A compelling premise, high-stakes mission, and likable lead character make Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir a terrific sci-fi read; it’s recent cinematic adaptation is quite thrilling as well. It’s hard to match the heights a book can achieve, but the film version of the story starring Ryan Gosling is still wildly entertaining while not veering too far from its beloved source material.

Whether you read the book back in 2021 in a new paperback or recently enjoyed it on your Kindle ahead of seeing the film, there are plenty of exciting stories to explore if you were left wanting more. If you enjoyed Project Hail Mary, here are some more sci-fi stories from talented authors to add to your reading list.

The Martian by Andy Weir

A harrowing tale of sci-fi survival

Project Hail Mary isn’t the first book by Weir to be transformed into a film. The Martian, written by Weir in 2011, was adapted into a 2015 sci-fi story starring Matt Damon in the titular role. It tells the story of an astronaut lampooned on Mars following a disastrous mission where he is assumed dead. He works to survive in the inhospitable terrain while trying to figure out a way back home in what’s a fast-paced, engrossing read.

The Martian explores similar themes to Project Hail Mary as another hard sci-fi story that cleverly blends fantastic elements with human appeal. You also spend a lot of time with the main character, who is all alone and far from home, and Weir makes scientific components accessible while keeping the emotional stakes centered. As a movie, The Martian doesn’t share quite the same tone or energy as the film version of Project Hail Mary, but the novels are both worth a read.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

A space opera with a strange cast of characters

For those seeking a fast-paced, charming adventure about someone who feels a bit in over their head, it’s worth checking out this funny and thrilling space opera. The novel follows a human named Rosemary who finds a job as part of an eclectic crew aboard the spaceship Wayfarer. Chambers puts together an imaginative and diverse crew of otherworldly creatures, weaving in timely themes of acceptance and identity in a story about finding oneself and your people.

As the title suggests, this story is more light and fun than tense, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t moments of dread and heartbreak. It’s an enjoyable lark that has some hard sci-fi elements while leaning into a lot of drama and interpersonal relationships. It’s also the first in the series, so if you enjoy your time with these characters, more adventures await!

The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin

An ambitious story told across time and space

The first story in the Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy is a compelling and complex read about culture, history, and identity. And aliens. A military signal sent to space is received by hostile lifeforms that threaten Earth, prompting groups from around the world to respond. This story, though, is not as straightforward as it may seem.

Told in nonlinear fashion, The Three-Body Problem chronicles the past, present, and future, and readers jump between time periods and characters as the story progresses. The book has won many accolades, and both the original Chinese publication and the English-language translation have earned numerous awards; it was also adapted into an ambitious Netflix series. You should definitely read the book first, though.

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

A mysterious exploration of a strange, haunting place

This story is definitely a bit different than others on the list, but like Project Hail Mary, there’s plenty of mystery to unravel while you follow a main character on a singular, seemingly impossible quest. While it’s more speculative fiction than hard sci-fi, it’s definitely worth a read; this tale will test the limits of your imagination while taking you to a strange new world.

Piranesi lives in a house like no other. Home is infinite and never the same, and he is alone there except for one other person, a mysterious entity on their own journey. This inventive story is haunting and surprisingly timely, exploring ideas of trauma, isolation, and identity in a story that’s hard to put down.

Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang

An intimate tale about language and memory

This collection of short stories features some terrific sci-fi and fantasy tales that showcase Chiang’s talents as an imaginative storyteller. While all the stories are worth reading, one stands out above all others as a brilliant example of world-building and structure; and there are also aliens.

Story of Your Life is a 1998 novella that follows a linguist who is recruited by the military to communicate with alien lifeforms that have arrived on Earth. There are aliens, but it’s not really about aliens. The story is told from the POV of Dr. Louise Banks in messages written to her daughter, and it follows a nonlinear path moving between the past and future. It’s a complex story that’s worth reading in one sitting, and then probably again after that, one that perfectly marries both technical, hard sci-fi elements with powerful human emotion. While the movie adaptation, Arrival, was ambitious and visually appealing, the book is stellar and a must-read for any sci-fi fan.