Project Hail Mary has taken over my life these past few weeks.

Although I only came to the book second to seeing the film (and so despite knowing the story already) I still found myself so entirely ensnared by the novel.

I appreciated just how approachable Weir’s writing was. The way the narrative flowed back and forth between the past and the present was seamlessly done and it read like an uninterrupted train of thought. I also felt that I learned a lot from this book: because despite the very detailed and advanced science that was being dealt with, Weir conveyed it all in a way that was easily understandable and endlessly fascinating.

It was just so much fun. And the characters were all so dear to me.

Ryland Grace was an instant favourite. Of course, we are reading from his point of view and have the most time with him, but he was endearing and personable; cherished the Earth and teaching, and repeatedly brought up his love for his kids – his students – throughout the book. He was just a sweetheart.

Grace was also a very funny character and the comedy was there from the get-go, in the form of a newly-awakened Grace wearing a sheet like a toga and announcing to the ship’s computer, “I am Emperor Comatose. Kneel before me.” I found his humour admirable, particularly because he tried to find the best of a bad situation: tried to keep himself as calm as possible despite waking up from a coma disoriented and not knowing who or where he was.

When Rocky was introduced, the humour doubled, and the shenanigans that they got up to brought a smile to my face each and every time.

And speaking of Rocky! He was such a dear! An incredible engineer capable of making anything that he and Grace needed, Rocky was wicked smart and playful, caring and empathetic. He brought a lot of warmth to the story and to Grace’s initially lonely journey.

I loved the dynamic that Grace and Rocky had together; and this relationship was really the heart of the book, too. The two would bounce ideas off of each other and banter and tease back and forth relentlessly. Reading the book felt like an easy conversation between friends and I couldn’t get enough of it.

Because it really was like catching up with an old friend after a long time apart; it was a very smart move on Weir’s part to introduce readers slowly to Grace’s world as his memories came back in gradual increments. And it was as though I was aboard the Hail Mary with Grace, too, putting together the puzzle pieces of a life and mission forgotten.

Which is how we met Eva Stratt and began to understand the part that she played in all of it!

Stratt was blunt, to the point, and shouldering the weight of the world. She was a woman who found herself in the impossible situation of trying to save an entire planet with so little time at hand. The book goes into more detail than the film, about the actions that Stratt had to take to get Earth more time, and finding out about the fates of both the Sahara Desert and Antarctica, because needs must, was not an easy read at all.

Learning that Stratt studied history made things all the more poignant and harrowing on top of that: Stratt knows how quickly humanity can turn ugly when resources start getting scarce and the planet we all call home starts becoming uninahibtable.

The decisions she made were awful, but, tragically, necessary.

And it’s actually quite horrifying to think about for any length of time at all, considering the state of our world as we know it right now….

I understood the difficult choices that she had to make throughout the book and can recognise that she essentially became the person to take the fall for everyone else. Still, doesn’t mean that I can forgive her for the the tragic twist that happens at the end of the book, which sheds a light on just why Grace is aboard the Hail Mary in the first place. A realisatation that Grace reaches right at the same time we do.

Oh, Stratt. What burdens you carried.

Despite some such melancholy aspects, Project Hail Mary remained a beautifully hopeful story about optimism in the face of adversity, championing the human need to try and try and try again.

I have nothing but praise for the Project Hail Mary book! Effortlessly enjoyable and entertaining, and a much needed sign of good hope and positivtiy that we really need in the world right now.

***

But I did come to the book only after watching the film for the first time last month for an early birthday gift. My mum took me to the cinema and we both went in completley blind. With life doing its thing, I had somehow managed to evade all trailers and clips that were out about the film. But, in hindsight, I can’t complain – going in blind was the best goddamn thing ever!

The film was such a spectacle. Truly. It was just phenomenal. Such a visual feast for the eyes to behold. And then to learn that so much of it was made with practical effects?! Ugh, I love human art!

And the music? I honestly cannot get enough of the film’s soundtrack and I’ve had it on repeat since April. It’s the theme to my life right now. And every track is a hit. Often, I find that in film soundtracks, there’s only a few that I can handle playing on repeat. In part, because a lot of filmic sountracks are just too heavy, too industrial; made to fit an epic action scene, and not something to put on in the background as you potter around. By contrast, the music of Project Hail Mary is so wholly cohesive and beautiful to listen to and I have so much love and admiration for the composer, Daniel Pemberton.

The soundtrack was unbelievably good and I just need everyone to know that, okay?

There’s this one scene between Rocky and Grace that just leaves you with your heart in your throat, and the music only adds to this visceral reaction as you watch. On top of all that, Gosling gives an amazingly emotional performance as Grace, taking a shuddering breath that hitches and catches on a sob.

Ugh. I hope you kissed that brick before you threw it at my face, good loooorrrd.

I’m too empathetic for my own good (even without the added music) so I knew that Rocky would get me good. I was right. He’s too precious for this world. Too innocent and sweet. Larger than life and more human than most. When I went back to watch the film again after the book, (because I saw Project Hail Mary three times in the cinema) I had a new appreciation to seeing him brought to life on the big screen (thank you James Ortiz and all the other Rocky puppeteers!)

And Grace, my dear, the bravest of us all 😦

He’s a character that pulls at the heartstrings so completley. He’s so goofy and wholesome and I just wanted to wrap Grace in bubble wrap and keep him safe from the world. He’s such a gentle and warm person: a comfort character that I feel very protective over. Again, like aforementioned, the fact that he is being played by Ryan Gosling probably doesn’t help: Gosling has been an acting favourite of mine since La La Land, so I already had a feeling that I’d adore Ryland Grace from the very start.

I did. He’s very precious to me.

I’d also love to recognise the costume department as well, because Grace’s wardrobe was amazing! The daft and nerdy science shirts he wore with bad puns; Ilyukhina’s dress that he put on when he woke up on the Mary and was trying to remember himself; the brilliant and bright yellow raincoat of his that stuck out like a sore thumb; and the infamous fox cardigan that has everyone raving online right now – they all came together to help build even more personlity into his character, contributing to just how soft and fluffy he came across as. Just very warm and snug. Very huggable and comforting.

A character that I would move heaven and earth for, istg.

This film has incredible rewatchability (which needs to be studied) and, following the book’s optimistic nature, I think it’s mostly because the story focuses so heavily on hope and connection, something that we all want and need right now.

It’s a hopecore film in a world that is in great pain.

It’s feel-good and beautiful, showing humans actually coming together to save the the world and each other. And it centres on someone who feels like an outsider everywhere, but that finds a place to call home and someone to be brave for.

Bottom line is that I have very strong feelings about Project Hail Mary. The book and the film.

I love them.

Thank you Andy Weir for writing such a brilliant story. Thank you Ryan Gosling, James Ortiz and Sandra Hüller for bringing Grace, Rocky and Stratt to life, and thank you to all the other actors and actresses that breathed life into the world around them. Thank you Phil Lord and Christopher Miller for directing. Thank you Daniel Pemberton, for the music. Thank you to absolutley everyone that worked on the book and the film respectively – I feel so much love for this story and these characters and I cannot get enough.

In case I’ve not made it clear enough: I am very fond of my good friends, Ryland Grace and Rocky.