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Tangentially related, is this book worth the hype? I don't read a lot of genre fiction, but don't like to miss out on the exceptional (just finished and loved F

Tangentially related, is this book worth the hype? I don't read a lot of genre fiction, but don't like to miss out on the exceptional (just finished and loved Flowers for Algernon, as an example). Edit: Sounds like an enjoyable, low commitment book. Will give it a try, thanks for the feedback.

ecshafer 1y ago
No. Any Weir anything is not going to break into the tier of exceptional. Its YA fiction level writing with a bit of science sprinkled in.
loteck 1y ago
Almost nothing is worth the hype but the book is an enjoyable page turner if you like space adventures and speculative science. Audiobook also got some extra attention, I'd go with that if you like audiobooks.
- GolfPopper 1y ago
  This. It was fun and very readable, but not something I have any desire to go back and read again.
- GiorgioG 1y ago
  I loved the Audiobook.
  - anonymars 1y ago
    I would almost say you should try to listen to the audiobook instead of reading it, as a unique experience
    - joshgachnang 1y ago
      I haven't read the book, but I imagine the music notes wouldn't land the same way in written form.
ItsHarper 1y ago
Admittedly I am a sci-fi fan, but I loved it so much. The science fiction aspects are not the best part. Don't watch the trailer for the movie though, it's very spoiler-heavy.
- qingcharles 1y ago
  Yes, agreed, the trailer spoils the main twist. Avoid it.
- tickettotranai 1y ago
  What are you talking about lol, the prose, characters, and themes are all extremely flat. I would say the sci-fi things are what make it good.
jowea 1y ago
I liked the audiobook a lot, but I'm a SF aficionado, so my opinion may not be relevant. The other comment may be correct about the "serious literary critic" opinion.
konsalexee 1y ago
It was really enjoyable to read. And I also do not read a lot of fiction, with my last book being the Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy series. My verdict is that Project Hail Mary was way much more engaging in terms of story-telling. The concepts were cool, and tbh I look forward for the movie and see if the adaptation will be nice
mystified5016 1y ago
Yes, absolutely. It's maybe not a literary masterpiece and it's suspiciously similar to The Martian if you squint. But not many books can get me laughing out loud the second or third time through. It's a really fun read and I find the aliens particularly compelling in a way that most Sci-Fi doesn't get right.
- FeepingCreature 1y ago
  Please remove that spoiler.
- deleted 1y ago
  [deleted]
kyleblarson 1y ago
It is a super fast, super fun read.
sbelskie 1y ago
If you don't read/like much genre fiction, I would say probably no. The pacing is well done and I genuinely find story compelling, but the writing while solid-ish is not exactly of high literary quality. Additionally, in terms of genre I actually find Weir's books to be more like detective novels than sci-fi, though obviously lots of sci-fi elements in them.
- jetbalsa 1y ago
  I've found and some have proven that sci-fi is just a setting of sorts, a background to the story at hand. For instance the Backyard Starship series is 100% a detective / cop novel set in space. Asimov did one called The Naked Sun that was pretty much a murder mystery and from what I understand written to prove a point that sci-fi really is just a setting to what ever main genre you want out of it.
  - sbelskie 1y ago
    Yea that makes a lot of sense. The first Expanse novel (at least Miller’s storyline) fits here as well.
    - jetbalsa 1y ago
      I also think anime is in the same boat, there is a ton of different stories you can tell and how they are animated. its a shame it gets all lumped together like it does
  - jowea 1y ago
    I have the same opinion, likewise for fantasy. But a lot of scifi and fantasy stories really have similar tropes and plots, even if it is possible to write say, a romantic book with scifi trappings. There are also some books like I, Robot that really are about the scifi and not just another genre in a scifi setting.
  - xyzsparetimexyz 1y ago
    That's definitely not true for a large number of science fiction stories. The science is often a core component and can't be substituted for anything. What does Star Trek look like in a fantasy setting? It doesn't work at all.
JonoBB 1y ago
I typically prefer somewhat deeper and more thought-provoking material, but I enjoyed this book. It’s a light page-turner, written-to-be-turned-into-a-movie type book. Overall, I would recommend it.
- trey-jones 1y ago
  It's funny, I would not put this or the Martian into made-to-be-movie category, mainly featuring a single protagonist alone with his thoughts of how best to effect survival. I haven't (and probably won't) see the movies. I preferred the Martian very much compared to PHM, but I did enjoy it. Just had a problem with suspension of disbelief to do trivialization of language learning and communication (especially alien).
  - w-ll 1y ago
    I liked all of them but i thought the length and the production for a PHM movie would be a lot. Compared to Artemis, no need for aliens, and a shorter read.
    - nullc 1y ago
      PHM was much more ambitious in its scope than either. I enjoyed Artemis-- can't find too much fault in any book whose main character writes an extended love letter to welding-- but I enjoyed PHM much more.
AngryData 1y ago
I thought it was a pretty good book as someone who reads a lot of sci-fi. It has a few unique ideas and plot points I haven't seen before, is an accessible read to anyone, and has a satisfying conclusion.
Andrew_nenakhov 1y ago
It was on my reading list for a while, and after the movie trailer was released, it finally nudged me and I read it. Took a few hours. It is very easy to read, quite enjoyable being a 'plausible' sci-fi. Though, spoilers ahead, alien part of the story was somewhat disappointing, by being not alien enough.
