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Project Hail Mary Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

4.7 out of 5 stars 144,912 ratings

THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE MARTIAN Soon to be a major motion picture starring Ryan Gosling, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, with a screenplay by Drew Goddard

Winner of the 2022 Audie Awards' Audiobook of the Year

Number-One Audible and New York Times Audio Best Seller

More than one million audiobooks sold

A lone astronaut must save the earth from disaster in this incredible new science-based thriller from the number-one New York Times best-selling author of The Martian.

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, he realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Alone on this tiny ship that's been cobbled together by every government and space agency on the planet and hurled into the depths of space, it's up to him to conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.

And thanks to an unexpected ally, he just might have a chance.

Part scientific mystery, part dazzling interstellar journey, Project Hail Mary is a tale of discovery, speculation, and survival to rival The Martian - while taking us to places it never dreamed of going.

PLEASE NOTE: To accommodate this audio edition, some changes to the original text have been made with the approval of author Andy Weir.

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Product details

Listening Length 16 hours and 10 minutes
Author Andy Weir
Narrator Ray Porter
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date May 04, 2021
Publisher Audible Studios
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B08GB58KD5
Best Sellers Rank #23 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#1 in Hard Science Fiction (Books)
#1 in Hard Science Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)
#2 in Science Fiction Adventures

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
144,912 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this science fiction novel intensely interesting, with well-researched scientific concepts and a compelling adventure plot. The writing is easy to read, and customers appreciate the well-developed characters, particularly the imperfect protagonist, while the humor compares favorably to The Martian. The pacing receives mixed reactions, with some finding it well-paced while others note it's slow with longer descriptions.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

3,488 customers mention "Readability"3,469 positive19 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a masterpiece that is intensely interesting for the most part.

"Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is a thrilling, mind-blowing ride that showcases the power of human ingenuity and perseverance...." Read more

"...This is not Crime and Punishment. Instead, it's a page-turning action-hero book - where instead of firing shots, the action hero saves the day by..." Read more

"...The final scene is touching and worthwhile, though. Ten science problems off the top of my head:..." Read more

"...by an outside source...which turns out to be easily the greatest find in history. It's alien life, and they are using the sun for food, essentially...." Read more

2,044 customers mention "Sci-fi content"1,863 positive181 negative

Customers enjoy the sci-fi content of the book, describing it as an intriguing and suspenseful tale with an interesting buddy adventure plot.

"...’s journey to save humanity is full of heart, clever twists, and unexpected moments that make you cheer for Rocky and him every step of the way...." Read more

"...Andy Weir does a fantastic job of interweaving the past and the present and the result is a very effective narrative framework that lands on a "Wow!"..." Read more

"...The final scene is touching and worthwhile, though. Ten science problems off the top of my head:..." Read more

"...Keeping it all in check and most importantly, interesting all while mixing in a healthy dose of science, which I am to understand is pretty much all..." Read more

1,373 customers mention "Science content"1,195 positive178 negative

Customers appreciate the science content in the book, noting that it is well researched and well written, with one customer highlighting the extensive knowledge of math and science.

"...With its unique blend of humor, science, and high-stakes drama, the novel keeps you hooked from start to finish...." Read more

"...The answer is, they're in Project Hail Mary! The science is still real and omni-present, but the fiction is big, bold, and awesome...." Read more

"...I enjoyed the scientist point of view, and Rocky reminded me of the comic-relief robot, Floyd, from the text game Planetfall...." Read more

"...in check and most importantly, interesting all while mixing in a healthy dose of science, which I am to understand is pretty much all genuine, is..." Read more

919 customers mention "Writing quality"824 positive95 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book, noting that it reads like a movie script and is easy to understand, with the author doing a good job of explaining complex concepts in layman's terms.

"...The science is still real and omni-present, but the fiction is big, bold, and awesome...." Read more

"...+ the alien has better English grammar than several earthlings in the story, with perfect grasp of idiom after a few days...." Read more

"...There is an incredible amount of stuff going on...." Read more

"...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,..." Read more

753 customers mention "Character development"678 positive75 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, particularly noting the well-crafted protagonist and how the writing improves with each story, with one customer highlighting the beautiful sense of humor in the characters.

