Genre
Science Fiction
Setting and Context
Set in the near future on Earth and the Tau Ceti solar system.
Narrator and Point of View
Told in first-person from the perspective of Ryland Grace.
Tone and Mood
The tone and mood of this novel are enthralling, sinister, and busy.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist: Ryland Grace; Antagonist: Astrophage
Major Conflict
Earth is facing a potential existential catastrophe involving solar energy dying out initiating a new ice age. As such, Ryland—the sole survivor of Project Hail Mary—is tasked with the obligation of saving the world, beating the odds to survive, and working under pressure.
Climax
The climax occurs when Grace discovers that the nitrogen-resistant Taumoeba can eat through xenonite consuming the fuel made of Astrophage.
Foreshadowing
His career as a teacher on Earth foreshadows his love for teaching that he adopts on the planet 40 Eridani.
Understatement
"Intelligence evolves to gives us an advantage over the other animals on our planet. But evolution is lazy. Once a problem is solved, the trait stops evolving."
Allusions
“The first human to actually kill a Predator was Michael Harrigan—played by Danny Glover—in Predator 2.”
Imagery
“Every surface is covered with computer monitors and touchscreens. The sheer number of blinking lights and colors is staggering. Some screens have rows of numbers, others have diagrams, and others just look black. On the edge of the conical walls is another hatch. This one is less mysterious, though. It has the word airlock stenciled across the top, and the hatch itself has a round window in it.”
Paradox
The paradox is that the microbe Astrophage that threatens solar energy can act as fuel for the spaceships.
Parallelism
“Math is not thinking. Math is procedure. Memory is not thinking. Memory is storage. Thinking is thinking. Problem, solution. You and me think same speed.”
Metonymy and Synecdoche
“The LCD screen is completely blank.”
Personification
“My eyelids creep up and blinding light sears my retinas.”