_qua 1y ago
It's a fun read but, just like his other books, very one-dimensional characters with no depth. Not really remarkable literature, more of a bunch of Wikipedia articles strung together.
- mritchie712 1y ago
  if Project Hail Mary isn't a good sci-fi book, what is a good one?
  - drexlspivey 1y ago
    I liked Daemon by Daniel Suarez, I read it many years ago but it’s more relevant now than ever (the story is about a rogue AI).
    - elcritch 1y ago
      I second Daemon as an excellent sci-fi. I also really enjoyed Project Hail Mary and thought the characters weren’t too bad for a sci-fi. Daemon isn’t about a rogue AI in the sense it was designed that way. Also you need to read the sequel “Freedom” to really get the true sci-fi philosophical message. I personally enjoyed the sequel Freedom because it really explores the idea of a crypto-DAO like society that embraces human nature to build a more sustainable and fair society. It was ahead of its time as I don’t think DAO’s had been created yet. Suarez’s later books also build on the themes in interesting ways.
  - mrgaro 1y ago
    Depends a lot what you are after, but look for writers like Dan Simmons, Arthur C Clark or Alastair Reynolds.
  - moomin 1y ago
    Children of Time There’s lots of answers to this depending on taste, but you also get into arguments about whether such and such is space opera or planetary romance. Children of Time is hard SF the way a reader from the 1960s would have understood it.
K0balt 1y ago
Meh, to me it failed to engage. Characters very one dimensional, I’d call it young adult level sophistication . Some cool ideas though. TBF I am trying to write fiction for the first time in my writing career, and I also suck at characters and non contrived story engagement, so I’m not trying to throw stones here. I do hope, however, to do better in my first published fiction.
pjerem 1y ago
The hype, absolutely not. I found the writing to be very poor. However I enjoyed it. The story is refreshing and straightforward. To be fair, I read it months before the movie announcement and it really felt like reading a movie plot. If you prefer, I thought that the author had a great story idea but cared very little about writing a book, like he already knew this was for Hollywood. I think with good production it’s going to be a better movie than the book. Never read the Martian but I was told it was the same thing.
- diggan 1y ago
  Obviously subjective, but I had seen The Martian before I read the book (many years after seeing the movie), and liked the book way better than the movie. Read Project Hail Mary right after finishing The Martian, and enjoyed that one even more. I guess the writing is a bit dry, but it kind of makes sense and I quite like it. I'm cautiously optimistic about the new movie.
- ericol 1y ago
  > Never read the Martian but I was told it was the same thing. That's the very feeling I had when I read 'The Martian'. While I was reading it I actually thought something to the tune (It's been years now) "This reads like a movie". Guess that explains why the movie is so faithful to the book.
  - bityard 1y ago
    It was not at all originally intended to be a movie, it just translated to movie format very well, as some books do.
    - Arrowmaster 1y ago
      But sanitized for that PG-13 rating. Some might think it's immature, but I found the cursing realistic and extremely amusing.
      - ericcumbee 1y ago
izacus 1y ago
If you can handle the terrible Gary Sue main character, it's a fun summer read.
UltraSane 1y ago
The audio book is very very good.
lucb1e 1y ago
I enjoyed The Martian even more, but perhaps only because I wasn't prepared for how good it was. I was bored in Stockholm airport and thought "haven't I heard of this book oh HN?", flipped a few pages, and decided to buy it. It quickly became clear that I had a new favorite book (and it still is) PHM, from the same author, I was very much expecting to be very good to amazing. It delivered, but it's a different feeling when you see it coming
woile 1y ago
Yes, it's a nice book. Especially if you are not a native English speaking and you are looking to practice your English reading skills. I enjoyed the book and so many of my friends. It's very easy read, and it falls under the hard sci-fi category. I also enjoyed the expanse books!
bananapub 1y ago
andy weir is the dan brown of this genre
sho_hn 1y ago
It's Space MacGyver, and does that very well.
op00to 1y ago
It’s pretty good. Definitely got better at the end in my opinion. I am interested to see how it will translate to film. Check out Dragon’s Egg while you’re at it. It’s like Project Hail Mary’s much nerdier older brother.
paulcole 1y ago
No, it’s not particularly good. I read about 120 books a year, 2/3 of which is genre fiction. Definitely read The Martian if you haven’t already.
asdf6969 1y ago
It’s not really good. It feels like the author was just trying to recreate the Martian and it was only written to be turned into a movie. It’s a book for people who don’t usually read. Everyone just talks about the audio book
- Arrowmaster 1y ago
  The last bit of this comes off as a very snobbish attitude. There are many people that used to enjoy reading but have found it harder to do the sitting down and actually reading part. Audiobooks becoming wildly more accessible over the past few decades has allowed people to consume books in situations they normally would not. I got back into reading when I found myself at a job that I averaged more than 10 hours a week commuting too. I know other people that listen to audiobooks while doing their homework or mowing the lawn. Listening to audiobooks is still 'reading'. It's very uncommon to get abridged auto books now, so every word is still being consumed. It's just a difference in which sense you are using to consume it.
  - asdf6969 1y ago