"...For starters, our protagonist is generally more likable...." Read more

"...but through the liberal use of flashbacks, we have a full cast of characters - at least one quite important to the story...." Read more

"...unfolded made it nothing short of a page turner and its chock full of memorable characters...." Read more

"...Weir has great characters and weaves in fun humor, but the real magic of his books is the problem solving...." Read more

548 customers mention "Humor"511 positive37 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book, finding it as entertaining as The Martian, with many laughing out loud and appreciating the dry wit and sarcasm throughout the narrative.

"...With its unique blend of humor, science, and high-stakes drama, the novel keeps you hooked from start to finish...." Read more

"...The humor and resourcefulness were great fun and worth the $10 I paid...." Read more

"Good premise. Appropriate surprises. Good humour. Well written, good flow, cool science facts...." Read more

"...of friendship, there is a heart-wrenching twist, and just absolute realistic comedy...." Read more

520 customers mention "Creativity"507 positive13 negative

Customers appreciate the book's creativity, finding it thought-provoking and inventive, with one customer noting how well it combines scientific knowledge with imagination.

"...by Andy Weir is a thrilling, mind-blowing ride that showcases the power of human ingenuity and perseverance...." Read more

"...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,..." Read more

"...The humor, the science, the emotions - all are very unique and specific to Andy...." Read more

"...The emotional journey between an “alien” and human is a master work of creativity. Five stars is not enough!!!..." Read more

597 customers mention "Pacing"394 positive203 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it well-paced and surprisingly quick to read, while others note it has a slow start and feels rushed.

"...of humor, science, and high-stakes drama, the novel keeps you hooked from start to finish...." Read more

"Good premise. Appropriate surprises. Good humour. Well written, good flow, cool science facts...." Read more

"...with different microorganisms once again strain the brain and slow the plot...." Read more

"Great start that will hook you in instantly, highly recommend" Read more

Remarkable
5 out of 5 stars
Remarkable
While anything space related is usually on the back burner for me, just usually not my cup of tea. I have to say this book was absolutely remarkable. Now that I have finished I have to say I am astounded by some of the negative reviews discussing a lot of the filler pages seeming to be unnecessary or it being a terrible story. I know the to each their own rule. But to say that this book was not incredibly well thought out and written would be blatantly false. If the story is too long or doesn’t fit your needs is an entirely different issue. It’s very hard for me to summarize this book without spoiling anything because this book goes so very in depth for the entirety of the story. There is so much to this book that a summary for this could be endless. So here’s a very short version with no spoilers. Ryland Grace wakes up on a spacecraft and the first thing he encounters is questions from a robot asking him to do simple math. Well Grace doesn’t even remember who he is currently and is completely complexed as to where he is or what’s going on. As he wakes up and tries to fit the pieces back together he comes to the realization that he’s in space. Over time with memories slowly returning he learns that he is on a mission to save humanity from Astrophage. Which is a microbe that will cause the end of earth and it’s solar system by stealing energy from the sun and in return causing an ice age. While his memories slowly return, he works on theories and experiments on how to defeat/ eliminate Astrophage. While traveling through space Grace discovers another spacecraft and soon finds out he is not the only other being that has the same problem as him. Astrophage is dooming more than one solar system. Grace stunned by his discovery, has no idea of the journey he’s about to encounter in the attempt to save all of humanity, and well potentially other humanities he isn’t quite aware of yet. With a friend he makes along the way, he will encounter a journey of sacrifice and a new meaning of life he never could have imagined in his wildest dreams.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2025
    Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is a thrilling, mind-blowing ride that showcases the power of human ingenuity and perseverance. With its unique blend of humor, science, and high-stakes drama, the novel keeps you hooked from start to finish. Ryland Grace’s journey to save humanity is full of heart, clever twists, and unexpected moments that make you cheer for Rocky and him every step of the way.

