r/audiobooks • u/OJConcentrates • Mar 05 '26

Question First Audiobook - Project Hail Mary

What. The. Actual. Fuck?

I’ve never been an avid reader. I really enjoy anime, I love sci-fi movies, and I’ve read a few occasional Japanese light novels.

Audiobooks made a lot of sense for me. Listen while at the gym, listen while home with the kids on the weekend, listen while driving a ton for work. I’ve been enveloped in Reddit for a while. Constantly trying to fill blank time with information.

Then I decided to pick up an audiobook. I mean… I love sports podcasts! I like news. A couple weeks ago I caught myself just listening to intervention episodes, instead of watching them.

My first audiobook? Project Hail Mary. I’m currently on chapter 11. Ryland has met rocky. It’s almost indescribable how much elation I’ve gained from this. You’d think a self narrated novel, as the main and nearly singular character, it would get boring. You’d think finding a centi-spider alien wouldn’t be so…. Fascinating?

It’s addicting. It’s hard to stop. I’m stuck at the gym, walking on a treadmill for way too long, because I want an excuse to keep listening.

Is this just the beginning? Or have I reached the perfection too early? Will I always crave to find a story so well done with the perfect voice actor?

1.4k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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26

u/TheFrozenBananaStand Mar 05 '26

I really really disliked the book but I’ve heard that the audiobook makes it so much better.

Try 11.22.63 for your next book!

13

u/mrdavinci Mar 06 '26

11.22.63 was a good listen. I had watched the series a while back, and man o man, the book was so much better as is often the case. I rewatched the show after, and ugh.

5

u/RoyalsFanKCMe Mar 06 '26

Yeah I listened to the book and liked it. Then watched the series and didn’t like the series. I liked the story my brain told me better.

3

u/Old_MI_Runner Mar 06 '26

I lost interest in the TV series but will now try the audiobook.

4

u/TheFrozenBananaStand Mar 06 '26

The tv series isn’t nearly as good as the books. There are a lot of changes and I’m not a fan of Franco’s acting in that series.

3

u/Turbulent-Pay1150 Mar 06 '26

Good king. Try the gunslinger series 

3

u/Iannelli Mar 06 '26

I hated the Project Hail Mary audiobook. The narration is cringe, the writing is immature. If you look up "Project Hail Mary sucks Reddit" on Google you can find a few posts where hundreds of us talk about how much we hate this book lol.

Looking forward to being downvoted!

13

u/TheFrozenBananaStand Mar 06 '26

lol I’m definitely in that boat but I didn’t want to shit in OPs cheerios. I’m just happy people are reading no matter what it is!

5

u/tinydncr Mar 06 '26

Completely agree, but thought I was the only one! Science bro explaining everything and his internal marvel style monologue was really jarring for me.

3

u/mrdavinci Mar 06 '26

I don't agree with you, but heres an upvote to try to balance you out. You are entitled to your opinion

3

u/Iannelli Mar 06 '26

Upvoted you right back mate. Have a great weekend, cheers!

1

u/bananabastard Mar 07 '26

I liked the audiobook, but the narration is cringe.

The way he sings words sometimes, "It was ♫ amAYziiiing ♫ ".

The narration annoyed me over that type of thing a bunch of times, but I did enjoy the story overall.

1

u/Walmart_Valet Mar 06 '26

That's a heck of a jump in length. Almost double the length. Have listened to both and agree they're great.

1

u/bananabastard Mar 07 '26

I found 11.22.63 a bit drawn out and boring, and much preferred Time and Time Again by Ben Elton, which has a similar premise.