Project Hail Mary

by Andy Weir

“Come on, Pete, let’s get you some Astrophage!” “Pete?” I asked. He looked over his shoulder. “Sure. I’m naming them after the Beatles. The British rock group.” “I take it you’re a fan?” He turned back to face me. “Fan? Oh, yes. I don’t want to exaggerate, but Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is the greatest musical accomplishment in the history of mankind. I know, I know. Many would disagree. But they’re wrong.” “Fair enough,” I said. “But why Pete? Aren’t the Beatles named John, Paul, George, and Ringo?” “Sure. And that’s what we’ll call the ones aboard the Hail Mary. But this fella is for testing in low Earth orbit. I get a whole SpaceX launch just for me! Isn’t that amazing! Anyway, I named him after Pete Best—he was the drummer for the Beatles before Ringo.” “Okay, I didn’t know that,” I said. “Now you do. I’m gonna get that Astrophage now. I’ve got to make sure these beetles will be able to…‘Get Back.’ ” “Okay.” He frowned. “ ‘Get Back.’ It’s a song. It’s by the Beatles.” “Sure. Okay.” He spun on his heel and left. “Some people got no appreciation for the classics.” I was left confused in his wake. Pretty sure I wasn’t the first.

Literally me