March 13, 2026
By Olive Bautista
Staff Writer
Junior high school science teacher and former molecular biologist Ryland Grace is on a mission to save the world, but after waking from a coma, he has lost his memory. He is stuck in space with two corpses, presumably his late crewmates, and needs to find a solution to Earth’s problem: the upcoming extinction.
Meanwhile, unicellular organisms called Astrophage have formed a line in space and are consuming energy from the sun, which will eventually kill crucial animals in the food chain. These conflicts make up the comedic sci-fi adventures depicted in Andy Weir’s “Project Hail Mary.”
His enthusiastic speaking style, typical of a teacher, can make readers laugh.
Although Ryland cannot remember much, he still draws on his teaching experience. This eventually leads him to remember his profession and where he is from.
Once in a while, he recalls instances from before he set out on this mission. He remembers that the star he is looking at from his ship is not the sun, but Tau Ceti, which is unaffected by Astrophage.
As he runs a series of tests, Ryland discovers another ship in the distance. After communicating via science, they decide to meet up. That is when he comes across a large spider-like alien, whom he names Rocky. Rocky’s star — which gives off light and warmth — is also being affected by Astrophage, so he and Ryland work together to find a solution to their problem.
Rocky is an endearing character who is an expert in his craft, engineering. His lack of English-language knowledge is adorable, especially when he finishes responding to concerns with the word “question.”
Ryland is cowardly once he regains his memories, but during his amnesiac state, he is determined and selfless, always keeping his students in mind as he saves the world. His enthusiastic speaking style, typical of a teacher, can make readers laugh.
There are many parts of the book in which Ryland rants about scientific information that readers may not understand right away, or at all. These parts can get boring, but his comedic interactions make up for it.
Overall, “Project Hail Mary” is an enjoyable read. It is a good introduction for those who have never read science fiction because it is about so much more than rocks and aliens. It features realistic, funny characters, and Ryland’s motivation to save the world tugs at readers’ heartstrings. Especially with the movie version of the book, starring Ryan Gosling, premiering on March 20, now is the perfect time to pick up this novel.