    As Rocky would say, “Amaze, amaze, amaze.” This book absolutely lives up to that – it will leave you in awe of its creativity, emotional depth, and sheer brilliance.
    15 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2025
    If you loved the Martian in either book or movie form, Project Hail Mary will likely delight you.

    The main character (who I'll leave nameless to avoid spoilers) is nearly identical to The Martian's lead, Mark Watney. They have similar personalities, the same fundamental mission of surviving in a hostile environment, and both use real-world biology, chemistry, and physics to solve their problems from start to finish. The book provides an early test for whether or not you'll enjoy it: on page five, when our protagonist is being quizzed by an annoyingly paternalistic computer that is demanding to know the square root of eight, our hero replies with the smart aleck answer: "two times e to the two-i-pi". If you find this interaction amusing, all good; if it's off-putting, turn back now.

    In fairness, Project Hail Mary shares The Martian's flaws as well. The protagonist's character is a bit better developed - but only slightly. The conflict is entirely man-vs-environment. And though the protagonist is often in situations that might cause one to ponder the essential truths of the human condition, he never does. His personality and behavior as a sarcastic problem-solving scientist / engineer are pitch-perfect but the book rarely goes any deeper. He has an established motivation and a flaw to be overcome - but these are really just superficial grace-notes (see what I did there?). This is not Crime and Punishment. Instead, it's a page-turning action-hero book - where instead of firing shots, the action hero saves the day by doing science really well. Books that celebrate real science are rare, so if that's what you came for, you're going to love what Project Hail Mary delivers.

    Although largely similar, there are four main ways in which Project Hail Mary differs on the Martian so I'll touch on those now:

    1. The stakes are higher - much higher! In The Martian, Mark Watney is already a bit of a super hero - he's an astronaut after all - and all he really needs to do is stay alive. In Project Hail Mary, our hero is much more of an every-man and his job is nothing less than to save the human race.

    2. The Martian is told in chronological order. In Project Hail Mary, our hero awakens with a serious case of amnesia and can't even remember his own name. He starts his adventures at essentially the most dull part of his recent life. As time passes he both tackles dramatic new challenges and remembers the wild adventures that brought him here. Andy Weir does a fantastic job of interweaving the past and the present and the result is a very effective narrative framework that lands on a "Wow!" moment at the end of nearly every chapter.

    3. Project Hail Mary is a buddy story. In The Martian, Mark Watney is alone in his battle against the elements of Mars for nearly the entire book. By contrast, Project Hail Mary, once it really gets going, is absolutely a tale of buddy-bonding. This surprised and, ultimately, delighted me. It helps give the protagonist a bit more of a human side. And the team problem-solving scenes are, again, pitch-perfect.

    4. Project Hail Mary puts the 'fiction' back in Science Fiction. In The Martian, leaving aside the opening wind storm and the closing chapter of wish-fulfillment heroics, we are essentially in a very tightly written NASA simulation. I found this incredibly enjoyable - but one could reasonably ask, where are the big ideas? Where are the bold 'what ifs'? The answer is, they're in Project Hail Mary! The science is still real and omni-present, but the fiction is big, bold, and awesome. If you're main draw for the Martian was the NASA lore and you wished Weir would write an even tighter sequel detailing the Apollo 13 events, you may be a bit disappointed - but everyone else is going to love this change of pace!

