Project Hail Mary

Motifs

• Centrifugal Gravity

  The Hail Mary splits into two sections connected by cables, then spins end-over-end to create artificial gravity in a very small ship.

• Computerlike Calculation Speed

  Rocky can do mathematics so quickly that his ship does not have computers. He mentally converts even rough estimates into base-10 for the benefit of his human friend.

• Panspermia

  Panspermia is thought to be confirmed when it is shown that the microscopic sun-dwelling Astrophage jumps between planet and sun, as well as between stars.

• Starfish Aliens

  Rocky is a starfish-like creature with five legs.