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Project Hail Mary: A Novel Hardcover – May 4, 2021
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A lone astronaut must save the earth from disaster in this “propulsive” (Entertainment Weekly), cinematic thriller full of suspense, humor, and fascinating science—from the author of The Martian.
HUGO AWARD FINALIST • NEW YORK TIMES READER PICK: 100 BEST BOOKS OF THE 21ST CENTURY • ONE OF THE YEAR’S BEST BOOKS: Parade, Newsweek, New York Public Library, Polygon, Shelf Awareness, She Reads, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal
Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish.
Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.
All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.
His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery—and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.
And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone.
Or does he?
Hailed by USA Today as “an epic story of redemption, discovery, and cool speculative sci-fi,” Project Hail Mary is an irresistible interstellar adventure as only Andy Weir could deliver.
- Print length496 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherBallantine Books
- Publication dateMay 4, 2021
- Dimensions6.45 x 1.53 x 9.54 inches
- ISBN-100593135202
- ISBN-13978-0593135204
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From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Review
“An engaging space odyssey.”—The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice)
“Dazzling.”—Vulture
“Funny, well plotted, and full of surprises.”—The Guardian
“A joy to read.”—Locus
“The ultimate page-turner.”—Daily Mail
“Weir spins a space yarn in a way only he can. Fans of his earlier works won’t be disappointed.”—Newsweek
“Andy Weir proves once again that he is a singular talent. Project Hail Mary is so fascinating and propulsive that it’s downright addictive. From the first page as Ryland wakes up not knowing who or where he is, I was hooked.”—Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & The Six
“Reading Project Hail Mary is like going on a field trip to outer space with the best science teacher you’ve ever had—and your class assignment is to save the world. This is one of the most original, compelling, and fun voyages I’ve ever taken.”—Ernest Cline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Ready Player One
“Two worlds in peril, a competent (but flawed and human) man, a competent alien, unending scientific puzzles to unravel, with humanity itself at risk, this one has everything fans of old school SF (like me) love. If you like a lot of science in your science fiction, Andy Weir is the writer for you.”—George R. R. Martin, New York Times bestselling author of A Game of Thrones
“I loved The Martian, but I actually find Project Hail Mary to be Mr. Weir’s finest work to date. It’s somehow both exciting, yet also personal. I’m constantly amazed by how well Mr. Weir continues to write wonderfully accessible science fiction without compromising either the science or the fiction.”—Brandon Sanderson, New York Times bestselling author of the Stormlight Archive series
“Brilliantly funny and enjoyable . . . one of the most plausible science fiction books I’ve ever read.”—Tim Peake, ESA astronaut and internationally bestselling author of Limitless
“Thrilling doesn’t even begin to describe Project Hail Mary, which is undisputedly the best book I’ve read in a very, very long time . . . I cheered, I laughed (a lot), I cried, and when the twist arrived and the book revealed its true target, my jaw hit the floor. Mark my words: Project Hail Mary is destined to become a classic.”—Blake Crouch, New York Times bestselling author of Recursion and Dark Matter
“Readers may find themselves consuming this emotionally intense and thematically profound novel in one stay-up-all-night-until-your-eyes-bleed sitting. An unforgettable story of survival and the power of friendship—nothing short of a science fiction masterwork.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
“What’s two plus two?”
Something about the question irritates me. I’m tired. I drift back to sleep.
A few minutes pass, then I hear it again.
“What’s two plus two?”
The soft, feminine voice lacks emotion and the pronunciation is identical to the previous time she said it. It’s a computer. A computer is hassling me. I’m even more irritated now.
“Lrmln,” I say. I’m surprised. I meant to say “Leave me alone”—a completely reasonable response in my opinion—but I failed to speak.
“Incorrect,” says the computer. “What’s two plus two?”
Time for an experiment. I’ll try to say hello.
“Hlllch?” I say.
“Incorrect. What’s two plus two?”
What’s going on? I want to find out, but I don’t have much to work with. I can’t see. I can’t hear anything other than the computer. I can’t even feel. No, that’s not true. I feel something. I’m lying down. I’m on something soft. A bed.
