Goodreads has officially named the most popular science fiction book of the last decade based on exclusive data shared with Screen Rant. Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary claimed the top spot with 3 million shelvings, 1.5 million ratings, 220,786 reviews, and a 4.51-star average rating.
The recognition comes from a comprehensive analysis by the platform's data team, who examined books published from 2017 to present. The novel also won the Goodreads Choice Award for Readers' Favorite Science Fiction in 2021. For fans who have seen the film adaptation multiple times in theaters (myself included, having watched it five times), this confirmation of the book's dominance feels entirely deserved.
The platform measured popularity through several key metrics to reach its conclusion on request from Screen Rant. Books needed to be published between 2017 and the present, with popularity defined by total shelvings from users. Only titles maintaining an average rating of 3.5 stars or higher qualified for consideration.
Project Hail Mary dominates on Goodreads
Project Hail Mary led across all categories. Since its 2021 publication, the book's popularity has continued to grow, particularly following the release of its film adaptation earlier this year.
While the data provides strong support for Project Hail Mary as the decade's most popular sci-fi novel, Goodreads notes that determinations of the "best" book remain somewhat subjective.
The story’s appeal
The novel follows Ryland Grace, a middle school science teacher who wakes aboard a spaceship with amnesia and two dead crew mates. As his memory returns, he learns he was sent on a mission to investigate astrophage, a microorganism that threatens Earth's sun. During the mission, Grace encounters Rocky, an alien scientist on a similar mission to save his own planet.
The story balances hard science fiction concepts with accessible explanations through Grace's background as a teacher. Both the book and film follow Grace as he works to solve complex problems with limited resources while developing an unexpected friendship across species.
The film runs 2 hours and 36 minutes and received a PG-13 rating. Drew Goddard, who adapted Weir's previous novel The Martian into a 2015 film, wrote the screenplay.
Project Hail Mary is expanding beyond film and novel
The Project Hail Mary franchise continues to grow beyond its original formats. Hayakawa Publishing announced a manga adaptation in March, illustrated by newcomer mangaka Hajime Go with adaptation by Kazuko Onoda. The publisher described the film as having become a "social phenomenon" in Japan.
Weir approved Go's sample artwork, calling the preview material "fantastic and fun and engaging." The manga format may include story elements condensed or excluded from the film, such as expanded Earth sequences showing the astrophage response and additional spacewalk sequences aboard the Hail Mary. The visual medium also allows for detailed depictions of Rocky's ship design and the xenonite construction that differs from human engineering.
Hayakawa Publishing confirmed the manga will release in Japan in 2026, though no specific launch date has been announced. International editions and English translations have not been confirmed but appear likely given the global success of both book and film.
A VR game titled Project Hail Mary: Journey Among the Stars is also in development by Maze Theory, the studio behind VR adaptations of Doctor Who and Peaky Blinders. The mixed reality game features an original story written by Andy Weir specifically for the format, taking place during an untold moment of Grace's mission. For fans eager to spend more time with Rocky and the Hail Mary spacecraft, this promises to be an unmissable experience.
Players step into Grace's role when the Hail Mary's systems begin failing. The game uses mixed reality technology to blend the spacecraft into the player's physical environment, requiring players to diagnose problems and improvise scientific solutions while working alongside Rocky. Film directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller viewed early footage and expressed enthusiasm for the interactive format.
Journey Among the Stars will launch on Meta Quest and PICO headsets in late 2026, with additional platforms expected to be announced.
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