Mike Cahoon
I started Project Hail Mary as a book club read and was cautiously optimistic. I had of course seen the tidal wave of good reviews and all the hype, magnified by the recent release of the upcoming movie’s trailer. But I always worry when any book is getting that much attention. The risk of over hype from people jumping in the “bandwagon” is something I’ve been burned by before. Luckily, this was not one of those times.
This was my first Andy Weir novel. I had heard about his work for years and of course seen The Martian with Mark Wahlberg, but never gotten around to reading his actual books. Now that I have, what struck me the most was his unique gift for infusing an undeniable sense of humanity into his science fiction story. Don’t get me wrong, as a writer Weir has many strengths. His passion for the science part of science fiction shines through on just about every page. His writing conveys a sense of technological wonder while still being extremely palpable, even to someone with zero scientific background like myself. He has a real knack for establishing a world that feels just a few years removed from our own, like we’re reading an account of something that might actually happen in about ten years. Pair this with his ability to create engaging yet flawed characters and maintain a steady, well structured story, Weir has a winning formula. It’s immediately plain to see where his success has come from.
For my full review, including spoilers, please visit; https://mikecahoon.com/project-hail-mary-by-andy-weir/
Originally posted at mikecahoon.com.
I started Project Hail Mary as a book club read and was cautiously optimistic. I had of course seen the tidal wave of good reviews and all the hype, magnified by the recent release of the upcoming movie’s trailer. But I always worry when any book is getting that much attention. The risk of over hype from people jumping in the “bandwagon” is something I’ve been burned by before. Luckily, this was not one of those times.
This was my first Andy Weir novel. I had heard about his work for years and of course seen The Martian with Mark Wahlberg, but never gotten around to reading his actual books. Now that I have, what struck me the most was his unique gift for infusing an undeniable sense of humanity into his science fiction story. Don’t get me wrong, as a writer Weir has many strengths. His passion for the science part of science fiction shines through on just about every page. His writing conveys a sense of technological wonder while still being extremely palpable, even to someone with zero scientific background like myself. He has a real knack for establishing a world that feels just a few years removed from our own, like we’re reading an account of something that might actually happen in about ten years. Pair this with his ability to create engaging yet flawed characters and maintain a steady, well structured story, Weir has a winning formula. It’s immediately plain to see where his success has come from.
For my full review, including spoilers, please visit; https://mikecahoon.com/project-hail-mary-by-andy-weir/
Originally posted at mikecahoon.com.