I think my eyes are closed. That’s not so bad. All I have to do is open them. I try, but nothing happens.
Why can’t I open my eyes?
Open.
Aaaand . . . open!
Open, dang it!
Ooh! I felt a wiggle that time. My eyelids moved. I felt it.
Open!
My eyelids creep up and blinding light sears my retinas.
“Glunn!” I say. I keep my eyes open with sheer force of will. Everything is white with shades of pain.
“Eye movement detected,” my tormenter says. “What’s two plus two?”
The whiteness lessens. My eyes are adjusting. I start to see shapes, but nothing sensible yet. Let’s see . . . can I move my hands? No.
Feet? Also no.
But I can move my mouth, right? I’ve been saying stuff. Not stuff that makes sense, but it’s something.
“Fffr.”
“Incorrect. What’s two plus two?”
The shapes start to make sense. I’m in a bed. It’s kind of . . . oval-shaped.
LED lights shine down on me. Cameras in the ceiling watch my every move. Creepy though that is, I’m much more concerned about the robot arms.
The two brushed-steel armatures hang from the ceiling. Each has an assortment of disturbingly penetration-looking tools where hands should be. Can’t say I like the look of that.
“Ffff . . . oooh . . . rrrr,” I say. Will that do?
“Incorrect. What’s two plus two?”
Dang it. I summon all my willpower and inner strength. Also, I’m starting to panic a little. Good. I use that too.
“Fffoouurr,” I finally say.
“Correct.”
Thank God. I can talk. Sort of.
I breathe a sigh of relief. Wait—I just controlled my breathing. I take another breath. On purpose. My mouth is sore. My throat is sore. But it’s my soreness. I have control.
I’m wearing a breathing mask. It’s tight to my face and connected to a hose that goes behind my head.
Can I get up?
No. But I can move my head a little. I look down at my body. I’m naked and connected to more tubes than I can count. There’s one in each arm, one in each leg, one in my “gentlemen’s equipment,” and two that disappear under my thigh. I’m guessing one of them is up where the sun doesn’t shine.
That can’t be good.
Also, I’m covered with electrodes. The sensor-type stickers like for an EKG, but they’re all over the place. Well, at least they’re only on my skin instead of jammed into me.
“Wh—” I wheeze. I try again. “Where . . . am . . . I?”
“What’s the cube root of eight?” the computer asks.
“Where am I?” I say again. This time it’s easier.
“Incorrect. What’s the cube root of eight?”
I take a deep breath and speak slowly. “Two times e to the two-i-pi over three.”
“Incorrect. What’s the cube root of eight?”
But I wasn’t incorrect. I just wanted to see how smart the computer was. Answer: not very.
“Two,” I say.
“Correct.”
I listen for follow-up questions, but the computer seems satisfied.
I’m tired. I drift off to sleep again.
I wake up. How long was I out? It must have been a while because I feel rested. I open my eyes without any effort. That’s progress.
I try to move my fingers. They wiggle as instructed. All right. Now we’re getting somewhere.
“Hand movement detected,” says the computer. “Remain still.”
“What? Why—”
The robot arms come for me. They move fast. Before I know it, they’ve removed most of the tubes from my body. I didn’t feel a thing. Though my skin is kind of numb anyway.
Only three tubes remain: an IV in my arm, a tube up my butt, and a catheter. Those latter two are kind of the signature items I wanted removed, but okay.
I raise my right arm and let it fall back to the bed. I do the same for my left. They feel heavy as heck. I repeat the process a few times. My arms are muscular. That doesn’t make sense. I assume I’ve had some massive medical problem and been in this bed for a while. Otherwise, why would they have me hooked up to all the stuff? Shouldn’t there be muscle atrophy?
And shouldn’t there be doctors? Or maybe the sounds of a hospital? And what’s with this bed? It’s not a rectangle, it’s an oval and I think it’s mounted to the wall instead of the floor.
“Take . . .” I trail off. Still kind of tired. “Take the tubes out. . . .”
The computer doesn’t respond.
I do a few more arm lifts. I wiggle my toes. I’m definitely getting better.