    It’s not reading. Consuming is a better way to put it. Just like how the radio is not a newspaper and twitch streams aren’t gaming. You get a very different experience with text compared to audio and it changes how the book is written. You can tell the author was trying to make an audio book. Like how TV TV and Netflix TV are very different because they have to conform to their format. The best written books are often ones where I find myself slowing down, rereading, or doing research in the middle and none of this is possible if my hands are occupied.
protocolture 1y ago
In my opinion Weir is learning to write in full public view. I tolerate it largely because he is definitely getting better. But its not everyones cup of tea. The scenario is definitely contrived to introduce interplanetary travel to a near future setting. The amnesia parts of of the book are not very coherently written. However what Weir IMHO excels at is having fun self insert characters solving problems. When you get past the cruft and get to the "This is a book about troubleshooting in space" sections, it takes off.
sircastor 1y ago
I absolutely loved it. It’s well structured. The science is well written, but not overbearing. Fun story.
twotwotwo 1y ago
I give credit to Andy Weir for knowing what The Martian did well--setting up a bunch of technical problems as load-bearing elements of a plot--and going and executing that same general plan, but with new particulars and bigger and with fun new ideas. The made-up sciencey stuff feels infused with principled ideas about how new things we haven't discovered might work, rather than designed for their role in the story alone. And he's willing to write an ending! There are things he does not stand out at, but those don't take you out of the story. As people work through things on Earth a lot of the nontechnical parts are, I guess, simplified, but I can't care that much; I didn't pick this up wanting a bureaucratic or psychological thriller. And he (or he + early readers and editors) usually make sure to quickly and efficiently get you through all of that to the next fun part.
SeanAnderson 1y ago
The audiobook version is probably my favorite listen to date.
zackify 1y ago
It’s an awesome book and I’ve been dying to see how they’ll adapt it to a movie soon
option 1y ago
Absolutely fantastic book.
citizenpaul 1y ago
Its OK but if you want something the "Children of time" series byAdrian Tchaikovsky has a similarish story arch and is much better and deeper story.
- nullc 1y ago
  Just a counterpoint, I loved Project Hail Mary. I wanted my time back after reading Children of time, and it's exceptionally rare that I feel that way about anything scifi. Tastes differ. ::shrugs::
  - sylens 1y ago
    I really loved Children of Time but then he really went back to the same well for the rest of the series
    - citizenpaul 1y ago
      Yeah the sequel ran with it decently. The third one was a slog and that ending ... Ooofff.
dwood_dev 1y ago
I enjoyed it a lot, especially the audio book. I'm not sure how much I would have enjoyed the print version. I can't say much more without spoilers, but the sound effects really make the drama come to life.
colechristensen 1y ago
It's really good in the way that the best cheeseburger in town is really good. There are snobbish reasons to dislike it, but it is very good at being what it is. It's a superhero story but instead of magical powers and bad guys, it's a nerd being somewhat implausibly good at solving problems in a sci-fi context.
- qingcharles 1y ago
  That is a good explanation. I loved Hail Mary, but it's cheeseburger sci-fi. A lot of fun, an easy read, very enjoyable. It's not Michelin Star material, but even Gordon Ramsey eats at Burger King sometimes. If you enjoyed The Martian (book or film), then this is just more of the same.
vagrantJin 1y ago
I listened to the audiobook version and it was fantastic. It will probably get a movie someday.
abcd_f 1y ago
It ain't Neuromancer or Hyperion, but it’s a very interesting setup, it’s nicely written and easy to read.
wkat4242 1y ago
It's an ok book. I thought Artemis was his most interesting book and also the most underrated. It's got some nice world building, I could imagine an expanse-like series based on it. Also the main character is a tough girl which is nice. I liked the Martian but it was a bit too cheerful for a pretty rough situation. And the characters a bit one dimensional. Artemis is a bit grittier. Project Hail Mary didn't quite resonate with me somehow. It's ok but not a rereader.
southernplaces7 1y ago
I loved the book as entertainment. It's brisk, engaging and though at least one reply here mentioned terrible writing, I disagree. Weir has a certain overly strident, cheery style that some might not like, and fair enough, but it is what it is: validly his specific style, and not all that bad for narrative flow as long as it doesn't rub you the wrong way. The story is also just sentimental enough in an unusual enough way that I fell into it enough to be moved where it counts. If you want to read it for anything resembling hard science concepts though, forget about it maybe. Weir lays on just enough of his usual technical babble to give a richer scifi feel to the book, but much of the core events are hand-waved into existence well away from anything resembling realism. That's okay though, because realism isn't really the point of the book anyhow. In "The Martian" I thought the technical stuff was closer to touching on realistic details, since it was about a comparatively simple Mars mission gone wrong. Here though, we're talking about using near-current technology -with a clever plot device for an exotic fuel source- being used to zip around nearby star systems at just a hair under the speed of light, and most of that is complete, utter fantasy in disguise. I'll give this to Weir though, he's damn imaginative at crafting a lot of very plausible sounding, deeply detailed technical talk, despite it mostly being completely invented.

