Share your thoughts in a quick Shelf Talk!
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
A lone astronaut wakes with no memory aboard a silent ship, tasked with an impossible mission that could save humanity. As pieces click into place, ingenuity—and an unexpected friendship—become his lifeline. Smart, funny, and breathtakingly inventive, Project Hail Mary is a high‑stakes survival puzzle you won’t stop turning over.
Have you read this book? Share what you liked (or didn’t), and we’ll use your answers to recommend your next favorite read!
Love Project Hail Mary but not sure what to read next?
These picks are popular with readers who enjoyed this book. Complete a quick Shelf Talk to get recommendations made just for you! Warning: possible spoilers for Project Hail Mary below.
In Project Hail Mary, did you enjoy ...
... meticulous, real-science problem‑solving under brutal constraints?
Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
If you loved how Ryland Grace reverse‑engineers solutions from first principles—figuring out Astrophage biology, jury‑rigging lab gear, and doing delta‑v math on the fly—then Seveneves will scratch the same itch. When the Moon shatters and humanity has to survive in orbit, engineers and astronauts iterate through orbital mechanics, propulsion, and life‑support challenges with the same nuts‑and‑bolts rigor. It’s that familiar mix of “do the math, save the species,” just scaled up to civilization‑level stakes.
... a deep, hard‑won cross‑cultural bond forged by adversity?
The Left Hand Of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
If Rocky and Ryland’s unlikely friendship—learning each other’s language, solving life‑or‑death problems together, and turning strangers into true partners—was your favorite part of Project Hail Mary, you’ll appreciate the bond between Genly Ai and Estraven. Their grueling trek across the Gobrin Ice mirrors that same evolution from mistrust to profound loyalty, with quiet, intimate moments that echo those shipboard scenes where Ryland and Rocky build a bridge note by note.
... improvised survival against an unforgiving alien world on a ticking clock?
Deepsix by Jack McDevitt
If Ryland’s seat‑of‑the‑pants fixes—repurposing ship systems, rationing resources, and staying one step ahead of catastrophe—kept you glued to the page, Deepsix delivers that same survival rush. A small team is stranded on a hostile planet with storms coming and no easy rescue, forcing the kind of scrappy ingenuity and triage decisions that defined Ryland’s fight to keep himself (and his mission) alive.
... a witty, conversational voice that keeps high‑stakes science fun?
The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi
If Ryland’s snarky asides and gallows humor made all the astrophysics and xenobiology go down easy, you’ll enjoy the breezy, quippy tone of The Kaiju Preservation Society. Jamie Gray narrates chaotic applied‑science adventures with the same approachable charm—think Ryland’s dad‑joke coping mechanisms, but amid very large, very biological problems that demand clever, science‑forward fixes.
... a singular, high‑stakes mission to investigate a mysterious alien phenomenon?
Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke
If the clear objective in Project Hail Mary—diagnose Astrophage, save Earth—pulled you through every chapter, Rendezvous with Rama offers that same laser‑focused drive. A crew races to explore an enigmatic alien starship before it slingshots away, uncovering systems and ecosystems with the stepwise curiosity and urgency that powered Ryland’s experiments and discoveries.
Unlock your personalized book recommendations! Just take a quick Shelf Talk for Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. It’s only a few questions and takes less than a minute.