I tilt my ankles back and forth. They’re working. I raise my knees up. My legs are well toned too. Not bodybuilder thick, but still too healthy for someone on the verge of death. I’m not sure how thick they should be, though.
I press my palms to the bed and push. My torso rises. I’m actually getting up! It takes all my strength but I soldier on. The bed rocks gently as I move. It’s not a normal bed, that’s for sure. As I raise my head higher up, I see the head and foot of the elliptical bed are attached to strong-looking wall mounts. It’s kind of a rigid hammock. Weird.
Soon, I’m sitting on my butt tube. Not the most comfortable sensation, but when is a tube up your butt ever comfortable?
I have a better view of things now. This is no ordinary hospital room. The walls look plastic and the whole room is round. Stark-white light comes from ceiling-mounted LED lights.
There are two more hammock-like beds mounted to the walls, each with their own patient. We are arranged in a triangle and the roof-mounted Arms of Harassment are in the center of the ceiling. I guess they take care of all three of us. I can’t see much of my compatriots—they’ve sunken into their bedding like I had.
There’s no door. Just a ladder on the wall leading to . . . a hatch? It’s round and has a wheel-handle in the center. Yeah, it’s got to be some kind of hatch. Like on a submarine. Maybe the three of us have a contagious disease? Maybe this is an airtight quarantine room? There are small vents here and there on the wall and I feel a little airflow. It could be a controlled environment.
I slide one leg off over the edge of my bed, which makes it wobble. The robot arms rush toward me. I flinch, but they stop short and hover nearby. I think they’re ready to grab me if I fall.
“Full-body motion detected,” the computer says. “What’s your name?”
“Pfft, seriously?” I ask.
“Incorrect. Attempt number two: What’s your name?”
I open my mouth to answer.
“Uh . . .”
“Incorrect. Attempt number three: What’s your name?”
Only now does it occur to me: I don’t know who I am. I don’t know what I do. I don’t remember anything at all.
“Um,” I say.
“Incorrect.”
A wave of fatigue grips me. It’s kind of pleasant, actually. The computer must have sedated me through the IV line.
“. . . waaaait . . .” I mumble.
The robot arms lay me gently back down to the bed.
Product details
- Publisher : Ballantine Books
- Publication date : May 4, 2021
- Edition : First Edition
- Language : English
- Print length : 496 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0593135202
- ISBN-13 : 978-0593135204
- Item Weight : 1.6 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.45 x 1.53 x 9.54 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #77 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1 in Hard Science Fiction (Books)
- #1 in Science Fiction Adventures
- #1 in Suspense Thrillers
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

ANDY WEIR built a two-decade career as a software engineer until the success of his first published novel, The Martian, allowed him to live out his dream of writing full-time.
He is a lifelong space nerd and a devoted hobbyist of such subjects as relativistic physics, orbital mechanics, and the history of manned spaceflight. He also mixes a mean cocktail.
He lives in California.
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Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2026Format: AudiobookVerified PurchaseThis book was genuinely enjoyable. It blends accessible sci‑fi with enough real science to keep the world believable without slowing the pace. The author uses the scientific elements to support the story rather than overwhelm it, which makes the setting feel grounded and immersive.
The character development is the real strength here. The protagonist doesn’t stay static — you see clear growth, better decision‑making, and emotional evolution as the story progresses. That arc gives the plot more weight and makes the challenges feel earned rather than convenient.
Overall, it’s a satisfying mix of science, story, and character work. A solid read for anyone who likes sci‑fi that respects both imagination and realism.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2026Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseAndy Weir’s latest novel continues a theme of blending scientific knowledge to solve problems and the perils of outer space exploration. In this tale, a middle-school science teacher, Ryland Grace, is faced with a seemingly insurmountable task, saving earth from a cooling sun. Long before he became a science teacher, he wrote a paper about the possibility of the existence of life forms that don’t need water to survive. At the time, his analysis was widely rejected and ridiculed. Now, because it appears that life forms are responsible for draining the sun, he has become a visionary and is tasked with working with a group of international scientists to find a solution for a what could be a global catastrophe.
