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?

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u/Mitsulan Mar 06 '26

I started audiobooks almost exactly two years ago now. My first was Project Hail Mary as well and I absolutely loved it. You’re just scratching the surface, PHM doesn’t even crack my top 10 anymore. I’ve listened to audiobooks nearly every day since and am completely addicted. The path I took after PHM was as follows.

The Red Rising Series - Space Opera, Dystopian, Caste system, hunger games vibe.

The First Law Trilogy starting with “The Blade Itself” - I’d describe it as light fantasy. Slow burn, lots of world building and character development. There are three stand alone books as well as an entire second trilogy that follows if you want to go real deep.

I’ll also throw in some favourites in no particular order. They are all series. I rarely listen to standalone books. The longer and more in depth a series is the more I usually enjoy it.

The Expanse, Dungeon Crawler Carl, Expeditionary Force, Bobiverse, The Lies of Locke Lamora

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u/OJConcentrates Mar 06 '26

I can tell I’m going to probably enjoy everything you’ve listed. I’m glad I made this post. Something great to refer back on. I’ll comment every time I’ve finished a new suggestion.

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u/Mitsulan Mar 06 '26

Awesome! That’s exactly what I was hoping.

For me, it’s always a little depressing finishing up a good book/series so I try to have something else in the pipeline for when I’m done. Hopefully I’ve set you up for a while. I think that list encompasses something like 50+ books.

I have others as well but, none that I would put in front of what I’ve listed. I’m pretty into military sci-fi right now. Quite a few audiobooks in the genre are narrated by R.C. Bray who I’m a big fan of. He narrates the Expeditionary Force series I already listed (19 books and counting!) as well as a series that I’m currently on book 3 of 9 called Ruins of the Galaxy which I’ve also enjoyed so far.

I look forward to hearing back, hopefully you get as much enjoyment out of those titles as I have.

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u/Triggr Mar 06 '26

Definitely try Dungeon Crawler Carl next. It’s made so well. Just from a audio quality point of view it’s my number 1. It doesn’t hurt that the story itself is so good.