Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary reignited readers’ love for hard science fiction, blending real science, humour, high-stakes survival and an unforgettable central character. If you’re searching for books like Project Hail Mary; stories that balance scientific accuracy with gripping storytelling; these five science fiction novels should be at the top of your reading list.
Each recommendation below offers a spoiler-free overview, followed by clear reasons why fans of Project Hail Mary are likely to enjoy it.
1. The Martian by Andy Weir
Before Project Hail Mary became a global hit, Andy Weir made his name with The Martian; a modern classic of survival science fiction.
This novel follows an astronaut stranded alone on Mars, forced to rely on ingenuity, humour and scientific problem-solving to stay alive. Like Project Hail Mary, it combines meticulous scientific detail with an accessible, fast-paced narrative that never forgets the human element.
Why read it?
Hard science fiction grounded in real physics and engineering
A lone, resourceful protagonist with a strong narrative voice
High tension balanced with wit and optimism
Perfect for readers who love science-driven problem solving
2. Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
For readers who loved the big ideas and cosmic scale of Project Hail Mary, Children of Time offers a thought-provoking journey across time and space.
The novel explores humanity’s future alongside the rise of a very different civilisation, examining evolution, intelligence and survival on a galactic scale. It’s intelligent, ambitious science fiction that rewards curiosity without requiring a scientific background.
Why read it?
Expansive world-building and deep scientific concepts
Explores evolution, biology and artificial intelligence
Ideal for fans of thoughtful, idea-driven science fiction
A Hugo Award–winning modern classic
3. Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
Seveneves begins with a sudden, catastrophic event that threatens life on Earth, forcing humanity to turn to space for survival.
Known for his detail-rich storytelling, Neal Stephenson delivers a novel that leans heavily into realistic science, orbital mechanics and engineering, making it a strong recommendation for readers who enjoyed the technical depth of Project Hail Mary.
Why read it?
Deeply researched, realistic hard sci-fi
Focus on human ingenuity under extreme pressure
Explores long-term survival and the future of humanity
Ideal for readers who enjoy big, ambitious science fiction
4. The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin
This internationally acclaimed novel offers a very different but equally compelling take on science fiction.
Blending physics, astronomy and first contact themes, The Three-Body Problem challenges readers with mind-bending concepts and a global perspective rarely seen in Western sci-fi. It’s an excellent choice if Project Hail Mary sparked your interest in science fiction that asks big, unsettling questions.
Why read it?
High-concept science fiction rooted in real theoretical science
Explores humanity’s place in the universe
Unique perspective within the genre
Award-winning and widely influential
5. Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey
The first book in The Expanse series blends hard science fiction with space opera storytelling.
Set in a colonised solar system, the novel combines political tension, scientific realism and mystery. While broader in scope than Project Hail Mary, it shares a commitment to believable science and high-stakes decision-making in space.
Why read it?
Realistic portrayal of space travel and physics
Strong characters and layered world-building
Mixes hard sci-fi with gripping plot momentum
Perfect gateway into a larger science fiction series
Final Thoughts
If Project Hail Mary reminded you why you love science fiction, these novels offer more of what made it special: real science, smart storytelling, and unforgettable ideas. Whether you prefer survival stories, big theoretical concepts or expansive futures, each of these books delivers a compelling next step in your sci-fi reading journey.
Books Featured in This Article
Project Hail Mary
by Andy Weir
THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE MARTIAN • Soon to be a major motion picture starring Ryan Gosling, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, with a screenplay by Drew GoddardA lone astronaut must save the earth from disaster in this “propulsive” (Entertainment Weekly), cinematic thriller full of suspense, humor, and fascinating science.HUGO AWARD FINALIST • ONE OF THE YEAR’S BEST BOOKS: Bill Gates, GatesNotes, New York Public Library, Parade, Newsweek, Polygon, Shelf Awareness, She Reads, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal • New York Times Readers Pick: 100 Best Books of the 21st Century “An epic story of redemption, discovery and cool speculative sci-fi.”—USA Today“If you loved The Martian, you’ll go crazy for Weir’s latest.”—The Washington PostRyland 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, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery—and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone.Or does he?An irresistible interstellar adventure as only Andy Weir could deliver, 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.