    So that's it in a nutshell: Project Hail Mary is a fantastic next book to read after The Martian. It's a clear spiritual successor but brings new ideas and structure to the game. Enjoy!
    11 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2021
    The overwhelming goal and thrust of the story carried it through many of the flaws. I enjoyed the scientist point of view, and Rocky reminded me of the comic-relief robot, Floyd, from the text game Planetfall. The humor and resourcefulness were great fun and worth the $10 I paid. Most of the problems could have been eliminated by offering fewer details where the biologist wasn’t the expert. However the structure collapses at the 78% mark when everything on the ship fails artificially at once. Once this implodes, the dozens of obvious flaws make the story seem as real as Santa Clause Conquers the Martians. In fact, every contrived complication from there on borders on the absurd. The final scene is touching and worthwhile, though.
    Ten science problems off the top of my head:
    + a low-bid mass-production facility like you mention would leak at least one astrophage into the atmosphere, which would start the cycle between Earth and the Sun, doubling the sunspots and ending any chance of success. Game over.
    + a creature with a life cycle measured in minutes making a twelve-year journey with no food or way of knowing which star is closest?
    + with the high number of stars infected in the alien model, someone would have noticed on earth years before the phages could reach us. We use magnitude to identify a star in a computer screen of several, using the closest as a reliable yardstick. When they all fail at once for our Astro 101 students, people would figure it out. Unless phages evolved in the last 20 years, there would be an expanding ring of darkness in the sky from aeons ago. Why infect the next star before *all* the CO2 in a system is gone? When it is, all the phages would leave to new systems only, restoring the star in the center to normal. Eventually, they’ll hit the 8 light-year limit on every boundary and flare out.
    + I’m pretty sure there isn’t enough CO2 on Venus to cover one percent of the sun’s disc. If so, that one-percent spot would follow Venus, not Earth. Either way, if they can charge enough to reproduce in the Sahara, they wouldn’t bother to get close to the sun.
    + astronauts who are back-up for each other aren’t allowed to travel in the same vehicle, let alone set off bombs together. And this is the only time in years of experiments around the world that this happens? The female scientist getting pregnant would have been more likely with a 2 percent chance of conception each time they have sex over several years.
    + mercury blood means that the expansion/contraction from even one degree of temperature variation would kill Rocky. I’m still not sure why/how even the most trusting engineer would share this data with a stranger.
    + ripping a hole in his hull and radiation shielding to get a sample of aluminum? How about a stool, flashlight, table, food container, or hull patch kit?
    + the alien has better English grammar than several earthlings in the story, with perfect grasp of idiom after a few days. My genius exchange student with years of instruction made more slips than Rocky.
    + having enough fuel doesn’t mean he can go back home. He has no software, insufficient food, and no way to become unconscious.
    + how did he deploy the 10 kilometer chain instantly at the push of a button if he had no spool mechanism? Also, that much chain would weight more and have more volume than his ship. How can he lift it by hand? We’re not even discussing the electrical charge on a dipole that long. Using a Beetle probe would have made more sense than endangering the whole vessel.

    Now let’s talk about writing mechanics:
    + don’t have a six-page scene with a flirting female and only mention her name once as the first word of dialog. The rest was all she, with no real descriptions or reaction on the hetero hero’s part.
    + repeated words have commas between them. No, no.
    + complete sentences joined with a conjunction require commas between them.
    + use the subjunctive case “were” when discussing theoretical walking beehives.
    24 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fun read
    Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on October 27, 2024
    Laid out really well, if great little surprises throughout the book that kept you turning the page. Great book for young adults and older adults.
  • NoAlm
    3.0 out of 5 stars .
    Reviewed in Saudi Arabia on March 2, 2025
    The cover is damaged
  • GUILLERMO SAN ROMAN GARCIA
    5.0 out of 5 stars Muy buena historia
    Reviewed in Mexico on March 22, 2025
    Si han leido The Martian por Andy Weir, dejame contarles que Hail Mary es todavia mejor! La narrativa es semejante en donde el protagonista resuelve problemas conforme van surgiendo. Todavia mejor es que nuestro heroe Ryland Grace es el unico sobreviviente de la mision y encuentra un Alien -al que llama Rocky- en una mision semejante y juntos trabajan para salvar sus respectivos mundos. Una lectura altamente recomendable!
    Report
  • RoC
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in Sweden on September 8, 2023
    One for the nerds, for sure. The story totally worked for me and I loved it. Recommended to those who liked, or loved The Martian.
  • Naman sood
    5.0 out of 5 stars What a great book
    Reviewed in India on April 17, 2025
    This is the first book that I have read in four years, and I can say that this has got me interested into reading again.
    This book is full of great science, emotion and fun. It is a must read or anyone who’s even.mildly interested in space and science