ecshafer 1y ago

No. Any Weir anything is not going to break into the tier of exceptional. Its YA fiction level writing with a bit of science sprinkled in.

loteck 1y ago

Almost nothing is worth the hype but the book is an enjoyable page turner if you like space adventures and speculative science. Audiobook also got some extra attention, I'd go with that if you like audiobooks.

GolfPopper 1y ago
This. It was fun and very readable, but not something I have any desire to go back and read again.
GiorgioG 1y ago
I loved the Audiobook.
- anonymars 1y ago
  I would almost say you should try to listen to the audiobook instead of reading it, as a unique experience
  - joshgachnang 1y ago
    I haven't read the book, but I imagine the music notes wouldn't land the same way in written form.

ItsHarper 1y ago

Admittedly I am a sci-fi fan, but I loved it so much. The science fiction aspects are not the best part. Don't watch the trailer for the movie though, it's very spoiler-heavy.

qingcharles 1y ago
Yes, agreed, the trailer spoils the main twist. Avoid it.
tickettotranai 1y ago
What are you talking about lol, the prose, characters, and themes are all extremely flat. I would say the sci-fi things are what make it good.

jowea 1y ago

I liked the audiobook a lot, but I'm a SF aficionado, so my opinion may not be relevant. The other comment may be correct about the "serious literary critic" opinion.

konsalexee 1y ago

It was really enjoyable to read. And I also do not read a lot of fiction, with my last book being the Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy series. My verdict is that Project Hail Mary was way much more engaging in terms of story-telling. The concepts were cool, and tbh I look forward for the movie and see if the adaptation will be nice

mystified5016 1y ago

Yes, absolutely. It's maybe not a literary masterpiece and it's suspiciously similar to The Martian if you squint. But not many books can get me laughing out loud the second or third time through. It's a really fun read and I find the aliens particularly compelling in a way that most Sci-Fi doesn't get right.