Through scientific experiments, Grace and his team determine that the microscopic organisms he calls “astrophages” are a threat to humankind and must be stopped. But how? After a series of tragedies and misadventures, Grace wakes up years later in a space-craft. His memory slowly returns as he has been placed in an induced coma with robots and computers tending his biological functions. The most incredible and fantastic event occurs when he meets another being with the same objective he has.
The story goes back and forth in time showing how Grace ended up in the space-craft and his current dilemma of finding a way of counteracting the astrophages. The novel incorporates a wealth of scientific knowledge along with generously placed doses of humor. This is a book that will appeal to a wide readership, from teens interested in science, to adults intrigued by sci-fi and adventure. It’s a satisfying and enjoyable read and creates a feeling of wonder.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2026Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseAmazing audiobook. The narrator brings the story to life and makes it enjoyable. I love the storyline, the characters, the friendships. It is well written and overall fast paced. On the bad side, it was too heavy on the science. Most parts science related, I just wanted to skip them. But whenever I was given two characters talking about the project and how they would do it and overcome barriers, and I ate it up!
- Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2021Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseAccording to a 2003 article on the NASA website, "NASA-funded scientists have recently learned that cloud-to-ground lightning frequently strikes the ground in two or more places ..." and that the third and fourth strokes of a lightning flash will follow the same path as the second stroke. In other words, lightning DOES strike the same place twice.
But you don't need to search the web for this information. If you want proof that lightning strikes twice, just read Andy Weir's newest book, Project Hail Mary, and you'll see that Weir has created a giant sci-fi bestseller, in the same electric path as The Martian.
Ryland Grace has a puzzle on his hands. He wakes up without a clue as to where he is, but he seems to be alone except for a computer AI that was keeping him alive. Unfortunately it didn't seem to be doing the same for two others in his ... wherever he is ... as he notes the decayed corpses in their creches on the ... well, it's a ship. A space ship. And bit by bit Grace puts the pieces of the puzzle together.
An alien microbe has been discovered. Ryland Grace is brought on to the science team to learn more about the life form because Grace, currently a middle school science teacher, wrote papers about the notation that there does not need to be water to create life. Only in a biozone such as Earth's would water be needed, but other building blocks could be used in other systems.
The science community as a whole mocked Grace, which is why he left and went on to teach kids, but now, he may be the best suited to understand this new life form. And as he remembers more and more, he also remembers that this life form is feeding on the energy output of the sun, which is decreasing the energy that gets to Earth, which spells disaster - as in the end of all life as currently known - on Earth if something isn't done.
Scientists discover that Sol isn't the only star that is losing its energy output - likely due to the alien consumption, but that there is one star, in the center of all the known stars losing their energy, that remains constant with its output. In which case, the answer to the survival for Earth is likely found there, at Tau Ceti.
The world's best scientific minds come together (by force and coercion) to create a ship that can get to Tau Ceti in twelve years (using the alien microbe as fuel) with shuttle pods to bring back answers to how to save the planet, but for the crew, it's a one-way trip.
Knowing why he's there is only the first puzzle for Grace. Now he has to figure out how to save Earth. There's a very small window of time for him to discover the way to save the human race and get the answers sent back. Take too long and the shuttles will return to a dead planet.
This book is amazing.
Author Andy Weir brings us back to the magic that made The Martian so successful - an abandoned scientist trying to survive. But Ryland Grace's story is more complicated because he's not just trying to survive, but also help humanity survive.
There's lots and lots of science - which is part of Weir's writing signature - and there's also a really wonderful story.
It's hard for me to tell you just what I liked about this book because anything I write will be a spoiler and a huge part of the joy in this book is making the discoveries with Ryland Grace.
Grace is our main character, but through the liberal use of flashbacks, we have a full cast of characters - at least one quite important to the story. Everyone is unique and individual which makes it easy to read, but just as with The Martian, where Mark Watney's personality carries the story, Ryland Grace here is the smart-mouth, sometimes funny, obsessed scientist infusing his personal tastes into his discoveries. He's also quite smart - which is good since he will need his intellect to save all of humanity.
This is a page-turner. I did not want to put this book down. Neither did my 21 year old son who picked up my copy after I was well into it and finished it before I did. And days later he's still talking about how much he liked it and quoting sections of it to me at the dinner table.
