I have descended from my ivory tower and read a fiction book that was written in the 2000s…and I had such a fun time doing it! Andy Weir weaves science into his stories so well, and I loved the relationship between Grace and Rocky. Finally, as far as tropes go, humans and aliens trying to teach each other their respective languages is one of my favorites.

  • Captured_Photons@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    I heard someone say there is a lot of controversy over this book on the reddits. Not sure if that’s true.

    I guess people either really love it or really hate it lol

    I really liked the book, how the plot was developed. How the main characters background was slowly revealed and also led to a really nicely done character growth.

  • Infinispace@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    Ah yes, the story of the unlikable, supra-genius Grace who can solve any science/engineering problem in mere minutes while alone and isolated in space (it took teams of NASA engineers days to solve the Apollo 13 problem). He can also become fluent in a completely alien language in 3 days, fluent enough to be able to discuss complicated physics, science, and astrophysics with a living rock (I might be able to learn how to ask where the bathroom is in another language in 3 days).

    I wasn’t overly impressed myself, and much of it was pretty hard to swallow (completely implausible). There was zero tension in the book because you knew Grace would just snap his fingers, and say “Aha, I got it! I’m really good at this science stuff…who knew!!!” /shrug

    • FlatSpinMan@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      Excellent summary. I loathed this book. I was so disappointed as I really enjoyed The Martian. Even Artemis wasn’t that bad.

    • FlatSpinMan@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      Excellent summary. I loathed this book. I was so disappointed as I really enjoyed The Martian. Even Artemis wasn’t that bad.

  • malcontented@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    So disappointed in this book. I saw him talk, got the book and soon after starting was shocked at how childish his writing is. Seriously, it’s like it was written by an 8th grader.

    • bad-trajectory@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      100% agree. It was unbearable. The audiobook… even worse. Imagine someone reading that text and then not giving it 100%. Fake Russian accents. Inner monologue voice. Yuck.

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      1 year ago

      i really hated the way the main character spoke like a teenager and spoke nonchalantly, beyond that, the sciency parts were great

    • PsychoticGiggle@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      Yeah I listened through it on audiobook and it was definitely fun, but could have been fan fiction. I picked it up because I thought it was supposed to be some great modern piece of sci fi literature, far from it. The scientific and philosophical angles are also very shallow and unoriginal.

    • luckyshoelace94@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      Haha, I enjoyed the book overall but definitely found the style of comedy very grating. It’s what I call “holds up spork” comedy. Very jarring overall considering the extremely high stakes presented in the novel.

    • luckyshoelace94@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      Haha, I enjoyed the book overall but definitely found the style of comedy very grating. It’s what I call “holds up spork” comedy. Very jarring overall considering the extremely high stakes presented in the novel.

    • bad-trajectory@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      100% agree. It was unbearable. The audiobook… even worse. Imagine someone reading that text and then not giving it 100%. Fake Russian accents. Inner monologue voice. Yuck.

    • namekianed@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      i really hated the way the main character spoke like a teenager and spoke nonchalantly, beyond that, the sciency parts were great

    • PlasmaWhore@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      This is a great book to read on a plane. Very quick and simple to follow even when you’re drowsy. It stays interesting and fun.

    • PsychoticGiggle@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      Yeah I listened through it on audiobook and it was definitely fun, but could have been fan fiction. I picked it up because I thought it was supposed to be some great modern piece of sci fi literature, far from it. The scientific and philosophical angles are also very shallow and unoriginal.

    • PlasmaWhore@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      This is a great book to read on a plane. Very quick and simple to follow even when you’re drowsy. It stays interesting and fun.

  • jezekiant@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    I read through this book so fast, it was such a fun ride. I despised the main character, but the story and Rocky made up for it to me. A lot of the science stuff went over my head and I sped through it, excited for the movie!

  • Beneficial-Jelly5746@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    I was listening to it on audiobook and I love that story, (Spoiler Spoiler) Rocky has become my favourite friendly alien. Suck on that ET. I also think it’s better than the Marsian

  • CupcakeGrouchy5381@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    I’m curious for those who read both PHM and The Martian, which one you enjoyed more?

    I read PHM first and very much enjoyed it. For me The Martian was a slog.

    • EmotionalAccounting@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      I read the Martian then years later Project Hail Mary and then a few months after Artemis.

