Challenge Corner discussion

Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission--and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish.

Except that right now, he doesn't know that. He can't even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.

All he knows is that he's been asleep for a very, very long time. And he's just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.

His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, he realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Alone on this tiny ship that's been cobbled together by every government and space agency on the planet and hurled into the depths of space, it's up to him to conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.

And thanks to an unexpected ally, he just might have a chance.

Part scientific mystery, part dazzling interstellar journey, Project Hail Mary is a tale of discovery, speculation, and survival to rival The Martian--while taking us to places it never dreamed of going.

I just got this!

Woohoo!!

Started this last night. Only two percent but I'm liking it.

Oh good! I've never read Andy Weir before

Me neither

20% - (view spoiler)[I'm reading slowly with all these scientific stuff but it's so interesting! I wonder why his two crewmates didn't survive and he did? Also, is he really going to die at the end of the book/his mission or will the book surprise us? (hide spoiler)]

Starting this now!

Maybe this weekend I'll get to this haaaaaaaaa

Ch 6: (view spoiler)[Okay, this is a pretty interesting book. A lot of science crap coming my way but it's not boring to dive into. (hide spoiler)]

Kelly wrote: "20% - [spoilers removed]"

Yes, lots and lots of questions right now.

Ch 12: (view spoiler)[Well at least there's two of them now... I guess?!? Lol (hide spoiler)]

Ch 18: (view spoiler)[I love how Rocky was like.. you want to watch me eat? Sleep? It made me snort because I mean.. Rocky's right - why would you want to do that? So weird. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 24: (view spoiler)[Hahah when they were talking about food tasting good or not - I agree. Yes, us humans love tasty food. (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[Well, I wasn't exactly sure what was going to happen to him once he ate that stuff but having scurvy doesn't sound fun or exciting. I also think it's interesting how he's aged towards the end of the book. I guess it's a good thing he still teaches? (hide spoiler)]

Okay this is next on my list!

Woohoo!

Kelly wrote: "20% - [spoilers removed]"

Agreed! It slows the story down because I'm trying to understand what he's talking about, but it's a cool idea and I like his humor too.

Alaina wrote: "Ch 6: [spoilers removed]"

Lot of science but interesting plot

Chapter 6 (view spoiler)[ I've laughed a couple times while reading. When he went to check on his crewmates and said "Aaaaand they're dead." I died.
I do feel bad that he's alone but now there are aliens?! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 14 (view spoiler)[ I love Rocky and that they've started communicating. Now they have to figure out astrophage. (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "Chapter 6 "

lol yeah he can be pretty funny

Aly wrote: "Chapter 14 [spoilers removed]"

Yes, I LOVE Rocky!

Alaina wrote: "Ch 24: [spoilers removed]"

So true

Alaina wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Kind of gross that he eats 'meburgers' but if it keeps him healthy then I guess it's okay. I guess all the space travel was hard on his body? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 21 (view spoiler)[ Whoo I'm happy Rocky isn't dead. I was pretty worried. Now they need to get the solution to their home planets (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I'm so glad Rylan went back for Rocky and saved him and his people. And by sending the beetles, he saved Earth too. Even though it's sad he didn't get to go back to his planet, he didn't have anyone there and at least he kept his best friend. (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

blegh. me burgers

I'm 25% into this book and I'm going to finish this soon :)

KELLY!!! I'm so happy you're back!

Aly wrote: "KELLY!!! I'm so happy you're back!"

Thank you ^^ I'm happy to be back!

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RESTARTING MAY 9TH, 2021

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Ch 5 (view spoiler)[Wow I love this so far! I really like the way Ryland discovered how the astrophage reproduce with some simple experiments. I also love how they go around from star to star sucking 10% of the energy out of each. That’s scary as f***. (hide spoiler)]

Phew! FINALLY getting caught back up. . . kind of lol

I'm starting today :)

Ch 10 (view spoiler)[Holy crap I love this book so much. Usually if humanity meets aliens in sci-fi, the book will just handwave that the computers analyze their signals and we learn their language or something. But here it is actually showing me how he learns to communicate with the aliens. (hide spoiler)]

Caroline wrote: "Ch 5 [spoilers removed]"

Yes! this is incredibly readable lol I never thought math at a scientific level would be so interesting!
(view spoiler)[ but omg the idea of these things infecting and, like, "eating" stars - especially our sun - is pretty freaking scary

I like how he discovered things too and how he experimented

but he's not there anymore. I wonder how long he's been in a coma and if he can save anything or if it's all gone and he's on his own now... (hide spoiler)]

Caroline wrote: "Ch 10 [spoilers removed]"

I know(view spoiler)[ this is super cool! I love that it keeps waving
and I love that it does "jazz hands"
awesome! But where do they go from here?!?! (hide spoiler)]

Through 15 chapters

(view spoiler)[ I really like Rocky
and how well they've managed to work out communicating
lol I LOVE that we're bad at math so he keeps things simple for him! Hahahah!!!

But wow, to move him on to the ship. I wonder if it will be tough for him, not in the right atmosphere. How long can he possibly stay in the ball thing? Won't he need his ship back?

This makes me nervous. I wonder if Rocky plans to go back home. And if so, how does he plan to do that? are they both on a suicide mission? (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "Through 15 chapters [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I was wondering the same thing! Does Rocky plan to go home, and wouldn't he need his ship? Maybe they are leaving it safely in orbit somewhere and he'll be able to go back to it? Not sure, but I feel like the two of them could have discussed these issues before moving in together, lol. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 17 (view spoiler)[Aww, I loved when Rocky asked Ryland to watch him sleep. He has been alone out here for over forty years, holy crap! And now he has someone to watch over him while he sleeps again. And I teared up when Rocky said he has enough Astrophage for Ryland to go home again. (hide spoiler)]

Caroline wrote: "Ch 17 [spoilers removed]"

YES (view spoiler)[ there are so many good moments here. I love watching over each other as they sleep and their joking around

and oh my gosh, when he said he had enough! Ugh! So good! (hide spoiler)]

Ch 22 (view spoiler)[Ahhh this got so exciting! What a sweet scene, when Ryland and Rocky went into each other's environments to save each other. It seems they have things under control again... For now!! (hide spoiler)]

Caroline wrote: "Ch 22 [spoilers removed]"

YES!!(view spoiler)[ and it was all so close! Oh my gosh! It was hard to read but also so good that they are such good creatures! But what a scary thing to realize! These 2 species they are trying to figure out are so volatile! (hide spoiler)]

Finished! (view spoiler)[I loved the ending! I'm glad Ryland went back to save Rocky and got to visit an alien world. And it was cute that he became a school teacher again. (hide spoiler)]

Yay!!I'm so glad you liked it too!! (view spoiler)[ I love that he stayed and that he got to be a teacher

but I love that he got to find out that Earth figured out his message too! What a relief. Ugh, I loved this one!! (hide spoiler)]

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RESTARTING SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2021

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Gotta love the MC: he's such a go-getter: doesn't sit and do nothing but rather gets stuff done. All the experimenting and knowledgeability - wow!