Project Hail Mary

by Andy Weir

Besides, if I had a nickel for every time I wanted to smack a kid’s parents for not teaching them even the most basic things…well…I’d have enough nickels to put in a sock and smack those parents with it.

If you tilt your head just right and squint, I suppose it kind of looks like a beetle. Each beetle also has a name up top: “John,” “Paul,” “George,” and “Ringo.”

I’m on a suicide mission. John, Paul, George, and Ringo get to go home, but my long and winding road ends here.

What do I even call noble gases that react with things? Ignobles?

“Good. Proud. I am scary space monster. You are leaky space blob.” He points to the breeder tanks.