this post was submitted on 18 Jul 2023
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submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
 

And I absolutely loved it. It is honestly one of my new favorite books. I am going to tag basically this whole post as spoilers because the thing that truly makes this book amazing does not start until almost 100 pages in.

SPOILERS

FOR THOSE ON APPS THAT CAN'T HANDLE THEM

SPOILERS

spoiler

I love stories about friendship and the friendship between Grace and Rocky was truly beautiful. They are both lost and confused and in a horrible situation but they both take everything in stride. They see a way to help eachother and to not have to do it alone and they grab onto it with both (all five) hands. The way they both accept the other's habits knowing there are things that are fundamentally different between each other is a lesson for everyone.

The growth we see from Grace is also some of the best I've read. We learn later that he chose the self-centered path by refusing to join the Hail Mary crew on his own. Then, when faced with a very similar choice he chooses to save Rocky and his people instead of himself. I honestly cried.

Not only are our two main characters amazing but they are FUNNY! I laughed out loud so many times!

Overall I cant wait to re-read this one a bit down the line.

END SPOILERS

So, have you read this one? What did you think?

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yeah, very good book, I loved it. I'm usually not into optimistic sci-fi, but Weir's books are comfortably heartwarming even for jaded ol' me and pretty smart too. Not to mention that his language is very lively so you don't get bored for a second, it's fast-paced and to the point. And I have a special affinity for interspecies friendships ever since I read The Great Guignol of the Surrealists by Robert Sheckley where the main character was human and his closest friend and colleague was a essentially a big crab, there is something affirming in this very idea.