I recently saw the film adaptation of one of my favourite novels, Project Hail Mary… twice. I’ve read the book twice, too. Back when I first picked it up it was one of those rare novels where I actually felt sad when I got to the end, not because I didn’t like the ending (I loved it), but because the story was over, and I would never get the same emotional experience of that “first read” back again. With the film adaptation, however, I did get something similar: a “first watch”. I’d been looking forward to the release ever since I learned it was in production, and I wasn’t disappointed. The filmmakers did a remarkable job of the adaptation, and I enjoyed every single moment in that cinema. I confess to shedding more than one tear.

Friends and family members have enjoyed it too, though I’ve noticed few seem to be quite as obsessed as I am. Where they soon moved on to other topics, I kept thinking about it for days afterwards, and played the soundtrack while tidying the house (in my defence, it’s an awesome soundtrack). Somehow, this story pushes all the right emotional buttons – taps into something deep inside me – that makes me eager to re-experience it in a way I am with few other narratives.

All this left me wondering – what is it that got so under my skin? What ingredients in the fictional recipe made it so addictive to my particular reader taste buds? So instead of a classic film or book review, I thought I’d see if I could put my finger on exactly what makes Andy Weir’s story an all-time favourite for me. I’ve come up with five key elements.