Project Hail Mary

by Andy Weir

Anything smaller than the wavelength is functionally nonexistent to that photon. That’s why there’s a mesh over the window of a microwave. The holes in the mesh are too small for microwaves to pass through. But visible light, with a much shorter wavelength, can go through freely. So you get to watch your food cook without melting your face off.

Huh

“Original crew was twenty-three. Now is only me.” That octave-drop … I think it’s emotion. “They … did they die?” “Yes.” I rub my eyes. Wow. The Blip-A had a crew of twenty-three. Rocky is the sole survivor and he’s understandably upset about it. “Wh … er …” I stammer. “Bad.” “Bad bad bad.” I sigh. “My original crew was three. Now it’s just me.” I put my hand up against the divider. Rocky puts a claw on the divider opposite my hand. “Bad.” “Bad bad bad,” I say. We stay like that for a moment. “I’ll watch you sleep.”

Ah my fucking heart 💔

“You ship has more science than my ship. Better science. I bring my things into you ship. Release tunnel. You make you ship spin for science. You and me science how to kill Astrophage together. Save Earth. Save Erid. This is good plan, question?”

“How I detach tunnel, question? Me inside ball.” “Well, how do I do it? I don’t understand xenonite.” He made a turning motion with two of his arms. “Rotate tunnel.” “Okay, okay.” I grab my EVA suit. “I’ll do it. Jerk.” “No understand last word.” “Not important.” I climb into the suit and close the rear flap.

Rocky is everything

“Yes!” I press my knuckles against the tunnel wall. “Fist-bump!” “What, question?” I rap the tunnel again. “This. Do this.” He emulates my gesture against the wall opposite my hand. “Celebration!” I say. “Celebration!”