FeepingCreature 1y ago
Please remove that spoiler.
deleted 1y ago
[deleted]

kyleblarson 1y ago

It is a super fast, super fun read.

sbelskie 1y ago

If you don't read/like much genre fiction, I would say probably no. The pacing is well done and I genuinely find story compelling, but the writing while solid-ish is not exactly of high literary quality. Additionally, in terms of genre I actually find Weir's books to be more like detective novels than sci-fi, though obviously lots of sci-fi elements in them.

jetbalsa 1y ago
I've found and some have proven that sci-fi is just a setting of sorts, a background to the story at hand. For instance the Backyard Starship series is 100% a detective / cop novel set in space. Asimov did one called The Naked Sun that was pretty much a murder mystery and from what I understand written to prove a point that sci-fi really is just a setting to what ever main genre you want out of it.
- sbelskie 1y ago
  Yea that makes a lot of sense. The first Expanse novel (at least Miller’s storyline) fits here as well.
  - jetbalsa 1y ago
    I also think anime is in the same boat, there is a ton of different stories you can tell and how they are animated. its a shame it gets all lumped together like it does
- jowea 1y ago
  I have the same opinion, likewise for fantasy. But a lot of scifi and fantasy stories really have similar tropes and plots, even if it is possible to write say, a romantic book with scifi trappings. There are also some books like I, Robot that really are about the scifi and not just another genre in a scifi setting.
- xyzsparetimexyz 1y ago
  That's definitely not true for a large number of science fiction stories. The science is often a core component and can't be substituted for anything. What does Star Trek look like in a fantasy setting? It doesn't work at all.

JonoBB 1y ago

I typically prefer somewhat deeper and more thought-provoking material, but I enjoyed this book. It’s a light page-turner, written-to-be-turned-into-a-movie type book. Overall, I would recommend it.

trey-jones 1y ago
It's funny, I would not put this or the Martian into made-to-be-movie category, mainly featuring a single protagonist alone with his thoughts of how best to effect survival. I haven't (and probably won't) see the movies. I preferred the Martian very much compared to PHM, but I did enjoy it. Just had a problem with suspension of disbelief to do trivialization of language learning and communication (especially alien).
- w-ll 1y ago
  I liked all of them but i thought the length and the production for a PHM movie would be a lot. Compared to Artemis, no need for aliens, and a shorter read.
  - nullc 1y ago
    PHM was much more ambitious in its scope than either. I enjoyed Artemis-- can't find too much fault in any book whose main character writes an extended love letter to welding-- but I enjoyed PHM much more.

AngryData 1y ago

I thought it was a pretty good book as someone who reads a lot of sci-fi. It has a few unique ideas and plot points I haven't seen before, is an accessible read to anyone, and has a satisfying conclusion.

Andrew_nenakhov 1y ago

It was on my reading list for a while, and after the movie trailer was released, it finally nudged me and I read it. Took a few hours. It is very easy to read, quite enjoyable being a 'plausible' sci-fi. Though, spoilers ahead, alien part of the story was somewhat disappointing, by being not alien enough.

_qua 1y ago

It's a fun read but, just like his other books, very one-dimensional characters with no depth. Not really remarkable literature, more of a bunch of Wikipedia articles strung together.

mritchie712 1y ago
if Project Hail Mary isn't a good sci-fi book, what is a good one?
- drexlspivey 1y ago
  I liked Daemon by Daniel Suarez, I read it many years ago but it’s more relevant now than ever (the story is about a rogue AI).
  - elcritch 1y ago
    I second Daemon as an excellent sci-fi. I also really enjoyed Project Hail Mary and thought the characters weren’t too bad for a sci-fi. Daemon isn’t about a rogue AI in the sense it was designed that way. Also you need to read the sequel “Freedom” to really get the true sci-fi philosophical message. I personally enjoyed the sequel Freedom because it really explores the idea of a crypto-DAO like society that embraces human nature to build a more sustainable and fair society. It was ahead of its time as I don’t think DAO’s had been created yet. Suarez’s later books also build on the themes in interesting ways.
- mrgaro 1y ago
  Depends a lot what you are after, but look for writers like Dan Simmons, Arthur C Clark or Alastair Reynolds.
- moomin 1y ago
  Children of Time There’s lots of answers to this depending on taste, but you also get into arguments about whether such and such is space opera or planetary romance. Children of Time is hard SF the way a reader from the 1960s would have understood it.

