MOVE OVER E.T., ROCKY JUST RAISED THE BAR

Most of the time, sci-fi books and I don’t click. It’s like they were written primarily for men who want to flex problem-solving prowess in space or something. Don’t get me wrong, I like science, but when it comes to books, I need the heart to come first.

Well, Project Hail Mary has heart guys, and it has it in spades.

At its core, it’s about connection and trust, and the most unexpected friendship I’ve ever encountered in fiction. Dr. Ryland Grace and Rocky are the ultimate space bromance. I was hooked when their worlds collided, but watching that spidery rock alien and a middle school science teacher figure out how to save their planets while communicating across an impossible divide and genuinely growing to care for each other is what kept me glued to the story. And yes, I adore that darn alien to death.

But Andy Weir does more than give us characters we love. He makes science a love language. There’s a moment early on where Grace has to figure out what Rocky even eats, and the way they fumble through it using math as their common ground is somehow both hilarious and adorable. Weir pulls this off again and again, never letting the science become decoration or obstacle, and I never felt like I was being lectured. It was more like watching two friends figure each other out in the only language they share: science.

So, not that you asked, but here’s my official recommendation: if you haven’t read Project Hail Mary, stop what you’re doing and go read it. Better yet? Listen to the audiobook. The narration is phenomenal and adds another layer to the experience. So clear your weekend. Cancel your plans. And prepare to fall in love with a spidery rock alien. If you don't feel like reading or listening to the book, I will simultaneously question your subscription to this blog while also offering the perfect solution: wait for the movie. If you happen to live inside a pineapple and hadn’t heard, the film adaptation is coming out in a few weeks. And I guess I also just casually spoiled Rocky's existence for you. Surprise: there's an alien! To be fair, the movie trailer did beat me to it, so take it up with MGM Studios.

In case it wasn't already obvious, I’m hyped for the movie. Already have my IMAX pre-sale tickets. We’re going as a big group of fangirls (and boys), ready to wear our matching “AMAZE AMAZE AMAZE” t-shirts. That’s how Rocky expresses his emotions by the way, repeating three times in fractured English.

So move over E.T. There’s a new lovable alien in town.
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—Sam ♡

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