Originally posted by konata88: Halfway through the book. It's a simple, easy read and pretty captivating. Going back and forth in time is pretty easy and well done.
Would like to see the movie when it's streaming for free but the book is pretty good so far. I hope the climax and ending keep up to expectations.
If you've enjoyed it this far, I think it'll live up to expectations.
The Enemy's gate is down.
June 24, 2026, 04:26 PM
Georgeair
Agreed. The only draggy bit in the books was the recall of the fairy tales (you'll know when you get there). Just press through, it all makes sense eventually.
It is NOTHING like the John Galt speech!!!
You only have integrity once. - imprezaguy02
June 24, 2026, 06:44 PM
stickman428
I read the book cover to cover in two days. I have not read many books that quickly. Excellent movie and even better book!
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The price of liberty and even of common humanity is eternal vigilance
June 25, 2026, 11:50 AM
konata88
Done. I enjoyed the book. Nice ending.
Hope to see the movie when available but I think the book may do a better job at conveying the story’s sentiment and humanity. Especially the last chapters. But would like to see the action and engineering aspects in visual form.
Good story. Good characters. Good writing. Good ending.
"Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it." L.Tolstoy "A government is just a body of people, usually, notably, ungoverned." Shepherd Book
June 25, 2026, 01:10 PM
oddball
quote:
Originally posted by Georgeair: I've had a couple folks ask me; book or movie first?
I viewed the film before reading the book, I'm 2/3 through it now (great book so far). If I had to do it all over again, I would still watch the film first, then read the book; I can see the movie based on its own merits, and then get a more detailed and involved experience with the book afterwards.
"I’m not going to read Time Magazine, I’m not going to read Newsweek, I’m not going to read any of these magazines; I mean, because they have too much to lose by printing the truth"- Bob Dylan, 1965
June 25, 2026, 01:36 PM
P250UA5
IMO, if they tried to do the entire book, with no cuts, it'd be a mini-series.
But, also think the minutiae in the book would make for tedious viewing on a screen.
The Enemy's gate is down.
June 25, 2026, 02:18 PM
konata88
I would say read the book first. There are some key emotions and sentiment that are expressed through the book that may not be well conveyed in the acting. Also, having not seen the movie, not sure how much it deviates from the book - what was cut and what was perhaps added that’s not in the book.
It’s a quick read - 4-6 hours.
I think the story is good. But what makes it compelling are the sentiments behind the actions, not the actions themselves. I think the book conveys this nicely. Not sure yet about the movie. I definitely want to see the movie for some of the visual aspects. But definitely the book first in my mind.
"Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it." L.Tolstoy "A government is just a body of people, usually, notably, ungoverned." Shepherd Book
June 25, 2026, 11:30 PM
stickman428
quote:
Originally posted by konata88: I would say read the book first. There are some key emotions and sentiment that are expressed through the book that may not be well conveyed in the acting. Also, having not seen the movie, not sure how much it deviates from the book - what was cut and what was perhaps added that’s not in the book.
It’s a quick read - 4-6 hours.
I think the story is good. But what makes it compelling are the sentiments behind the actions, not the actions themselves. I think the book conveys this nicely. Not sure yet about the movie. I definitely want to see the movie for some of the visual aspects. But definitely the book first in my mind.
The movie is incredible! I cannot think of another recent example of a film like Project Hail Mary that stays so faithful and true to the text and spirit of the book. If you like the book you will LOVE the movie. Yes the book is better but only because it is able to provide more detail and doesn’t have the constraints of a motion picture as far as story telling.
Seriously. Find a way to see it in the theater if you can, you will not regret it. Project Hail Mary is one of the best movies I have seen in years.
I agree with Oddball, watch the movie first if you can then read the book.
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The price of liberty and even of common humanity is eternal vigilance
June 26, 2026, 10:27 AM
DanH
If anyone is interested, I found a fairly interesting video on why Project Hail Mary and other recent digital movies are looking for "film" like.
The simple version is they're shooting the film on higher resolution digital cameras, recording the footage onto 35mm film, scanning that back into the computer, and using that data complete the film trying to maximize the best of both worlds.