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Jaap Stronks

jaapstronks@wyrms.de

Joined 1 year, 10 months ago

Based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. I build progressive campaign websites and digital infrastructure for cultural institutions. I read a lot of SF and nonfiction about social & technological change.

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Andy Weir: Project Hail Mary (Hardcover, 2021, Ballantine Books) 4 stars

Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission--and if he fails, humanity …

Review of 'Project Hail Mary' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

I don't understand the hype. My main gripes with this book:
- The characters are one-dimensional
- The constant snark is off-putting, especially in the Audible version of this book.
- It was obvious that Grace should be the one to go. His refusal to go willingly was unbelievable. Sure, he did not want to die, but the prospect of a failed mission should have been just as dreadful.
- The mission was about studying Astrophage – why wasn't there an option to at least try to refuel? Astophage has a doubling time of 8 days, so there would be twice as much fuel available if they'd went a week later. It makes no sense to not make it into a round trip. It seems as if the writer created a forced plot point to make it a suicide mission to add some drama, to make it believable for Grace …