PROJECT HAIL MARY

 

PROJECT HAIL MARY

By Andy Weir

Ballantine Books

478 pgs

 

While still in high school, we learned the various sub-genres of science fiction. Most fell under one of two umbrellas: hard science or science fantasy. In the latter camp you had the space sagas of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Leigh Brackett and Edmond Hamiling. What fans often labeled space operas. In the other camp, writers with authentic science backgrounds were Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov and many others. As a teenager we had no problems enjoying both. As we matured, we began to favor the fantasy stuff. Why? Because most of the current hard science novels we read were poorly written. The writers knew their science but fell short of using it in compelling tales with characters and plots that we could warm to. 

Along comes Andy Weir, a software engineer who knows both real science and how to tell a damn good story. “Project Hail Mary” concerns a discovered threat to our sun. Something is weakening its power and if it continues, all life on earth is in danger of complete extinction within a few short decades. As the world’s leading scientists and astronomer wrestle with the problem, they learn other stars in our universe are suffering the same malady. All but one, the sun of the Tau Ceti system. 

All this comes about because of a brilliant young scientist turned high school teacher named Rayland Grace. It is Grace who ultimately learns of the cosmic infestation that is negatively impacting stars. But why isn’t this happening to Tau Ceti? Is there something about that particular star making it immune to the cosmic infestation? Quickly the governing bodies of Earth realize mankind’s only hope of survival is to send a team of astronauts on a suicide mission to Tau Ceti to learn the secret of its immunity and get that information back to Earth. The plot is suspenseful, our hero believable and then comes Weir’s biggest surprise, the alien Grace encounters when arriving at Tau Ceti.  

How two different intelligent lifeforms meet, learn to communicate and then being to work together to save their respective home worlds is fantastic. “Project Hail Mary” is one of the best science fiction adventures we’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Page after page, Weir took us on a journey of wonder set against the backdrop of an endless space we’ve only just begun to explore. This book is an inspiration to all those young men and women who’ll one day look to the stars and dream. We loved it.