Challenge
Project Hail Mary
When Ryland Grace wakes up, he doesn’t remember who he is, where he is, or what he’s doing. All he knows is that he’s strapped to a bed in a sterile room, attended by a robotic medical arm. Nearby are two corpses — crewmates who didn’t survive. Slowly, his memories trickle back like distant echoes. He learns that his name is Ryland Grace, and that he’s aboard a spaceship traveling through deep space. The ship is called the Hail Mary. And then he remembers the mission: he’s humanity’s last hope. Years earlier, scientists on Earth discovered a terrifying phenomenon. The sun’s energy output was decreasing at an alarming rate. After much research, the cause was identified: a mysterious, spacefaring microbe that feeds on stellar energy. It was dubbed astrophage. The implications were catastrophic — within decades, Earth would be too cold to support life. But a small ray of hope emerged. While most nearby stars were also dimming due to astrophage, one — Tau Ceti — was not. A multinational coalition formed to investigate. If Tau Ceti had astrophage but wasn’t dimming, something must be protecting it. Something humanity could use. Thus was born Project Hail Mary: a one-way mission to Tau Ceti to discover how that star is surviving, and to return the solution to Earth — if possible. Grace had never intended to be part of the crew. He had been a scientist — a molecular biologist turned middle-school teacher after a career-ending academic dispute. But when the original crew succumbed to coma-related complications, and with time running out, Grace was chosen as a reluctant last resort. He had the knowledge. He could fly solo. He just didn’t agree to it consciously — he was sedated and loaded into the ship against his will. Now, 12 light-years from Earth, Grace must piece together clues, alone, to save humanity. The Hail Mary is powered by astrophage itself, whose energy density is high enough to enable interstellar travel. As Grace explores the star system, he discovers something shocking: he’s not alone. Another ship is nearby — massive, alien in design. Soon, first contact is made. From the alien ship emerges a creature like nothing on Earth: spider-like, five-limbed, encased in rock-like armor, breathing ammonia and communicating through musical tones. Grace names him Rocky. Despite their biological differences, Rocky and Grace find common ground: both their worlds are dying because of astrophage. Rocky’s species, the Eridians, live in the 40 Eridani system and have advanced technology but are as desperate as Earth. The two form a working partnership — and a deep friendship. Together, they investigate Tau Ceti and discover the key to its resistance: a natural predator of astrophage, a microbe they name Taumoeba. It exists only in this system, but it eats astrophage, keeping the star clear. The problem? Taumoeba is fragile — it dies quickly under any conditions outside of Tau Ceti. It has to be engineered to survive on both Earth and Erid. For weeks, Grace and Rocky work tirelessly. They share data, invent joint experiments, and modify Taumoeba to become more resilient. They face setback after setback, but their trust in each other grows. Grace begins to care more for Rocky than he ever expected — not just an alien colleague, but a friend. Eventually, success. A hardy strain of Taumoeba is developed, capable of withstanding the environments of both planets. Grace prepares to send samples back to Earth using a preprogrammed probe. Rocky, too, prepares to return home. Their mission is nearly complete. But tragedy strikes. A breach in Rocky’s ship threatens his life. The ammonia atmosphere he requires is leaking, and he’ll die without repairs. Grace faces an impossible choice: continue on the Hail Mary’s programmed course and return to Earth a hero — or turn back, save Rocky, and risk being stranded light-years from home. To Grace, the choice becomes clear. He turns the ship around. He rescues Rocky and helps rebuild the Eridian ship, but doing so uses up the return fuel. Grace knows he won’t see Earth again. He watches as Rocky flies home, taking the Taumoeba with him. Grace, alone once more, finds solace in knowing he did the right thing. Time passes. In a surprising turn, Rocky returns. With advanced Eridian tech and knowledge of human biology, he helps build a livable environment for Grace on Erid. There, Grace becomes something unexpected: a teacher again. This time, he teaches alien children — the next generation of Eridians — about Earth, humanity, and science. He’ll never go home. But he saved two worlds. And in that, he finds peace.
By SULAIMAN SHAHabout a year ago in Writers
Overall Global Demand for Breast Cancer Drug Market is Estimated to Grow at CAGR of 14.8%& likely to hit ~ US$ 98.04 Bn Between Forecast Period of 2022-29
Breast Cancer Drug Market size was valued at USD 32.5 Billion in 2021 and the total Breast Cancer Drug revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 14.8% from 2022 to 2029, reaching nearly USD 98.04 Billion.
