Category: Movies

Having seen Project Hail Mary

~ GraydonJonesWriter

I watched Project Hail Mary recently, and it reminded me how much the science matters in certain kinds of science fiction. The film is enjoyable, but a lot of the sharp, science‑driven detail that made the book so strong didn’t make it to the screen. I found myself wondering how well the story lands for anyone who hasn’t read the novel — the Beatles, the nitrogen problem, du Bois, zenonite, Taumeba… all the things that made Andy Weir’s work feel so clear and so clever.

Seeing the adaptation made me appreciate the book even more. Neil deGrasse Tyson once said something along the lines of: real science makes fiction more fun — and that’s exactly how I felt watching it.

And yet, I’ve always loved the softer side of sci‑fi too. Star Wars and Star Trek were part of my childhood: big universes, big ideas, big emotions. They’re not about physics; they’re about wonder. They’re brilliant in their own way.

But I’m not a Weir‑style writer. I’m not building engineering puzzles. My work sits closer to The Expanse — stories where the physics matters, the world behaves properly, and the consequences feel real, but the plot is driven by people, pressure, and the systems they’re caught inside. The science supports the story rather than being the story.

Watching Project Hail Mary reminded me how much I enjoy that balance. When the science is missing, some of the weight goes with it.

I explained a few of the gaps to my wife, and we still enjoyed the film, but if you love sci‑fi, I’d strongly recommend reading the novel. It’s one of those stories where the science is half the adventure.

From The Martian to Project Hail Mary

~ GraydonJonesWriter ~ 1 Comment

Back in September 2022, I wrote about Andy Weir after hearing him speak during ProWritingAid’s Writer’s Week. His interview stood out to me not just because The Martian is one of my all-time favourite stories, but because of how down-to-earth he came across. Despite his book ‘rocketing’ to success, Andy spoke with humour and humility, sharing how social media helped propel his work before a major publisher picked it up.
I was struck by his approach to research, which mirrors my own: keep the story internally consistent, even if the science bends a little. As he explained, the ferocious Martian storm that stranded Mark Watney couldn’t happen in reality, but it made for a brilliant opening. As Slartibartfast would say, “I’d rather be happy than be right any day.”
At the time, Andy admitted his follow-up novel Artemis hadn’t resonated with readers in the same way, partly because the protagonist wasn’t wholly likeable. I hadn’t read it myself, but I understood his point—sometimes a character can push us away before the story has a chance to pull us in.

Fast forward to now, and I’ve finally read Project Hail Mary. It was brilliant. The format and feel reminded me of The Martian—that same mix of humour, tension, and science-driven storytelling—but with its own fresh spark. I couldn’t help imagining Tom Hanks in the lead role, a cross between his Cast Away survivor and Matt Damon’s stranded botanist in The Martian. No offence to Ryan Gosling, who’s set to star in the film adaptation, but Hanks feels like such a natural fit for the lone astronaut.
What makes Project Hail Mary so good is exactly what Andy talked about back in 2022: believable science wrapped in compelling storytelling, with a protagonist readers can root for. It feels like a return to the hit writing that made The Martian such a success.
Looking back, I’m glad I put this book on my reading list. Andy Weir has proven once again that when you combine technical curiosity with a spark of imagination, you can create a story that captures readers and keeps them turning the pages.

Well, that went well…

~ GraydonJonesWriter ~ 1 Comment

On the 10th of September 2024, I completed the first draft of Annika Dash – The Dark Side of the Moon. Immediately, I sighed and thought, “Well that went well.” It’s that feeling you get when you reach the end of something you may have doubted you’d complete. Of course, I’ve lots more to do, but I think it’s important to stop and celebrate one’s success, right?

Now Draft 1 is complete, I am resting; stepping away. I’m doing other things. I found, that the longer I leave it before going back to edit, the more likely I will spot errors or ways to improve the plot, characters or settings. That’s what I’m doing now. I’ve started redesigning my creative working space at home, working on processing photos I took in the summer, and preparing to write some new music. My next writing session is planned for November to coincide with this year’s NaNoWriMo.

This is an American initiative, but it’s been widely adopted in other countries to encourage anyone to write a novel in November. The definition of a novel, for NaNoWriMo, is 50,000 words. That’s roughly 1666 words a day. These targets are important because they give the writer focus. One of the main reasons we don’t complete our work is that no one holds us accountable, encourages us forward, or picks us up when we fall. This is because writers normally work in isolation, choosing when to write. NaNoWriMo provides a robust framework to help with this. Some writers meet daily in cafes and libraries to participate in writing ‘sprints’. A sprint is a specific time, during which everyone writes together. Each sprint can be set to last between 20 to 30 minutes. Far more common are virtual meet-ups, with Zoom and FaceBook being popular platforms.

How will I work? The target I will set myself will be different. I will aim to edit and complete a second draft of Annika Dash – The Dark Side of the Moon. Accountability? I hope I have the discipline to complete my draft, but I will look for others who may need help, and join them if I can.

Entertainment recommendations this month…

Ludwig 2024

I have to mention another BBC comedy drama, Ludwig. If you like David Mitchell, then this programme is for you. It’s the ideal vehicle for his character to shine through. Like Upstart Crow it centres around a character blessed with talent, yet struggling with the world around him. It also stars the brilliant Anna Maxwell-Martin who has been in countless other stage and screen productions. Anna portrays the wife of ‘Ludwig’s’ much more successful brother who is missing. She comes up with a hair-brain scheme enlisting her brother-in-law; the identical twin brother of her husband. Brilliant Series 10 unicorns out of 10

Oblivion 2013

I caught a video on YouTube about the making of Oblivion. This 2013 Sci-Fi, based on a graphic novel, is probably one of my all-time favourite films, and the video reignited my enthusiasm for it. The video goes behind the scenes into inception, concept, set creation, locations, and stunts. Maybe I should be reviewing/recommending the YouTube video? Okay, here’s the link – Oblivion (2013) – Behind the Scenes Compilation (CinemaScope). I won’t say anymore other than it’s a… Brilliant film, 10 unicorns out of 10

Next month

I will concentrate on Draft 2 of Annika Dash and The Dark Side of The Moon from now until the end of November. After that, I will let you know how I did. In the meantime, I will keep posting on my FaceBook page.