Project Hail Mary
Ratings2,278
Average rating4.5
Versión breve:
¿Es mejor que El marciano? - No, nunca.
¿Es mejor que Artemisa? -Si, definitivamente.
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Versión no tan breve:
El principal problema de Proyecto Hail Mary es que Ryland Grace es un “copia y pega” de Mark Watney: tienen la misma forma de ser, el mismo humor, saben más o menos lo mismo y resuelven las cosas con la misma metodología; lo cual deja mucho que desear de la capacidad de Andy Weir para crear nuevos personajes.
El libro tiene mucha ciencia (me gustan estos libros) pero lamentablemente Weir abusa un poco de esto poniendo al protagonista en situaciones muy rebuscadas que soluciona de forma inverosímil. La verdadera ciencia es ensayo-error, pero aquí parece ensayo-exito. Para todo logra encontrar una solución que a la primera ya funciona bien.
Me parece que para una historia que en su mayoría transcurre en un solo lugar, ha sido un libro muy extenso.
El final ha sido satisfactorio y no puedo negar que me ha dado algo de nostalgia.
Heard the audiobook narrated by Ray Porter (the narrative is that of a mental monologue, so it works well).
Very conflicted about how to review this one. I couldn't put it down, much like The Martian. And yet I'm dissatisfied with a number of choices Weir made, the literary deja vu being my primary contention.
T'was an entertaining disappointment.
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.
An Amazing galactic novel
Amazing novel that will capture your full attention and won't be able to let go off until you finish it
Just when I thought [a:Andy Weir 6540057 Andy Weir https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1382592903p2/6540057.jpg] was a “one-hit wonder” for his great and exciting “[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]”, he comes along and writes something that completely blew away my mind.“Project Hail Mary” is spectacularly well done, features even more “scientific vibes” and despite being deeply rooted in science fiction, everything in this book feels (shockingly) plausible and believable.Earth is dying from climate change... Dr. Ryland Grace, a grumpy (ex-)scientist gone school teacher, is Earth's last line of defense and her last hope. As part of the crew of the interstellar spaceship “Hail Mary”, tasked with finding a solution for the afore-mentioned climate change issue, Grace ships out into space. How this came to be and Grace's exploits in space are narrated alternatingly (mostly) between chapters. First, we learn how Grace wakes up after an induced coma and then - by witnessing his memory coming back in flashbacks - the book tells the entire story in two parallel but ultimately converging storylines. Weir masterfully entwines the two storylines with each other and reveals piece by piece. He starts slow (»A teacher! I'm a schoolteacher! I remember it now!«), spins his story and material up to a riveting, amazing, fantastic middle part that dumbstruck me and comes furiously to a wonderful, brilliant, humane and alien ending.“Project Hail Mary” was compelling, funny, made me laugh out loud at some points and sob and/or cry at others. Its broad angle of humour from the amusingly simple...»I clench my teeth. I clench my fists. I clench my butt. I clench every part of me that I know how to clench. It gives me a feeling of control. I'm doing something by aggressively doing nothing.« ... to the subtle irony and sarcasm (examples omitted to avoid spoilers). Grace is discernibly human: He is childish, yet serious. Realistic, yet optimistic. A selfish nerd, and optimistic scientist. In other words, he's basically a good guy; nerdy, weird but a nice guy. Not as selfless maybe as he'd like (to imagine) at times... But maybe there's hope for Grace yet... Because he never loses his basic optimistic outlook (it may be impaired and buried at times) despite seemingly unbeatable odds and, ultimately, that's what I believe in, too. That despite our Earth starting to die from climate change, we will eventually prevail. »I bet they did work together. Maybe it's just the childish optimist in me, but humanity can be pretty impressive when we put our minds to it. After all, everyone worked together to build the Hail Mary. That was no easy feat.« Nor was it an easy feat to surpass “The Martian” and compose a masterpiece that's even better. And yet, Andy Weir did it.If you have even a tiny bit of a nerd inside you, if you like your science fiction somewhat plausible, if you're not turned off by science - if any of that applies, go and read this book. It's really, truly brilliant. Six out of five stars. ♩♫♪♪♫ Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram
Felt a little like a Star Trek episode. Probably wouldn't work as a movie, but still an enjoyable read.
If you've read The Martian and liked it, you're also going to like this new scifi adventure from Andy Weir. There's some familiar unexpected twists and turns and impossible “That's it, we're going to die” scenarios, but also learnings of friendship and working together to solve the most difficult problems life has ever faced. When brilliant minds put their heads together, incredible things may come true.
