Rowan

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Rowan is Currently Reading

Rowan is currently reading

Project Hail Mary

by Andy Weir (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: 5-star, hnz-book-club, read-in-2024, sci-fi, currently-reading

read in April 2024

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Rowan said: " I expected to enjoy this book, but man. I didn't expect it to be one of the best things I've ever read.

I'll say up front that the science mostly went over my head (I'm an arts/humanities person through and through) but at no point did it detract from I expected to enjoy this book, but man. I didn't expect it to be one of the best things I've ever read.

I'll say up front that the science mostly went over my head (I'm an arts/humanities person through and through) but at no point did it detract from my enjoyment of the story itself. Rather, a masterful balance is struck of including science that manages to both inform that side of the story AND the emotional story all at once. The science and the stakes and the heart of the story are all woven together so perfectly, and I couldn't put it down.

(view spoiler)[Ryland and Rocky's mutual fascination with one another was by far the story's biggest strength for me. Both species having first contact simultaneously isn't something that's explored enough in sci-fi, and I really enjoyed this. Their complete fascination with each other and journey from trying to understand each other to working perfectly in sync as a team was a delight to read, and pulled the story forwards at a great pace.

I also loved how much thought was put into Rocky's biology and culture. Again, the science is all a bit beyond me, but it's obvious how much research and theory informed every decision about how his race lived and communicated. It all feels wonderfully cohesive and well considered, while still being so completely alien from humanity that there are always more questions and more to be discovered, and I was never left feeling like there were any factors that hadn't been considered.

Speaking of aliens, the Astrophage are a brilliantly crafted and absolutely horrifying villain. (In as much as that's a term that can be applied...) Existential horror at its finest, with just enough presence in the story to keep the stakes high without making things feel completely hopeless. The idea of humanity being completely lost to a mindless microbe with no concept of what it's doing is absolutely chilling, and every description of the Earth's grim future sent shivers down my spine.

As the end of the book got closer, I started feeling the dread. Mainly of Ryland and Rocky's inevitable separation, but also what would come after. The world he would be returning to only seemed grimmer and grimmer, and I was concerned the book would end on a painful, disheartening note. (Right after the painful, disheartening note of inevitably having to say goodbye to Rocky.) I was half expecting something to go wrong with Rocky's ship, (what did happen with it not being radiation shielded? Unless I missed something, that seems to have been the only plot hole,) and for Rocky to wind up needing to abandon his people and accompany Ryland back to Earth. It certainly felt more likely than the alternative, given how ingratiated he had become to the Hail Mary by the end.

But the ending we got was satisfying in every way it needed to be. After the pain and betrayal of the way he was forced to leave Earth, there's something lovely about Ryland finding a new home after all. Going back for Rocky was the only option in the end, and not just Rocky but all the Eridians found a way to reward him. It was also a beautiful pin on his anxieties about being a coward. He may not have been able to make the decision to self-sacrifice on Earth, but he chose to die for Rocky entirely on his own. I was pleased we got some closure on Sol's fate as well - whatever shape the Earth is in, that's none of our business anymore. Given all the speculation throughout the book, I'm happy not to have the ending dragged down by details. Sol lived, Eridanus lived, and Ryland and Rocky lived. (hide spoiler)]

I wish I could rate this book more highly, I really could. It's without question one of my favourite stories I've ever experienced, in any medium. Beyond highly recommended, to everyone. ...more "

Apr 01, 2024 07:54AM · see review