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Quick answer: If you loved Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, try The Martian and Artemis by Andy Weir, Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers, Seveneves by Neal Stephenson and Dark Matter by Blake Crouch.
Project Hail Mary is one of the most loved science fiction novels of the past decade, and a film adaptation is coming. Readers loved its humor, real science and unlikely friendship. The books below share its problem-solving heroes, first contact with aliens, survival in space and big ideas about humanity. They range from fast thrillers to sweeping epics.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love Project Hail Mary
Project Hail Mary hooks readers with a mystery: a man wakes up alone on a spaceship with no memory of who he is. Andy Weir fills the story with real, cleverly explained science, problem-solving and humor, and then adds Rocky, an alien engineer who became one of the most beloved characters in recent science fiction. It’s a story about friendship and sacrifice disguised as a space thriller. If you loved the science, the humor or Rocky, these picks are for you.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about Project Hail Mary: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
We kept every description spoiler-free and flagged mature content where it matters, since some of these books are written for adults and others suit teens. If you’re not sure where to start, the tips near the end of this list match each pick to what you loved most.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Genre | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Martian | Andy Weir | Science fiction | Survival with science and humor |
| Artemis | Andy Weir | Science fiction | More Andy Weir |
| Children of Time | Adrian Tchaikovsky | Science fiction | Unusual alien minds |
| The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet | Becky Chambers | Science fiction | Found family in space |
| Seveneves | Neal Stephenson | Science fiction | Big science and survival |
| Dark Matter | Blake Crouch | Science fiction thriller | Fast-paced science |
| Recursion | Blake Crouch | Science fiction thriller | Memory and time |
| The Three-Body Problem | Cixin Liu | Science fiction | First contact |
| We Are Legion (We Are Bob) | Dennis E. Taylor | Science fiction | Humor and engineering |
| Contact | Carl Sagan | Science fiction | Real science |
| Red Rising | Pierce Brown | Science fiction | Space action |
| The Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red | Martha Wells | Science fiction | Lovable nonhumans |
| A Psalm for the Wild-Built | Becky Chambers | Science fiction | Gentle friendship |
| Ender’s Game | Orson Scott Card | Science fiction | Strategy and aliens |
| Rendezvous with Rama | Arthur C. Clarke | Classic science fiction | Exploring alien objects |
1. The Martian by Andy Weir
An astronaut stranded on Mars uses science and stubbornness to survive. It’s funny, tense and the book that made Weir famous.
2. Artemis by Andy Weir
A smuggler on the first city on the Moon gets pulled into a dangerous conspiracy.
3. Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
On a terraformed planet, spiders evolve intelligence while the last humans search for a new home. It’s brilliant and surprising.
4. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
The diverse crew of a tunneling ship take a long job across the galaxy. It’s cozy and heartwarming.
5. Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
When the Moon breaks apart, humanity races to survive in orbit. It’s long and deeply technical.
6. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
A physicist is abducted into a parallel version of his life.
7. Recursion by Blake Crouch
A detective and a neuroscientist discover a technology that changes memories, and reality.
8. The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu
A Chinese scientist’s decision leads to contact with an alien civilization. It’s mind-bending.
9. We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor
A software engineer becomes the AI of a self-replicating space probe. It’s funny and clever.
10. Contact by Carl Sagan
A radio astronomer detects a message from space. Sagan’s only novel is thoughtful and moving.
11. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
A miner infiltrates the elite of a color-coded society on Mars.
12. The Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red by Martha Wells
A sarcastic security robot just wants to watch TV but keeps saving humans. It’s short and hilarious.
13. A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
A tea monk meets a robot in a peaceful future world. It’s short and soothing.
14. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
A gifted child is trained to fight an alien war. It’s a classic with a famous twist.
15. Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke
Astronauts explore a vast alien spacecraft passing through the solar system.
How to Pick Your Next Read After Project Hail Mary
- Want more Weir? Start with The Martian.
- Loved Rocky? Children of Time and Murderbot have unforgettable nonhumans.
- Want cozy space? Becky Chambers is perfect.
- Want big ideas? The Three-Body Problem and Seveneves.
- Want a thriller? Dark Matter and Recursion.
- Try audiobooks. Project Hail Mary’s audiobook is famous; others are great too.
Related: Project Hail Mary book club discussion questions and best books on the Space Race.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I read after Project Hail Mary?
Try The Martian, Children of Time, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet or Dark Matter.
Is The Martian like Project Hail Mary?
Yes. Both feature a lone scientist using humor and science to survive in space.
What books have aliens like Rocky?
Children of Time and The Murderbot Diaries feature memorable nonhuman characters.