mot juste

I took my time with Project Hail Mary. Written by the author of The Martian, the book was 2021’s most anticipated sci-fi read. That year, I finished the book during the Covid lockdown. In March, it was released as a blockbuster film with Ryan Gosling. The picture received universal acclaim and was a box office hit.

Fiction has other desolate universes but stranded in space on a Martian mission takes the cake. With no human company, the protagonist contends with an extraterrestrial who habla no Ingles (speaks no English). That’s a bad nosebleed.

‘Inferno’s’

It’s a different kind of limbo in zero gravity. No Korean barbecue, stand-up comedy, NBA, or friends. No beach getaways and interstate trips. Just infinite nothingness and oodles of time. On solid ground, the latter is finitely measured: seconds, minutes, and hours. Days, months, and years. In space, the vastness is a blank canvas. A continuum, time stands still. The past, present, and future do not matter.

You can make the argument that wandering the Sahara is just as crushing. It will leave you dehydrated, delirious, and even hopeless. However, even on the darkest days, you will grasp that the challenge will abate. The quick sand will give way to towns and the searing sun will be replaced by chilly nights. There is hope as long as you’re on terra firma.

No books or Netflix. No bread or butter. No malls or arenas. symphony or cinemas. Everything that makes us human is gone. That’s worse than living on an inhospitable island. At least there you get fresh air, gravity, saltwater, and sand.

El ultimo hombre (The last man)

To survive, you have to be resourceful and improvise. On earth you can coast, cut corners, and work together with others. If you’re successful or powerful, you can delegate those tasks. In space, you have to work harder. There are no servants.

One other thing: you’re confined to a space suit. Looking at those actors, it’s uncomfortable. You have no choice. If you get out of the suit, you’ll conk out.

You can make the argument that wandering the Sahara is just as crushing. It will leave you dehydrated, delirious, spent, and even hopeless. However, even on the darkest days, you will grasp that the challenge will abate. The quick sand will give way to towns and oases. The searing sun will be replaced by chilly nights. There is hope as long as you’re on terra firma.

Tent poles

Weir, the scribbler, entered the scene with The Martian, which was made into a Hollywood tent pole. This time, the world is under threat and has decades left. The sun is losing its lustre, spelling doom for our planet. Ryland Grace, a science teacher, is recruited by Stratt. The latter oversees the international rescue mission.

Grace’s expertise on the offending substance – astrophage – is maximised. He attends important board meetings and goes aboard aircraft carriers. He works with the world’s finest scientist in analysing the astrophage. Top nations would throw everything at a mission that would extend our globe’s expiry date.

Out of the way

At the onset, he wakes up after years in a coma. His two fellow travellers are corpses beside him, unable to surpass the ‘furlough’. Slowly but surely, memories come flooding back to him. For much of the book, we alternate between a desperate past and hopeful present.

He contacts an alien, Rocky, from the planet Erid. He is Blip-A’s lone survivor, a high-tech ship. Their species are intelligent and live in xenonite. Their atmosphere, a lot denser than ours, and they have five legs. Theirs is a different conception of time, sleep, and food. For instance, Eridians like to repeat words three times when they’re happy or for emphasis. They have the creepy habit of watching their companion sleep. However, Grace manages to communicate with Rocky through wizard technology.

‘Two heads are better than one’

Grace realises that they want the same thing. Astrophage in their suns has threatened life on their planets. Though having differences, they join forces. Rocky is a highly skilled engineer who can make and fix practically anything. When the taumoeba eats all the fuel, Rocky’s mad skills come to the rescue. His surfeit of astrophage proves a game changer. Apart from bailing out Grace, he saves his life. Rocky is amazed at how technologically advanced earthlings are.

Meanwhile, Grace proves that he is up to the task. He goes on spacewalks, gathers samples, and makes decisions that would shape our world. When they go their separate ways, he must make a tough choice between his own desires and the fate of his friend and Erid. There are shades of The Martian in that Grace is the lone human ‘in a galaxy far, far away.’

Thirteen earth years is the two points’ distance. At 476 dense pages, this was not the lightest read. Certainly very original. Upon perusing, I am convinced that Weir knows his astronautics.

Rating: 4.1/5

Getting stranded in space and waking up years later? That’s similar to Passengers with Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence. Unlike Project Mail Mary, that flick didn’t do well with critics. Weir’s masterclass was a number one bestseller. The movie was likewise numerous uno, grossing $80.5 M domestically in its opening week. It made $54.1 M in its second week, holding on to that number one spot. A killer novel and film adaptation? That’s a rarity.

A few months ago, I streamed Into The Wild on Netflix. Sean Penn directed the film, based on Jon Krakauer’s bestselling book. The read per se is timeless and has been studied across US schools. The adaptation was no slouch either, even being nominated for Oscars.

The movie

Emile Hirsch portrayed Christopher McCandless, the main character. He studied at Emory University. Upon graduating, his parents bought him new wheels. Chris was apoplectic. His 1970s ride worked just fine.

‘Things, things, things,’ he said, shaking his head. Chris returned the money that his parents gave him.

