The premise?
A lone astronaut wakes up aboard a mysterious spacecraft with no memory of who he is or why he’s there. As fragments of his past return, Ryland Grace discovers he’s humanity’s last hope to stop a cosmic threat — a microscopic alien lifeform called astrophage that’s draining the sun’s energy.
But Earth isn’t the only world in danger. When Grace encounters an alien engineer named Rocky — facing the same catastrophe on his own planet — the two form an unlikely alliance. With time running out, they must bridge language, biology, and trust to save both their civilizations.
It’s part hard science fiction, part first-contact story, and at its heart, a moving tale about friendship, courage, and the transformative power of working together.
Listen now to hear:
- How Project Hail Mary turns cross-species cooperation into the ultimate survival strategy
- Why Ryland Grace’s reluctant hero journey hits so close to home
- Shereese Alexander’s perspective as a former science teacher on the book’s big scientific ideas
- A lively debate about AI, technology, and whether it brings us closer together or drives us apart
- The hilarious truth about “space smells” (yes, they exist)
- Why Rocky might be one of the most lovable aliens in modern sci-fi
- The two big themes that make this story unforgettable: transformation and teamwork
Connect with Shereese Alexander
Shereese is the host of The Sci-Fi Savage and co-host of a Star Trek: The Next Generation rewatch podcast, where she brings humor, insight, and a lifelong love of speculative fiction to every conversation.
Links & Resources
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Buy Project Hail Mary
Until next time,
Admiral Kandas & Space Cadet 2nd Class Shane
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