed, and tough decisions are made, and this is all before the actual project even begins. Ryland Grace is a school teacher who happens to know a lot about his field, and that is enough for him to be put on the fast track to becoming an astronaut. And probably what is most interesting about the problem that could lead to a cold Earth is how it would happen quicker if it were not for global warming, though it is still not enough to save the planet.
My Verdict: I think those that enjoyed The Martian will enjoy this book as well. Sure, it is another lone survivor far from home attempting to do the impossible. Though this time he is not immediately sure of what is happening, and he does not have the potential benefit of being on solid ground. It is another exploration of what humans are capable of when they have no other choice. Problems are looked into, solutions are formed, and risks sometimes have to be taken. Sure, mistakes are often made, and the whole process starts all over again. But what amazes me the most is that with Weir, 'impossible' does not immediately equate to 'hopeless,' and it often should. The situations are fully acknowledged, as well as how difficult they are, but the characters keep going and the story always moves forward in a believable way. And making Ryland a middle school science teacher instead of a highly trained astronaut adds a wonderful layer of relatability.
Favorite Moment: It is a little bit morbid, but there was something about the scene where Ryland acknowledges his dead crew members and gives them a proper 'burial.'
Favorite Character: Ryland is by himself a solid amount of this book, so it is easy to pick him. I want to also mention someone else, but I feel like even putting in their name would act as a spoiler.
Recommended Reading: Naturally, I recommend The Martian, but also The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez.
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