“Human beings have a remarkable ability to accept the abnormal and make it normal.”
Ryland Grace wakes up in a medical room, where a robot is asking him what is name is. He can’t remember. In the room are two other people, but they are dead. The robot feeds him meals, but doesn’t help with Ryland’s memory. As the days pass, he slowly remembers and when he finally remembers his name, he obtains access to the room above his. He’s on a space ship …. and he doesn’t know how or why! As he investigates his surroundings and time passes, he finally remembers that he’s on a suicide mission to save Earth, but he now has to do it all by himself.
I have read The Martian and Artemis by Andy Weir and enjoyed them both. I heard good things about Project Hail Mary and waited several weeks for it to become available on Libby. I can see why there is such a demand to read this book.
Once Ryland remembers his mission, he gets to work. An alien substance is stealing the energy from the sun, which will kill off mankind in about 30 years. As they study the substance, scientists find a planet that has the substance, but it not experiencing the same effects. Ryland has been sent to find out how that planet is doing it and send the information back to Earth. He had been put into a coma to survive the years-long trip.
Although slightly reminiscent of The Martian with a man alone in space, Project Hail Mary was a surprisingly fun read with such a twist that I never saw coming.
Project Hail Mary is not just for science fiction lovers. Readers of good fiction will enjoy this story about what people will do to save other living creatures.
Do you read science fiction? Share your favorite in the comments!