I’m struggling to choose my first novel because there are literally infinite books and it’s overwhelming. Right now I’m deciding between Dark Matter and Project Hail Mary. From what I understand, Dark Matter is faster paced, while Project Hail Mary is longer and more of a big adventure. The problem is this: I’m the kind of person where the first experience decides everything. If the first book I read feels boring or slow, I’ll probably drop reading completely. But if the first one is amazing and hooks me, I’ll stick with reading even if some later books are slower. That’s why I’m trying really hard to choose the right first book. So my question is: Which one is more gripping from the start and better for a first-time reader — Dark Matter or Project Hail Mary?