I have read almost three dozen science fiction books, but very few have stuck with me like Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary. I have previously discussed what makes a good science fiction book – at least in my own opinion. This week, I decided to reread the entire book and it’s even better than I remembered. Not only is it a science fiction book, it’s a mystery novel. Let’s talk about that.
Plot Summary
Dr. Ryland Grace wakes up from a coma, without memory of who or where he is. Eventually, he determines that not only is he on a spaceship, he’s also in Tau Ceti – a star system far from home. His fellow crew-mates are dead, and he realizes that he is on a suicide mission to save Earth from Astrophage – an interstellar invasive species. Astrophage, like an algae, is absorbing the sun’s energy and causing an ice age on Earth.
While he ponders his predicament, Ryland discovers that there is another space ship already parked in Tau Ceti. After docking their ships together, Ryland makes first contact with the lone passenger of the alien ship whom he calls Rocky. Together, Ryland and this spunky alien work together to save their respective planets.
What I like
I really like books that get technical. I like when an author talks about physics and science. Weir leaves some scientific details unexplained, such as the precise mechanics by which Astrophage travels at near-light speed. However, he’s able to expand the simple concept into an entire tree of technology. He utilizes science as a means of driving the plot forward. One of the first chapters that Andy Weir writes is Ryland trying to determine why falling objects felt weird. Eventually, Ryland conducts a crude experiment with a pendulum to determine that gravity was about 1.5x normal. We have a problem, then experiment/observe, and then we find a solution. The entire book follows this pattern: the protagonist faces a series of challenges, each requiring his technical and scientific expertise to overcome. Almost like a warning to the reader, Weir uses the gravity problem to set the readers expectations for the rest of the book. Ryland will face a problem, experiment/observe, and then solve it.
Why does this work so well? Weir has used this same cycle in his previous novel The Martian. Every problem has a technical solution or explanation. While I identified this element during my first reading, it took until my second to understand what Weir has done. Just as Ryland applies his scientific knowledge to solve complex problems, the structure of the book itself mirrors the logic and deduction we see in classic mystery novels. He’s made Sherlock an engineer.
Mystery Novel
Like Sherlock Holmes solving a mystery, Ryland follows a methodical process of deduction, each step leading him closer to the solution. The difference is that his tools aren’t magnifying glasses or cigars, but scientific instruments and raw ingenuity. When we read a Mystery novel, we will be told of some crime or murder, be given some clues, and we’ll be implicitly invited to find the solution. Any true lover of the Mystery novel will be familiar with this concept. Likewise, the reader doesn’t know how Ryland will save the earth, but just like any whodunit, the clues are presented to the reader and detective alike. If you have the background, you may come to the solution before Ryland.
For example, there’s a section of the book where Rocky and Ryland have not yet learned each other’s languages. For a book that is set in space, these chapters deal heavily in linguistics and language. Without knowing much about the other, Ryland finds that he has a hard time communicating certain concepts to Rocky. When he writes with the sharpie, Rocky does not seem to grasp the purpose. It’s not until Ryland shows Rocky a tape measure, does he realize that Rocky cannot perceive the markings on the tape. Ryland comes with a hypothesis, but he must test it. He retrieves a thick piece of aluminum floor paneling from his ship. First, Ryland has Rocky mimic counting fingers with a clear line of sight. Without much trouble, Rocky is able to repeat the gestures. Next, Ryland places the panel between his hand and Rocky and repeats the process with a new sequence. Without trouble, Rocky is able to successfully mimic his movements. Much like a blind bat, Rocky primarily uses sound to navigate his environment. The plot has the same three parts: Problem, Experiment and Observe, Solution.
Conclusion
It’s clear to me that I am not the only one that has fallen in love with Project Hail Mary. While not everyone may be familiar with the science, I think Weir does an excellent job guiding readers through the concepts he introduces. By weaving this structure into a compelling story with a unique setting and a dash of amnesia, Weir has created a novel that’s as intellectually satisfying as it is thrilling. As Rocky might say: Amaze!