Executive Summary: If you liked the Martian, you'll probably like this. It follows a very similar structure. I didn't like this quite as much, but overall enjoyed it.Audiobook: Ray Porter does a fantastic job as usual. I always enjoy his narration style and he's a good fit for tone of this book. It really adds a bit extra that makes me glad I did the audio version.Full ReviewI really loved [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]. I'm generally not a “hard” sci-fi fan. I tend to prefer space fantasy or space opera. However there was something about that book that just really appealed to me.Their wasn't so much of a plot as a series of scientific problems where our overqualified protagonist managed to “science the shit” out of them until the book ended. This book had a very similar structure. The protagonist felt like it could have easily been Mark Watney.I struggled a bit with this at the start. Our protagonist wakes up with amnesia which to me felt like it was simply a plot device to create more mystery and suspense as the slowly remember critical details at just the right time of the book.That said at a certain point of the book (I won't say which, since I don't like to include spoilers in my reviews), things really picked up for me and I was hooked in. It was this aspect more than anything that distinguished this book from the Martian for me.That said I felt like I had to suspend my disbelief a bit. Things just felt a bit over dramatic at times. I was also starting to wear down a bit at the “formula” of problem after problem with science to the rescue.Overall I found this to be a fast and (mostly) fun read, but a bit derivative of his earlier work. I think if you enjoyed the formula of the Martian, you'll likely enjoy it again here.
Very similar format to The Martian, but with more heart. It also made me chuckle out loud way more than I expected.
If you enjoyed The Martian but wanted a little more fantastical Sci-Fi, this brings it to the table.
That was one hell of a book. Some interesting science, funny, and one fascinating and original adventure. A must-read summer novel.
Actually more like 4.5 stars – this was a refreshingly clean and scientifically adventurous tale with just the right amount of melodrama inserted. The author has penned a book that would make (IMHO) an even better movie than “The Martian”. Plenty of twists and turns, both in the Earth-centric part of the story as well as the cosmic one; the approach of merging the two perspectives was very well done and kept the plot moving while adding the necessary background information so that plot was even more enjoyable. Kudos to the author!
great book, love andy weir's style. i've been following him since the martian just like everyone else and was a bit disappointed with artemis. but this one really felt like a return to form, the fun exciting science along with gripping story.
there were a few things that i didn't fully believe though, mostly the ease of communication between grace and rocky, and speed at how quick they were able to converse about high level concepts
Andy Weir is good at writing one scenario and one character. This book is that scenario and that character. And it's very good.
Add in a couple more characters than in the Martian, and a plot device that makes the story progress in 2 parallel tracks that are both entertaining and engaging, and the book is a pleasure to read! If you havent read The Martian this book will be incredible for you. If you have you'll recognise a lot of elements but you'll enjoy it just as much!
Also, Rocky is awesome :D
Been sobbing pretty much nonstop for roughly the last tenth of the book. 10/10, would let Andy emotionally abuse me again.
I enjoyed Weir's first book about a science dude on Mars, but decided to give his second one a miss after hearing lackluster reviews about his attempt at a female protagonist.
For his third book, he's gone back to his tried-and-true approach of having a science dude talk about a lot of science shit and although my eyes glaze over as all the science shit happens, it was a fun and heartwarming read.
Heartwarming isn't the first word that comes to mind when the plot centres around him waking up alone on a spaceship but it really does turn out that way, somehow.
I don't want to spoil it any more than that, so give it a read if you like sci-fi (I would love if they could turn this one into a movie too).
Originally posted at www.emgoto.com.
Description of a computer screen. Math. Description of the computer screen again. Quip. Repeat for a couple hundred pages.
Wow, that was great. I wasn't intending to read this for a while, but I got my copy and foolishly had a look at the first page and got sucked in with all the force of a black hole. It was one of those books where you get annoyed with reality for occasionally forcing you to close the book - and when you're not actually reading, the back of your mind is either replaying scenes or trying to figure out what will happen next.It was riveting, funny, very emotional and absolutely fascinating.I thought [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] was great, I loved [b:Artemis 34928122 Artemis Andy Weir https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494273579l/34928122.SY75.jpg 56402016], and I was gripped like a vice by Project Hail Mary. Andy Weir has really proved that he is a talented writer. I can't wait for his next book. Note: I recommend going into this book knowing as little as possible about the plot. In an ideal world I think you wouldn't even see the cover. The book is a series of puzzles, trying to solve the puzzles ahead of the main character is half the fun and everything is part of one puzzle or another. So the less you know the more fun you can have. That said, for those of you who've read it (or those of you who don't care):I loved Rocky! OK he was as cute as a scary space spider-crab/Scotty can be, but I also loved his "design", how his weird biology operated and the very logical gaps in his knowledge. I really loved the relationship that developed between these two incalculably lonely individuals, both grieving for their crews, both growing to respect, appreciate and value each other.I also loved the endings for the two characters. We got to see that Rocky is back with Adrian, and Grace is back in a classroom - I thought that was just perfect.
Ryland Grace is a brilliant scientist who left a career in academia to be a middle school science teacher. Except he has just woken up alone on a spaceship millions of miles from Earth and he can't remember his name or why he is there. As his memories slowly return he realizes he is in a race against time to save humanity from extinction... no pressure!
Project Hail Mary is in Andy Weir's trademark style - lots of hard science that is conveyed in an understandable way. It is a more similar vibe to The Martian than to Artemis, so if you loved The Martian but weren't as keen on Artemis definitely give this one a chance. I enjoyed both the story and the characters. A good read for when you want to put the science in science fiction!
Pretty much the same formula as the martian. Positive things happen, then disaster, and smart person figures it out. But the story is different enough to be super enjoyable. I read this book in less than 24 hours, which I haven't done in a while. Its absolutely nothing deep, but is enjoyable, especially if you like the random science tidbits thrown in.