The trappings of modern society disinterested him. He did not want creature comforts: a new car, big house, or fancy clothes. The four walls of the classroom suffocated him. He believed that real learning was out in the field. Wining and dining at the finest establishments meant little. He would rather curl up and read a book. Indeed, he was fed up with living in the secular world. He wanted to explore, roam, and live. He longed to pack up and subsist out of his rucksack.

He changed his name to Alexander Supertramp. He treks to Mexico, where he meets some hippies. Even when promised accomodation, he opts to sleep rough. He goes to this gathering, where he encounters a sweet teener (portrayed by Kristen Stewart). He refuses her advances as she was underage. In Salton City, he meets this senior and they connect. The oldie tries to adopt him but Alex, while tempted, leaves instead. He then continues, alone, to Alaska.

Bare essentials

Finding someone who’d forsake all material goods in life is rare. Selflessness is not ingrained to humans. No one would turn down a brand new vehicle. Watching this movie made me reconsider my priorities. If you’d strip a person to bare essentials, what would this entail? What makes the cut? What would be left off?

Imagine following Alexander’s lead to Alaska. Or, perhaps, to walk the Camino. You are only allowed one big bag. What would you stuff in it?

I would probably include four sets of clothes. Two thermal tops and two jumpers. Two long johns and two thick pants. I might throw in an extra tee. I would include a scarf. I heard it gets chilly in Alaska. Meanwhile, for outerwear, I would bring this down jacket from Macpac. It kept me warm for a few winters. I might need to add a ski jacket down the line. I’d also bring five sets of underwear, although I doubt Supertramp was as liberal. Don’t forget the socks, either; three would suffice.

Aside from these, I’d carry a notebook to jot down my thoughts and observations. Obviously, I’d include two gel pens. You can’t go totally incognito, so I’d bring my passport. I’ll also carry my wallet, mobile phone, and its charger. No point lugging around a Mac. I’d probably pack some eye drops just in case the scenery isn’t too pleasant that my eyes become sore. I’ll also bring two unread books and a Bible. Looking at my shelf, the duo is: The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway and A Supposedly Fun Thing by David Foster Wallace.

Toiletries

I would not forget my toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss. I’d also include one kilo of bananas for nourishment. As Alex found out, you can’t rely on berries alone. Furthermore, I might carry some cream as the freezing weather would require this. Ditto with lip balm. I’d also throw in a bath towel. I will take my two pairs of gloves as I don’t want to get frostbitten.

Looking at this list, there’s a lot of stuff that didn’t make the cut. There’s no razor, as we’re channeling the Supertramp look. The food could be adjusted, but there’s only so much that you could fit into the pack. There are no extra shoes. There is no scissors. My phone is the only device I need. I don’t require a car to explore the wilderness, nor do I have to charter a plane. No need for dollars because they aren’t the currency in the wild. Most importantly, I won’t ask for a companion since I need to make this journey by myself.

Theme alert

Transience is the theme of our world. Nothing is permanent and set in stone. Today’s heroes are tomorrow’s turnips. The picture reminded me of this other film, Up in the Air. I saw this in the cinema. George Clooney plays a hopscotching executive who downsizes firms. He asks the audience what’s essential enough to pack. Since he practically lives on planes, he becomes a million miler. At the onset, he really covets this award. However, as he celebrates alone, he realises that even this august achievement means nothing. This is the opposite of Wild. While the latter sees the benefits of solitude, the former posits that accolades are better shared with loved ones.

Ultimately, like George, we are merely travellers in the cosmos. We are just passing through. If we seek to gain glory and material goods, we will never be content. I admire Alex’s worldview. There are more consequential things than success and creature comforts. Moreover, Alex wasn’t just good; he was an exemplary person. He never took advantage of anyone. Indeed, he’s so autonomous that he knocks back help of any kind. He lived like a nomad but troubled no one. He left his life behind and embraced the unknown.

What makes a good person?

Having a unique perspective and way of life can never be overlooked. So many souls yearn for fame and fortune that getting lost in the crowd is easy. However, people who choose to live like Chris are so rare that his story is being dissected decades later. Opting for his path was not easy but I could understand how modern society could make him disillusioned.

In the film The Emperor’s Club, Kevin Kline (the teacher) shares a memorable quote: ‘Great ambition and conquest without contribution is without significance. What will your contribution be? How would history remember you?’

Incidentally, Emile Hirsch also headlines that movie.

You don’t have to be the next Kublai Khan. No need to create a business empire where the sun never sets. We can be good in measured ways each day.

There’s no need to open a soup kitchen or establish a religious order. A little dash of kindness goes a long way. For me, I value being honest and conscientious.

Watch and learn

Good isn’t a blanket term. Not all good souls will go to heaven and not all evil souls, banished to hell. Goodness is a plaint word.

Good people don’t need validation. They do so out of a genuine giving heart. Don’t get me wrong they operate – discreetly – in the light.

Being famous or weiding immense power doesn’t make a decent person. True goodness comes from within, from acknowledging faults and learning from mistakes.

I spoke with my chiropractor about the movie. He said that he’s seen it.

‘Would you do something like that, go to Alaska?’

‘Just wait and see,’ I told him.

Note: an earlier and shorter version of this post was published 22 July 2022.