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.
Delta V by Daniel Suarez might be right up your alley.
My only gripe is that he never played the Beatles for rocky.
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.
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
Excellent summary. I loathed this book. I was so disappointed as I really enjoyed The Martian. Even Artemis wasn’t that bad.
Excellent summary. I loathed this book. I was so disappointed as I really enjoyed The Martian. Even Artemis wasn’t that bad.
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.
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.
i really hated the way the main character spoke like a teenager and spoke nonchalantly, beyond that, the sciency parts were great
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.
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.
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.
People are even defending Artemis. I guess r/books on the whole just has really terrible taste.
I put it down halfway through when I realized I was never going to get to the “good part”
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.
I put it down halfway through when I realized I was never going to get to the “good part”
i really hated the way the main character spoke like a teenager and spoke nonchalantly, beyond that, the sciency parts were great
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.
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.
People are even defending Artemis. I guess r/books on the whole just has really terrible taste.
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.
I wasn’t getting super into it, bit by the time I was done I just wanted to read it again.
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!
I loved the ending as I couldn’t imagine how it was going to end.
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
If you actually want to cover spoilers you do >! Spoiler here !<, but without the spaces next to the
!symbols.Yes, they do such an amazing job with Rocky in the audiobook!
I like the little music notes in the book… I love the lyrical Rocky in the audio book!
The audiobook blows the printed version away by miles.
Yep, also the exception to the rule where I don’t want sound effects in my audiobooks.
Fist my bump!
The audiobook blows the printed version away by miles.
You sleep I watch
If you actually want to cover spoilers you do >! Spoiler here !<, but without the spaces next to the
!symbols.You sleep I watch
Fist my bump!
Yes, they do such an amazing job with Rocky in the audiobook!
I like the little music notes in the book… I love the lyrical Rocky in the audio book!
I have the audible version and love how they did Rocky’s dialogues! Just brilliant.
I have the audible version and love how they did Rocky’s dialogues! Just brilliant.
How did they do it?
Hah! It was a great effect!
How did they do it?
Hah! It was a great effect!
Very well done audiobook
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.
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
Loved the Martian. Absolutely despised PHM. Hated it.
I very much liked both, but somehow Hail Mary is the one I re-read more often.
Loved the Martian. Absolutely despised PHM. Hated it.
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
I very much liked both, but somehow Hail Mary is the one I re-read more often.
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.
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!<
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!<
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.
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.
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.
I don’t blame you. I love it, but i loved the discovery, technical problem solving they did. Not the “manny” parts.
I don’t blame you. I love it, but i loved the discovery, technical problem solving they did. Not the “manny” parts.
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.
I recommend Murderbot Diaries in a similar vein
I recommend Murderbot Diaries in a similar vein
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!
I enjoyed the book, and disliked its writing. Very poor syntax, but the story was fun and captivating so I didn’t mind
I enjoyed the book, and disliked its writing. Very poor syntax, but the story was fun and captivating so I didn’t mind
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.
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.
same here, I loved The Martian but getting through Project Hail Mary was a slog for me ngl
Potentially the least favorite book I’ve ever read, so you’re not alone.
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.
It was OK enough.
It was OK enough.
Potentially the least favorite book I’ve ever read, so you’re not alone.
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.
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.
But that’s what makes it so great
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.
same here, I loved The Martian but getting through Project Hail Mary was a slog for me ngl
This book has been praised and trashed here several times. I’m in the “trashed” camp.
Jazz hands!