I gave up on PHM after about 75%. Just couldn’t make it through anymore. And I’m someone who rarely ever DNFs anything – I’m just stubborn like that.
Despite some truly interesting sf concepts, the book failed to hit the mark in every other department. I think first and foremost it was the writing that made me cave. The prose is just wooden and elementary on a level I couldn’t handle anymore. I know it’s supposed to be a fun popcorn book and not literature but still – even for disposable entertainment it was bad.
Another issue I had was with the main protagonist. He was just annoying without anything interesting or compelling about him as a character. In fact, he kinda reminded me of a Redditor – smug, self-righteous with some of the most groanworthy quips and attempts at humour I’ve experienced in a MC in a while. I’d always read the quotes and memes people posted from this book on Reddit and think “huh maybe it’s actually funny in the right context?” But no, it isn’t really.
Rocky was a cool character though so I’ll give Andy weir credit for that. But still not enough to force myself through the book. It’s weird because The Martian was kinda poorly written too but I still enjoyed it way more because the protagonist wasn’t as irritating.
by Monkey-on-the-couch
32 Comments
I DNFd too 🥂
It’s best as an audiobook.
For me, it was actually worth it for the ending. Not to spoil it, but truly the ending made up for some of the flaws imo.
Unpopular opinion, it’s The Martian I didn’t finish… now downvote me reddit, I’m ready
This is one of the few books I read multiple times a year.
tender paltry ancient illegal rock impolite deserve puzzled many attempt
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev/home)*
It was fun read, I guess you *really* have to be into scifi to like it and overlook it’s flaws.
>smug, self-righteous with some of the most groanworthy quips and attempts at humour I’ve experienced
I think that was the whole point. MC was a stereotypical, socially awkward nerd that lives only for science. I think that he even mentioned at one point, how it’s ironic that the only true friend he ever had was literal alien.
It was not a great book, imo. I did not realize we were supposed to announce the books we do not like. Going to have to find my list to start posting.
I agree with the prose being bad. It’s the first thing that stood out to me when I started. Having said that, there are authors with equally bad prose who get even more praise than Andy Weir, and I thought if people like books with that kind of prose, maybe I can like this. I overlooked it in favour of experiencing some of the sci fi concepts. It’s definitely overrated, but still a fun popcorn sci fi.
Ahh yes, the daily “I don’t like [insert popular book/author here]” thread. Seriously, search “Project Hail Mary” in this sub, and you’ll find at least half a dozen threads about this book identical to yours.
Oh look at you, being all edgy and contrarian!
Yeah literally all his protagonists are SO ANNOYING (Artemis too) but the plot was just corny enough that it made up for it.
I loved the book personally. But I agree that the main character isn’t very likable. I don’t think that’s a requirement for a good book though. I think his unlikable personality traits are completely realistic for the type of person I would expect to fit in that role, so it wasn’t hard for me move past. I actually thought it was kind of refreshing, too many books have perfectly cool main characters with flaws that read like “my biggest weakness is that I care too much” or something.
I just read this. And I read the Martian a while back.
I Have to say, I almost didn’t finish it myself. Good World building, good conundrum(s), good alien, and waaaay too much hyper-cutesy nudge, nudge, wink, wink.
I tend to like hard science and problem solving in my science fiction reading, so I kept going. I can’t say I really enjoyed it, but I will say that the resolution was nice and there was one pretty good undermining of expectation in there.
But when an author establishes a fourth wall to break through if, and only if, they have something cute to say, it really sets my teeth on edge. And that was totally the case with this book
Me, too. It just got sooo hokey once the school kids started helping him.
My thoughts on Weir as a writer are complicated. On one hand, I get completely swept up in the plot on its most basic level. PHM, I was invested in the primary plot of “can these two learn to communicate, can they solve the mystery they’ve been sent to research, will they survive the many complications that arise, will they save their homes, will they make it back home”. It’s exciting to see how all these pieces play out.
But his prose is among the worst I’ve ever read for a best selling author. Every person is entirely inauthentic and have the depth of a cardboard cut out. The sequences on Earth should have been completely removed from the book. It’s all so laughably bad. And *none* of the characterization of any of the characters, even the mc (especially the mc) have any bearing on the outcome of events.
I felt the same way reading The Martian (who was basically the same guy). He writes situations that are interesting and engaging and characters that are bland and shallow.
I hated that book.
Didn’t love the book, but I think it will make a fantastic screenplay and I’m excited to see how the adaptation goes!
I sometimes think Ernest Cline was a ghostwriter on this book.
I swear I see this same post every week.
I liked it a lot. I didn’t leave myself a review, but gave it five stars, which I don’t do as much lately….
I’m afraid we can no longer be friends. /s
I loved this book, and I really enjoyed The Martian and Artemis as well, but like many people, I do worry that the well of ‘highly intelligent and funny/smartass characters’ may run dry sooner rather than later.
Makes you wonder if the writer is an insufferable Redditor who just wrote a self insert, because they think they’re the best thing since sliced bread.
Andy Weir is a very, very limited writer who imagines great sci-fi stories. He’s not a hack because I don’t think he has any pretension or is trying to imitate anything, his writing ability is just extremely perfunctory and basic. My 9-year-old son and I read Project Hail Mary and greatly enjoyed it because it was emotionally rewarding and plausible. I don’t think I even noticed his writing style after a while.
I finished it but really did not like it much for all sorts of reasons. Rocky may be a “cool character” but in a book that wears its (attempts at) science realism on its sleave, he was a cartoon alien way too like a human in a funny skin.
The writing is pedestrian, but it was readable, the other flaws bothered me even more.
I thought Grace was cute, in a quaint sort of way. He reminded me of some of my goofier teachers from back in the day.
Oh Mate by not finishing it you deprived yourself experience of the worst part of this book, ending, I hate it with passion. So yeah good job!
Why would you say something so controversial yet so brave? I agree 100%. I DNF’d the Martian either- both books’ characters are carbon copies of each other. Cringe with or without context, your description of the redditor is pretty much spot on.
Agree. I read about 15 books a month. Took me four months to finish this book.
I’m glad I’m not good at reading so I just enjoy things. Ignorance truly is bliss. I read it, it was fun. That was it.
You’re about to make some people mad as hell with this but you’re absolutely right
I loved this book! It was hilarious!