      Loved the Martian but could not put down PHM. Artemis was certainly a slog for me at points though

    • tudorapo@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      I very much liked both, but somehow Hail Mary is the one I re-read more often.

    • EmotionalAccounting@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      I read the Martian then years later Project Hail Mary and then a few months after Artemis.

      Loved the Martian but could not put down PHM. Artemis was certainly a slog for me at points though

    • tudorapo@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      I very much liked both, but somehow Hail Mary is the one I re-read more often.

  • _Royalty_@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    Surprised to see PHM received with so much division. I personally loved it. Laughed, cried and tore through it in only a few days. I can’t wait for the film adaptation.

    • musicnothing@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      There was even division within my own brain, though. I couldn’t put it down and I recommended it to several other people (who mostly loved it) and yet I also thought the writing was amateurish. I’m just a sucker for stuff like >!Ryland’s relationship with Rocky!<

    • musicnothing@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      There was even division within my own brain, though. I couldn’t put it down and I recommended it to several other people (who mostly loved it) and yet I also thought the writing was amateurish. I’m just a sucker for stuff like >!Ryland’s relationship with Rocky!<

  • realitydysfunction20@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    I have read all types of science fiction and love many different sub-genres. Hard sci-fi, soft, YA, Sci-fi Fantasy.

    I thought Project Hail Mary was a fun and easy-going read. The audio book narrated by Ray Porter is great as well.

    If you are looking for any reading similar, I highly suggest We Are Legion by Dennis E. Taylor (Bobiverse book 1) and Old Man’s War by John Scalzi.

    • FastZX14@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      I’ve tried 4 times to get into the Bobiverse Books. This last time I made it through 3/4 of the first book before finally just realizing they are not for me.

    • FastZX14@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      I’ve tried 4 times to get into the Bobiverse Books. This last time I made it through 3/4 of the first book before finally just realizing they are not for me.

      • RadioHitandRun@alien.topB
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        1 year ago

        I don’t blame you. I love it, but i loved the discovery, technical problem solving they did. Not the “manny” parts.

      • RadioHitandRun@alien.topB
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        1 year ago

        I don’t blame you. I love it, but i loved the discovery, technical problem solving they did. Not the “manny” parts.

      • Kevolu@alien.topB
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        1 year ago

        I said the same thing about a year ago on a post about project hail Mary. People recommended I try again and a week later I was through the entire bobiverse series. It starts very slow but is amazing by the end of the first book.

  • InitialQuote000@alien.top
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    1 year ago

    Feels like I’m one of the few who really didn’t enjoy this books writing. I get the appeal, but ultimately it wasn’t for me.

    With that said, stay off that ivory tower! There are so many more great and wonderful books written after the 2000s!

    • Mukigachar@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      I enjoyed the book, and disliked its writing. Very poor syntax, but the story was fun and captivating so I didn’t mind

    • Mukigachar@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      I enjoyed the book, and disliked its writing. Very poor syntax, but the story was fun and captivating so I didn’t mind

    • FlatSpinMan@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      I’m with you. It was an abysmal read due to the narrative voice and the shoehorned in problems for the main character to science his way out of. I hated this book. That said, I liked the way they worked out communication, and I think it’d be a good movie.

    • FlatSpinMan@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      I’m with you. It was an abysmal read due to the narrative voice and the shoehorned in problems for the main character to science his way out of. I hated this book. That said, I liked the way they worked out communication, and I think it’d be a good movie.

    • corzekanaut@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      same here, I loved The Martian but getting through Project Hail Mary was a slog for me ngl

    • _Apu_Punchau_@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      You didn’t enjoy the main character explaining how to do a math problem on how to open a door rather than just turn the handle?

      I liked reading the Martian, but PHM seemed like it was just making up things for the main character to have to explain with science and math.

    • SatchBoogie1@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      I feel like I’m reading an instruction manual whenever the main character talks about all these “steps” he or she does to get something ready.

    • SatchBoogie1@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      I feel like I’m reading an instruction manual whenever the main character talks about all these “steps” he or she does to get something ready.

    • EnigmaForce@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      I thought PHM was a slog, personally.

      I loved The Martian when I read it in 2015, so I don’t know if my tastes have just changed or if PHM itself just wasn’t for me. Oh well.

    • corzekanaut@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      same here, I loved The Martian but getting through Project Hail Mary was a slog for me ngl

  • CDavis10717@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    This book has been praised and trashed here several times. I’m in the “trashed” camp.