K0balt 1y ago

Meh, to me it failed to engage. Characters very one dimensional, I’d call it young adult level sophistication . Some cool ideas though. TBF I am trying to write fiction for the first time in my writing career, and I also suck at characters and non contrived story engagement, so I’m not trying to throw stones here. I do hope, however, to do better in my first published fiction.

pjerem 1y ago

The hype, absolutely not. I found the writing to be very poor. However I enjoyed it. The story is refreshing and straightforward. To be fair, I read it months before the movie announcement and it really felt like reading a movie plot. If you prefer, I thought that the author had a great story idea but cared very little about writing a book, like he already knew this was for Hollywood. I think with good production it’s going to be a better movie than the book. Never read the Martian but I was told it was the same thing.

diggan 1y ago
Obviously subjective, but I had seen The Martian before I read the book (many years after seeing the movie), and liked the book way better than the movie. Read Project Hail Mary right after finishing The Martian, and enjoyed that one even more. I guess the writing is a bit dry, but it kind of makes sense and I quite like it. I'm cautiously optimistic about the new movie.
ericol 1y ago
> Never read the Martian but I was told it was the same thing. That's the very feeling I had when I read 'The Martian'. While I was reading it I actually thought something to the tune (It's been years now) "This reads like a movie". Guess that explains why the movie is so faithful to the book.
- bityard 1y ago
  It was not at all originally intended to be a movie, it just translated to movie format very well, as some books do.
  - Arrowmaster 1y ago
    But sanitized for that PG-13 rating. Some might think it's immature, but I found the cursing realistic and extremely amusing.
    - ericcumbee 1y ago

izacus 1y ago

If you can handle the terrible Gary Sue main character, it's a fun summer read.

UltraSane 1y ago

The audio book is very very good.

lucb1e 1y ago

I enjoyed The Martian even more, but perhaps only because I wasn't prepared for how good it was. I was bored in Stockholm airport and thought "haven't I heard of this book oh HN?", flipped a few pages, and decided to buy it. It quickly became clear that I had a new favorite book (and it still is) PHM, from the same author, I was very much expecting to be very good to amazing. It delivered, but it's a different feeling when you see it coming

woile 1y ago

Yes, it's a nice book. Especially if you are not a native English speaking and you are looking to practice your English reading skills. I enjoyed the book and so many of my friends. It's very easy read, and it falls under the hard sci-fi category. I also enjoyed the expanse books!

bananapub 1y ago

andy weir is the dan brown of this genre

sho_hn 1y ago

It's Space MacGyver, and does that very well.

op00to 1y ago

It’s pretty good. Definitely got better at the end in my opinion. I am interested to see how it will translate to film. Check out Dragon’s Egg while you’re at it. It’s like Project Hail Mary’s much nerdier older brother.

paulcole 1y ago

No, it’s not particularly good. I read about 120 books a year, 2/3 of which is genre fiction. Definitely read The Martian if you haven’t already.

asdf6969 1y ago

It’s not really good. It feels like the author was just trying to recreate the Martian and it was only written to be turned into a movie. It’s a book for people who don’t usually read. Everyone just talks about the audio book

Arrowmaster 1y ago
The last bit of this comes off as a very snobbish attitude. There are many people that used to enjoy reading but have found it harder to do the sitting down and actually reading part. Audiobooks becoming wildly more accessible over the past few decades has allowed people to consume books in situations they normally would not. I got back into reading when I found myself at a job that I averaged more than 10 hours a week commuting too. I know other people that listen to audiobooks while doing their homework or mowing the lawn. Listening to audiobooks is still 'reading'. It's very uncommon to get abridged auto books now, so every word is still being consumed. It's just a difference in which sense you are using to consume it.
- asdf6969 1y ago
  It’s not reading. Consuming is a better way to put it. Just like how the radio is not a newspaper and twitch streams aren’t gaming. You get a very different experience with text compared to audio and it changes how the book is written. You can tell the author was trying to make an audio book. Like how TV TV and Netflix TV are very different because they have to conform to their format. The best written books are often ones where I find myself slowing down, rereading, or doing research in the middle and none of this is possible if my hands are occupied.

protocolture 1y ago

In my opinion Weir is learning to write in full public view. I tolerate it largely because he is definitely getting better. But its not everyones cup of tea. The scenario is definitely contrived to introduce interplanetary travel to a near future setting. The amnesia parts of of the book are not very coherently written. However what Weir IMHO excels at is having fun self insert characters solving problems. When you get past the cruft and get to the "This is a book about troubleshooting in space" sections, it takes off.