I hope Ballantine Books will do a very large print run because this is going to be huge seller and you definitely don't want to miss out on the biggest thing to come out in 2021.
Looking for a good book? Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is proof that lightning strikes twice as this has all the excitement and energy of Weir's debut novel, with a more complicated storyline that will hold the reader all the way to the end.
Top reviews from other countries
Siddh PandyaReviewed in India on July 2, 20255.0 out of 5 stars "An Epic Sci-Fi Adventure with Heart, Humor, and Brilliance"
Project Hail Mary is one of the most gripping, emotionally satisfying, and cleverly written sci-fi novels I’ve ever read. From the very first page, I was hooked by the mystery and momentum—and it never let go.
The story blends science, survival, and humor with perfection. The pacing is spot-on: never slow, never rushed. Just like The Martian, Andy Weir’s signature wit shines through, but here he adds a surprising amount of heart and emotional depth—especially in the bond between the characters.
The climax is absolutely epic, and the conclusion left me stunned in the best way. It’s not just a great sci-fi story—it’s a celebration of friendship, sacrifice, and problem-solving at the edge of the universe.
If you want a book that makes you laugh, think, and maybe even tear up a little—this is it. A modern sci-fi classic.
Project Hail Mary is one of the most gripping, emotionally satisfying, and cleverly written sci-fi novels I’ve ever read. From the very first page, I was hooked by the mystery and momentum—and it never let go.5.0 out of 5 stars
Siddh Pandya"An Epic Sci-Fi Adventure with Heart, Humor, and Brilliance"
Reviewed in India on July 2, 2025
The story blends science, survival, and humor with perfection. The pacing is spot-on: never slow, never rushed. Just like The Martian, Andy Weir’s signature wit shines through, but here he adds a surprising amount of heart and emotional depth—especially in the bond between the characters.
The climax is absolutely epic, and the conclusion left me stunned in the best way. It’s not just a great sci-fi story—it’s a celebration of friendship, sacrifice, and problem-solving at the edge of the universe.
If you want a book that makes you laugh, think, and maybe even tear up a little—this is it. A modern sci-fi classic.
Images in this review
James SmallReviewed in the United Kingdom on January 21, 20265.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable
I'm not a big fiction reader tending mainly to stick to non-fiction science, history, biographies etc but enjoyed The Martian so thought I'd give Project Hail Mary a go and am thoroughly pleased I did. The story is interesting and well-written and I enjoyed the past / present way of telling the story. The science is well-researched and plausible and the inter-play between the characters very enjoyable.
Erik NieuwenhuisReviewed in the Netherlands on January 21, 20265.0 out of 5 stars So absolutely wonderful!!!
I am a little speechless. What a beautiful book. I read it in a frenzy. Thank you Andy Weir!!!
Erik
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NyankoReviewed in Japan on April 1, 20265.0 out of 5 stars 原作と映画で二度面白い
Format: KindleVerified Purchase以前audibleで聴いてすっごく面白かったので映画を観に行きました。
映画は結構端折ってあったり、上手く設定をいじっていて似て非なるものでしたがとても良くできたSF映画でした!面白くて2回観ました!
また読みたくなったので今度はkindleで購入しました。
やっぱり面白い!
翻訳本もいずれ読みたいなと思いました。
Paul@Aude_FranceReviewed in France on June 15, 20255.0 out of 5 stars Sci-fi masterpiece
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseI absolutely adored PHM. It has everything: adventure, humanity, encounters with alien life forms, suspense, science, and, yes, emotion. I was in awe of the book. What a story. A rather ordinary science teacher is sent to a distant star to save planet Earth and meets an alien, Rocky, who is trying to save his own planet. A beautiful friendship blossoms between the teacher and the alien. It's such a beautiful story.
Not a scientific person myself, I wasn't in the least put off by the science in the book. In fact, it's wondrous.
This will stay with me for a long time. A truc sci-fi masterpiece and a great story, whether you like the genre or not.





































