Of all the Sci-Fi I’ve read in the past year – and believe me I read a lot – Project Hail Mary, written by Andy Weir author of The Martian, caught my attention consuming my thoughts and proving impossible to put down. The story follows a lone astronaut who upon waking up, is unable to remember his name, where he is from, and most importantly, why he is alone on a spaceship light years away from Earth.
“I’m a scientist! Now we’re getting somewhere! Time for me to use science. All right, genius brain: come up with something! …I’m hungry. You have failed me, brain.”
Although Weir approaches the topic of amnesia with humour, he creates a tone of intrigue and suspense. The story is told through two engaging narratives with chapters alternating between a dynamic present and memories of the past. This allows us to feel deeply connected to the character as we learn about his situation together – even feeling frustrated at the lack of information available to us and the astronaut!
As a female reader, I think the trope of a ‘macho and heroic lead that single-handedly saves the world’ is tired and boring, but Weir makes it clear this is not that type of book. Our hero is not infallible or perfect; he makes mistakes and at times he is even a little pathetic. All this make him feel very real, and you can’t help but root for him.
Weir’s dry and sardonic humour balances out the drama and suspense of the novel, making for an entertaining and easy read. The book is well-paced, and despite the, at times, hefty scientific content does not drag at any point. As our astronaut recovers his fragmented memories, the intrigue starts to wear off, and gives way to a new tone of desperation. This makes Project Hail Mary ridiculously difficult to put down.
So, whether you are a die-hard Sci-Fi fan or looking for an easy introduction to the genre, Project Hail Mary is an incredibly fun read and is sure to become a modern classic. With a movie adaptation coming out on the 20th March, it is not one to be missed!!
By Marina Milsum, January 28, 2026.
edited by Lily Pagano.
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