By rahul chobeabout a year ago in Writers
The Impact of Price Competition on Consumer Behavior and Market Strategy
In today’s hyper-competitive marketplace, pricing strategies have become a powerful lever for influencing consumer decisions. Price competition — where businesses continuously adjust prices to gain market share — is no longer confined to retail giants or e-commerce platforms. From emerging startups to legacy brands, pricing tactics now play a pivotal role in shaping customer perception, brand loyalty, and overall market dynamics.
By PriceIntelGuruabout a year ago in Writers
Skeptical Specter Spectacle
One of my favorite television moments growing up was watching a show called Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction hosted primarily by Jonathan Frakes. As the show started the announcer would proclaim, “Tonight your challenge is to separate what is true from what is false. Five stories, some real, some fake. Can you judge which are fact and which are fiction? To find out, you must enter a world of both truth and deception, a world that is beyond belief.”
By Amos Gladeabout a year ago in Writers
Back in the Summer of 77. Top Story - June 2025.
In my youth in British Columbia, I loved to snorkel in the ocean waters. Much of my time was spent when I prepared to attend private school, snorkelling under the White Rock Pier in all sorts of weather. During my youth, crabs were still plentiful around the White Rock Pier and in the rugged breakwater that protected the pier.
By Bruce Curle `about a year ago in Writers
The secret of the secrets of the Ma'rifat
1/ I have a bag of words, but the real point is not You will find many books on Sufism. I assume you have read the books. You liked them. You have also heard the praises. But what did you find? What is that thing? No one has written that thing down. Only Baba Jan Sharif Shah Sureshwari has shown that thing, that is, the direction of the path of becoming a Sufi. In other words, it has to be said that the true teacher of mine, the Sufi sadhak Shah Sufi Sadar Uddin Ahmad Chishti Al Baraiguni, has remained silent until now. Read Sufism. Know it. But no one has shown the real path of meditation except Baba Jan Sharif Shah Sureshwari. I will worship all my life, but I will not get worship. This is sheer miserliness. I have only one question. Has anyone opened a school of meditation? The followers of Lord Buddha have opened a school of meditation. Many schools of meditation have been opened under the name of Buddhist monasteries, and we can see tangible evidence of this.
By MD SIZAN ALIabout a year ago in Writers
Poe-Found
With June's prompt, we wanted to do something we hadn't done in a while. So when Judey suggested we do a Found Poem Challenge for this month, we were like, "Okay, yeah, that sounds great." We promptly forgot all the other ideas for challenges and set about ironing out any details that needed their wrinkles flattened.
By Mother Combsabout a year ago in Writers
Dollar Challenge - Invention Edition (May/June)
Here's the challenge I set for May: If you're familiar with these little prompts from me, they are quotes that inspired or stuck with me in some way. The prize is piddling; what I'm really hoping for is to offer inspiration. A gentle kick up the bottom, if you like, for you to write something.
By L.C. Schäferabout a year ago in Writers
Commencement Speech - Winners
ViM's May Prompt - Commencement Speech - is over, and the voting is complete. We had an amazing turnout for the challenge, with many wonderful entries. We even had to call in a tie-breaker for the first time, which was a pleasant surprise. Now, I am here to announce the winners to everyone, so that you all may enjoy these speeches as much as we did.
By Mother Combsabout a year ago in Writers
Steady in the Storm
It’s often been said, “If you dislike change, you’re going to dislike irrelevancy even more.” One certainty as we navigate our personal and professional lives is this: there will be highs and there will be lows. How we handle each will ultimately dictate our happiness and success.
By George Carralejoabout a year ago in Writers
Contested. Top Story - June 2025.
And here I go again... June is here, and with it my yearly entry into the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)'s Poetry Contest. They also have ones for Non-Fiction and Short Stories, but I think most wistfully over the one devoted to poetry. First, the deadlines are always the same, this one coming just as summer is about to begin (one of the coldest days in Montréal, but still). Second, I feel like I do my best work at the end of the semester with the pressure of term work and grading taken away and placed on someone else's back.
By Kendall Defoe about a year ago in Writers
