Project Hail Mary

By Andy Weir, Penguin Random House, 2021, 478 pages
Reviewed by Sharon Stasiowski, July 25, 2022

As Buzz Lightyear always says, "To infinity and beyond." Now we have the James Webb Space Telescope showing us more of the universe. I believe one day we will explore the stars. I am a science-fiction fan. So, of course, I love a good, entertaining story about space travel.

When I read "The Martian" by Andy Weir, I was captivated. Now he gives us a new story of a man alone out among the stars trying to save mankind and Earth. He wasn't supposed to be alone, but his two companions didn't survive the three years in a coma. When he awakens from the coma, he has no memory of who he is or where he is. The story unfolds in two time periods, his current life and his life leading up to the launch into space. As he remembers the past, we learn about the why of it all and the people involved in solving the problem on Earth.

His name is Ryland Grace, and he is an 8th grade science teacher. There is much to learn about him as he discovers where he is and why he is there. The fun part comes when he encounters an alien from another planet in another solar system who is on the same mission, to save his planet from destruction from the same thing destroying Earth. This is a fast-moving story with great characters, near successes and near failures, and great heart. I couldn't wait to read the next chapters.

If you enjoy a good science-fiction read, I highly recommend this book. I enjoyed it more than "The Martian," and that is saying something. I have no idea if the science is correct, but that is where the "fiction" comes in. I can have fun reading about stuff that who knows if it is possible or would work. But entertaining, it definitely is.