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

During a recent Halo 2 stream, Brandon Sanderson took a moment to remind viewers that the sci‑fi and fantasy world extends beyond his Cosmere. While fans wait for his next release, The Fires of December, he recommended authors including Brent Weeks, Fonda Lee, Terry Pratchett and Andy Weir — calling Project Hail Mary his “favorite science fiction novel of recent years” as he fought Covenant hordes.

Sanderson’s enthusiasm isn’t new. Years before a film adaptation, he publicly spotlighted Weir’s book and broke from his usual Goodreads‑only policy to record a full video review. He framed Project Hail Mary as a synthesis of what modern science fiction can do, saying he liked The Martian and Artemis but that this one was “a bit of a more interesting, complex character” and had “all the stuff I loved in The Martian.” He praised the novel’s optimism and emphasis on curiosity and problem‑solving, noting that it leans away from grimdark and dystopia.

brandon sanderson, hail mary, andy weir, the martian, artemis, cosmere, halo 2, brent weeks, fonda lee, terry pratchett