The Martian
by Andy Weir
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTUREA mission to Mars. A freak accident. One man’s struggle to survive. From the author of Project Hail Mary comes “a hugely entertaining novel that reads like a rocket ship afire” (Chicago Tribune).“Brilliant . . . a celebration of human ingenuity [and] the purest example of real-science sci-fi for many years . . . utterly compelling.”—The Wall Street JournalSix days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there.After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, he won’t have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old “human error” are much more likely to kill him first. But Mark isn’t ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him? NAMED ONE OF PASTE’S BEST NOVELS OF THE DECADE“A hugely entertaining novel [that] reads like a rocket ship afire . . . Weir has fashioned in Mark Watney one of the most appealing, funny, and resourceful characters in recent fiction.”—Chicago Tribune “As gripping as they come . . . You’ll be rooting for Watney the whole way, groaning at every setback and laughing at his pitchblack humor. Utterly nail-biting and memorable.”—Financial Times
Children of Time
by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Adrian Tchaikovksy's award-winning novel Children of Time, is the epic story of humanity's battle for survival on a terraformed planet.Who will inherit this new Earth?The last remnants of the human race left a dying Earth, desperate to find a new home among the stars. Following in the footsteps of their ancestors, they discover the greatest treasure of the past age - a world terraformed and prepared for human life.But all is not right in this new Eden. In the long years since the planet was abandoned, the work of its architects has borne disastrous fruit. The planet is not waiting for them, pristine and unoccupied. New masters have turned it from a refuge into mankind's worst nightmare.Now two civilizations are on a collision course, both testing the boundaries of what they will do to survive. As the fate of humanity hangs in the balance, who are the true heirs of this new Earth?span
Seveneves
by Neal Stephenson
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Anathem, Reamde, and Cryptonomicon comes an exciting and thought-provoking science fiction epic—a grand story of annihilation and survival spanning five thousand years.What would happen if the world were ending?A catastrophic event renders the earth a ticking time bomb. In a feverish race against the inevitable, nations around the globe band together to devise an ambitious plan to ensure the survival of humanity far beyond our atmosphere, in outer space.But the complexities and unpredictability of human nature coupled with unforeseen challenges and dangers threaten the intrepid pioneers, until only a handful of survivors remain . . .Five thousand years later, their progeny—seven distinct races now three billion strong—embark on yet another audacious journey into the unknown . . . to an alien world utterly transformed by cataclysm and time: Earth.A writer of dazzling genius and imaginative vision, Neal Stephenson combines science, philosophy, technology, psychology, and literature in a magnificent work of speculative fiction that offers a portrait of a future that is both extraordinary and eerily recognizable. As he did in Anathem, Cryptonomicon, the Baroque Cycle, and Reamde, Stephenson explores some of our biggest ideas and perplexing challenges in a breathtaking saga that is daring, engrossing, and altogether brilliant.
The Three-Body Problem
by Cixin Liu
Soon to be a Netflix Original Series!“War of the Worlds for the 21st century.” – Wall Street JournalThe Three-Body Problem is the first chance for English-speaking readers to experience the Hugo Award-winning phenomenon from China's most beloved science fiction author, Liu Cixin.Set against the backdrop of China's Cultural Revolution, a secret military project sends signals into space to establish contact with aliens. An alien civilization on the brink of destruction captures the signal and plans to invade Earth. Meanwhile, on Earth, different camps start forming, planning to either welcome the superior beings and help them take over a world seen as corrupt, or to fight against the invasion. The result is a science fiction masterpiece of enormous scope and vision.The Three-Body Problem SeriesThe Three-Body ProblemThe Dark ForestDeath's EndOther BooksBall Lightning Supernova EraTo Hold Up The Sky (forthcoming)
Leviathan Wakes
by James S. A. Corey
The first book in the landmark Expanse series, now a major television series. Leviathan Wakes is James S. A. Corey's first novel in the epic, New York Times bestselling series the Expanse, a modern masterwork of science fiction where humanity has colonized the solar system. Two hundred years after migrating into space, mankind is in turmoil. When a reluctant ship's captain and washed-up detective find themselves involved in the case of a missing girl, what they discover brings our solar system to the brink of civil war, and exposes the greatest conspiracy in human history.Leviathan Wakes is the breakneck science fiction adventure that launched the epic bestselling Expanse series. The ExpanseLeviathan WakesCaliban's WarAbaddon's GateCibola BurnNemesis GamesBabylon's AshesPersepolis RisingThe Expanse Short FictionThe Butcher of Anderson StationGods of RiskThe ChurnThe Vital Abyss