sircastor 1y ago

I absolutely loved it. It’s well structured. The science is well written, but not overbearing. Fun story.

twotwotwo 1y ago

I give credit to Andy Weir for knowing what The Martian did well--setting up a bunch of technical problems as load-bearing elements of a plot--and going and executing that same general plan, but with new particulars and bigger and with fun new ideas. The made-up sciencey stuff feels infused with principled ideas about how new things we haven't discovered might work, rather than designed for their role in the story alone. And he's willing to write an ending! There are things he does not stand out at, but those don't take you out of the story. As people work through things on Earth a lot of the nontechnical parts are, I guess, simplified, but I can't care that much; I didn't pick this up wanting a bureaucratic or psychological thriller. And he (or he + early readers and editors) usually make sure to quickly and efficiently get you through all of that to the next fun part.

SeanAnderson 1y ago

The audiobook version is probably my favorite listen to date.

zackify 1y ago

It’s an awesome book and I’ve been dying to see how they’ll adapt it to a movie soon

option 1y ago

Absolutely fantastic book.

citizenpaul 1y ago

Its OK but if you want something the "Children of time" series byAdrian Tchaikovsky has a similarish story arch and is much better and deeper story.

nullc 1y ago
Just a counterpoint, I loved Project Hail Mary. I wanted my time back after reading Children of time, and it's exceptionally rare that I feel that way about anything scifi. Tastes differ. ::shrugs::
- sylens 1y ago
  I really loved Children of Time but then he really went back to the same well for the rest of the series
  - citizenpaul 1y ago
    Yeah the sequel ran with it decently. The third one was a slog and that ending ... Ooofff.

dwood_dev 1y ago

I enjoyed it a lot, especially the audio book. I'm not sure how much I would have enjoyed the print version. I can't say much more without spoilers, but the sound effects really make the drama come to life.

colechristensen 1y ago

It's really good in the way that the best cheeseburger in town is really good. There are snobbish reasons to dislike it, but it is very good at being what it is. It's a superhero story but instead of magical powers and bad guys, it's a nerd being somewhat implausibly good at solving problems in a sci-fi context.

qingcharles 1y ago
That is a good explanation. I loved Hail Mary, but it's cheeseburger sci-fi. A lot of fun, an easy read, very enjoyable. It's not Michelin Star material, but even Gordon Ramsey eats at Burger King sometimes. If you enjoyed The Martian (book or film), then this is just more of the same.

vagrantJin 1y ago

I listened to the audiobook version and it was fantastic. It will probably get a movie someday.

abcd_f 1y ago

It ain't Neuromancer or Hyperion, but it’s a very interesting setup, it’s nicely written and easy to read.

wkat4242 1y ago

It's an ok book. I thought Artemis was his most interesting book and also the most underrated. It's got some nice world building, I could imagine an expanse-like series based on it. Also the main character is a tough girl which is nice. I liked the Martian but it was a bit too cheerful for a pretty rough situation. And the characters a bit one dimensional. Artemis is a bit grittier. Project Hail Mary didn't quite resonate with me somehow. It's ok but not a rereader.

southernplaces7 1y ago

I loved the book as entertainment. It's brisk, engaging and though at least one reply here mentioned terrible writing, I disagree. Weir has a certain overly strident, cheery style that some might not like, and fair enough, but it is what it is: validly his specific style, and not all that bad for narrative flow as long as it doesn't rub you the wrong way. The story is also just sentimental enough in an unusual enough way that I fell into it enough to be moved where it counts. If you want to read it for anything resembling hard science concepts though, forget about it maybe. Weir lays on just enough of his usual technical babble to give a richer scifi feel to the book, but much of the core events are hand-waved into existence well away from anything resembling realism. That's okay though, because realism isn't really the point of the book anyhow. In "The Martian" I thought the technical stuff was closer to touching on realistic details, since it was about a comparatively simple Mars mission gone wrong. Here though, we're talking about using near-current technology -with a clever plot device for an exotic fuel source- being used to zip around nearby star systems at just a hair under the speed of light, and most of that is complete, utter fantasy in disguise. I'll give this to Weir though, he's damn imaginative at crafting a lot of very plausible sounding, deeply detailed technical talk, despite it mostly being completely invented.