I’ve never really been into sci-fi; books or movies i’ve just never been moved or even really entertained by them.
Then came Project Hail Mary.
I finished the book a week ago and it’s genuinely one of the best books i’ve ever read. I’m dying to see the movie. I did not expect to love the book as much as i did, I honestly didn’t even expect to finish it because that’s what usually happens when I try to start a sci-fi book. What I loved about PHM was the realism – how the book explained the science for you at every step and made it feel like it was something real that could happen. I feel the same way about Jurassic Park and Interstellar (the only other 2 sci-fi pieces of media i’ve thoroughly enjoyed).
However, now i want to give sci-fi a good chance again. Specifically space sci-fi. Something that takes you along with the science, explains it in terms you understand and makes you feel like it’s something that could really happen.
Also i just love media around space and space travel so that’s what Im really looking for (not the biggest fan of books solely about aliens, i know PHM kind of contradicts that but I see that book as a whole lot more than just about an alien). But I don’t even know where to begin looking for a book that follows all those guidelines.
So, for the TLDR; I want a beginner sci-fi novel with realistic science that is about space exploration and/or takes place in space.
by crunchy-onion
2 Comments
The Martian is the obvious one if you haven’t read it yet. Same author, same “walk you through the science step by step” thing but more grounded survival.
Also maybe Saturn Run. It’s very much near-future, heavy on realistic space tech, and keeps things pretty understandable without getting too dense.
The Bobiverse series by Dennis E. Taylor has a lot of the humor, problem solving and exploration that makes PHM so fun.
Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C. Clarke has all of the mystery and problem solving, but none of the humor.
Red Thunder by John Varley has a lot of the can-do problem solving and light touch PHM has and has a character named Jubal who’s almost as fun as Rocky.[](https://www.goodreads.com/series/192752-bobiverse)