Brandon Sanderson calls Project Hail Mary the best sci-fi in years

During a recent stream of Halo 2 (obviously!) fantasy heavyweight and master geek-culture commentator Brandon Sanderson took a moment to remind his audience that the sci-fi and fantasy world extends well beyond his own sprawling Cosmere setting. While fans wait for his next big release, The Fires of December, Sanderson rattled off a list of authors worth reading in the meantime, including Brent Weeks (the Lightbringer series), Fonda Lee (The Green Bone saga), Terry Pratchett (Discworld), and Andy Weir of The Martian fame. Of Weir’s latest novel, Project Hail Mary, Sanderson didn’t hedge: it’s his “favorite science fiction novel of recent years,” he said while gunning down Covenant hordes.

The timing might feel convenient, given the long-anticipated movie version hitting theaters, but Sanderson’s enthusiasm isn’t new or performative. Years before Hollywood came calling, he went out of his way to spotlight the book, even breaking from his usual Goodreads-only policy to record a full video review.

It’s not super surprising that he digs Project Hail Mary; Sanderson has built a career out of creating intricate magic systems treated with the rigor of science, and Weir operates in a similar space from the opposite direction, turning hard science into blockbuster storytelling. In his review, Sanderson makes clear that Weir’s book isn’t just good, it’s a synthesis of what modern science fiction can do — and by contrast to a lot of what’s out there, it’s a breath of fresh air. Here’s his big takeaway:

I really like The Martian. I like [Weir’s novel] Artemis. And I like this better than either of those. This is more a Brandon book than… I mean I love, The Martian, but who doesn’t love The Martian? This one has a little bit more science fiction to it. This one has a bit of a more complex narrative and a bit of a more interesting, complex character. And yet it has all the stuff I loved in The Martian. This is the stuff that Andy Weir is really good at. What can we learn as writers from Andy’s writing? What I love that Andy does is, he shows that optimism can be compelling as a narrative.

In a genre often dominated by grimdark worlds and dystopian collapse, Project Hail Mary leans the other way for Sanderson, toward curiosity and problem-solving. Even when the stakes are enormous, the story never loses its sense of momentum or accessibility, blending hard science with a tone that invites rather than intimidates. Structurally, Sanderson singles out the novel’s use of the “white room” trope — a protagonist waking without memory and gradually piecing together their situation — as a particular highlight.

Whatever your personal take on Brandon Sanderson (and if online SFF discourse is any indication, there are plenty of opposing takes) his role as a champion of other writers is hard to dispute. Beyond glowing recommendations, he’s invested directly in the ecosystem, bringing authors into his business ventures and supporting them as an editor and publisher. He doesn’t just talk about uplifting the genre; he actively does it.

As for Andy Weir, the admiration doesn’t exactly flow both ways — at least not publicly. A devoted hard sci-fi traditionalist, Weir tends to point readers toward classics when asked for recommendations. His go-tos include I, Robot by Isaac Asimov and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein.

Between Sanderson’s modern favorites and Weir’s foundational picks, one thing is clear: If you’re waiting on the next Cosmere installment, you’ve got plenty of reading to keep you busy.