Project Hail Mary [a review]
If you read and enjoyed The Martian but found yourself somewhat disappointed with Artemis, you will be delighted with Andy Weir's new novel, Project Hail Mary. The thing that made The Martian so fun was its desperate hope, gumption, and its dogged attention to scientific detail, and the good news is that PHM picks up all those threads again without feeling formulaic.
The problems are different and the stakes are magnified tenfold, but that overall sense of "escape room in outer space" pervades the story from tip to tail, and it's just sheer fun to read. The narrative (by its very nature) feels far less prescient or possible than The Martian, but on the other hand it is far more imaginative, whimsical, and emotionally intelligent.
If you are looking for a fun, light sci-fi for a summer read, look no further than Project Hail Mary.
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of a fair, unbiased review.