Project Hail Mary

About this audiobook

Every few years an audiobook comes along that people recommend specifically in audio — not the book, the audiobook. Project Hail Mary is the current standard-bearer, and after a full listen we can report the hype is justified. This may be the single best answer to the question "what should my first audiobook be?"

The Setup (No Spoilers)

A man wakes up alone on a spaceship with no memory of who he is or why he is there. Working it out — alongside him, discovery by discovery — is the engine of the plot, and it is why we will say almost nothing else about the story. What we can say: Andy Weir applies the same problem-solving science charm that made The Martian work, but with higher stakes, a bigger heart, and one of the most beloved characters in modern science fiction. The less you know going in, the better the ride.

Ray Porter's Narration

This is the performance that turned a very good novel into an audio phenomenon. Porter voices the amnesiac hero with wry, panicky, endearing energy, handles the science exposition so conversationally that it never feels like homework, and — crucially — delivers a certain second character in a way print simply cannot reproduce. The production layers in subtle audio design at exactly the right moments, and the result is closer to a one-man radio drama than a reading. Porter's comic timing alone is worth the credit.

Why Audio Beats Print Here

It is rare for us to say an audiobook is the definitive edition of a novel, but this is the clearest case we know. Key elements of the story are literally about sound, and the audio production uses that in ways the page cannot. Thousands of listeners who normally prefer print concede this one belongs in your ears.

Who Should Listen

Fans of The Martian, obviously — but also complete science fiction sceptics, because the story runs on curiosity and humour rather than jargon. It is clean enough for teen listeners and gripping enough for long-haul flights. Readers allergic to any classroom-style science talk may find the middle stretch heavy on problem-solving.

Verdict

Well narrated? This is the benchmark. If you only ever try one title from our Fiction shelf, make it this one — and make it the audio.