Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary

[aelfgyfu_mead]

 I had read some negative reviews of the book and so postponed reading it, even though I'd given it to Brilliant Husband as a gift, and he liked it. Progeny's enjoyment made me pick it up, and it was quite a ride. No regrets!

It helped that I kept in mind how I enjoyed The Martian by the same author: I picked it up in an airport before it was so popular, with low expectations and a desire just to make a long trip tolerable. I soon learned that the word "subtle" is not in Weir's dictionary, that we're not here for the prose or the characterization, but that he can think through the details of an impossible situation scientifically and drag me along for the ride.

This book is significantly more ambitious and tremendously inventive. I should not have waited so long to read it! It opens with a character waking up who can't even remember his name, let alone where he is, and it feels like horror: he can scarcely move, and metal arms come at him and do things like drug him. He realizes after a little bit that two other people are with him—and then that they aren't alive any more. If you want no spoilers, stop there, but it's not really horror! (I should know, because I keep picking up things I think aren't horror only to find that they are.) Our protagonist sciences the dren out of everything while remembering what got him there in a series of flashbacks. It's well paced and a lot of fun to read.

Much of the science is real, and I think all the math is. The novel also has a lot of speculation, though, and I can't always tell the difference! 

I have nitpicks, which should probably go behind a cut. 

Weir is almost the opposite of Ted Chiang when it comes to language. He spent all his speculation on astrophage, xenonite, and taumoeba, so there's nothing left. First contact should not be that easy! Remember TNG, "The Ensigns of Command"?

Troi: What did I just say?
Picard: Cup. Glass.
Troi: Are you sure? I mean have meant liquid. Clear. Brown. Hot.

It's not rocket science, but I would have loved a little of that! They had ridiculously few misunderstandings! And even Next Gen has a better handle on language and first contact.

Also, I wanted a sense of Rocky's culture. What do his people do for art? Do they have literature? Oral, written, or a mix? Since their language is what we experience as music, what is their music? Do they cook? Season their food? Do they have arts we can't imagine because our bodies are so different?
No luck.

Weir managed to give his character a major flaw, but he still has a ways to go on characterization. And Grace, despite being smart and reasonably perceptive about other people, cannot see what his flaw is until Stratt tells him! Also, I feel like I as a reader didn't get enough insight into him to see that coming, and he could have given more hints. See: not subtle. I do see improvements in his characterization and the level of interpersonal interactions he's describing. He definitely comes at this from the science end rather than the humanities end, but I hope I'll keep seeing improvements.

Also in the Not Subtle files: Ryland GRACE is IN the Hail Mary? As in "Hail Mary, full of Grace"?! 
I just realized I missed Artemis, and the poor reviews might actually have been for Artemis rather than Project Hail Mary, because I thought I was reading his second book. I'm also now not sure which one I gave BH.

I will definitely watch for his next book (and probably read Artemis, but I think I'd best keep my expectations low for that one).

Comments

[sholio]

I also feel like I had Artemis/Project Hail Mary confusion, because I started reading Hail Mary and was like "uh, I thought this was supposed to be set on the moon??" and only realized it was a different book a bit later.

Anyway, I really loved it! Definitely as much fun as The Martian, for me. (Artemis I tried later and simply bounced off. Maybe I'll give it another go at some point.) But this was a definite win! I can see your criticisms, and personally I didn't feel that the flashbacks worked all that well. (Someone in my comments when I talked about it said that some of the dissonance is probably because Weir naturally gravitates to writing nice, team-player heroes, and tried to write a jerk this time and it didn't work all that well because he still comes across as a nice team player even during the time when he's supposed to be a jerk.) But the amnesiac-on-a-spaceship intro was just catnip for me, and I found the whole plot tense and exciting and really a lot of fun.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

Weir naturally gravitates to writing nice, team-player heroes, and tried to write a jerk this time and it didn't work all that well because he still comes across as a nice team player even during the time when he's supposed to be a jerk
Absolutely true! It undercut my sense of a rounded characte to some extent. But again, I didn't go in looking for that.

Maybe I won't rush to read Artemis; I have many, many other books I want to read!

[astrogirl]

Glad you finally got to it and enjoyed it, after all! I agree, it's not flawless, but I found it ridiculously engaging.

I do think, actually, it's Artemis, of all his books, that's gotten the poor reviews. (I don't think it was terrible, but it lacks the sciencey sense-of-wonder spark the other two have, and when you take that away, there's not a whole lot left.)

[aelfgyfu_mead]

t lacks the sciencey sense-of-wonder spark the other two have, and when you take that away, there's not a whole lot left
Oh, golly! Yeah, without that, it hardly seems worth the effort. I'll just put it low on my priorities.

[nialla]

I read Artemis when it came out, and it just didn't have the "science the shit out if it" sensibilities of The Martian. The lead character was a bit of a jerk and I couldn't really root for her. I think maybe Weir was trying too hard and had a sophomore slump.

I really enjoyed Project Hail Mary. The science was back. I'd read that a lot of teachers had wanted to use The Martian in class to get students interested in science, but couldn't due to the language. Weir authorized a student edition, and in PHM made the lead a former teacher who's already used to editing his language.

There's a movie adaptation in the works. Supposed to be out in March 2026. Lots of big names in the cast and crew, with Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

Weir authorized a student edition
I did not know this! I did notice that it was easy to understand because of Grace being so accustomed to talking to middle schoolers.

I may go see the movie. The adaptation of The Martian was fun, even if it had less science!

[nialla]

The Martian: Classroom Edition - https://a.co/d/hlkqumf

Drew Goddard was the script writer for The Martian and is also adapting Project Hail Mary, so I think that's a good sign. Principal filming is complete, so they're working on f/x and other finish work.

I'm not familiar with the actress for Stratt (Sandra Hüller), but she's German and not a Generic American Actress. I think that's another good sign.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

That edition looks really cool!

I will be watching for the movie for Project Hail Mary. Thanks!