Project Hail Mary

Weir should probably only write isolation stories. It worked for [b:The Martian 18007564 The Martian Andy Weir https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413706054l/18007564.SY75.jpg 21825181] and it worked here. While something just didn't really click with his second novel, [b:Artemis 34928122 Artemis Andy Weir https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494273579l/34928122.SY75.jpg 56402016]. My suspicion, it's the isolation plot (and possibly the male protagonist). This was just lots of fun to read, the equivalent of a popcorn-blockbuster (which it no doubt will be turned into). There are a bunch of narrative and science/engineering details that felt fabricated for maximum plot effect, but that's easy to excuse while you're enteratined and emotionally invested. I would have preferred though, if the protagonist wouldn't have been *forced* to join the mission. It's clear that Weird felt it's necessary to include that reveal to make up for the early amnesia, and the general fish-out-of-water clumsiness. But that gave the whole story a weird sidetone, that clearly could have been avoided.