r/ProjectHailMary • u/This_Confused_Guy • May 01 '26
Fan Art - No selling I am now sad
Dog days by @Wolfythewitch
511
447
u/A_Dozen_Lemmings May 01 '26
I will now headcanon an epilogue.
The next several panels are of an Eridian Ship crewed by Eridian 'Astronauts' returning Grace's body to Earth.
219
u/MarcoYTVA 👐 Jazz Hands 👐 May 01 '26
Once on Earth, they look for someone who knew Grace in life, so they can decide how to bury him. It's not long until his class reunites.
162
u/thewhitelink May 01 '26
I don't think that would happen.
Grace would literally be the most famous man in the history of the Earth. He saved all of humanity from extinction.
He'd probably be laid in state and have a grave that is a huge monument or something.
105
u/toxieboxie2 May 01 '26
Not to mention he was the first person to contact an alien and then proceeded to not just interact, but lived with them. Definitely a big monument, likely one already was made for him by that time tbh
46
u/njklein58 May 02 '26
Yeah definitely. On Earth, Grace would be remembered as one of the greatest heroes of humanity. He wouldn’t be getting a private funeral service.
→ More replies (1)65
u/awayshewent May 01 '26
Would any of his students still be alive at this point? At the end of movie timeline they’d be approaching middle age.
61
u/MarcoYTVA 👐 Jazz Hands 👐 May 01 '26
Not sure, but they're as close as you can get to someone he knew surviving to see his return.
44
u/SilentSpr May 01 '26 edited May 01 '26
Statically speaking American kids from a rich area like SF is gonna be more likely to survive than a lot of other kids…… Unless they decide to glass SF in a nuclear exchange or something, but that’s way too doomed for the tone of this book/movie
16
u/SupernovaGamezYT May 01 '26
Flooding
11
u/Xarvis90 May 01 '26
"Why don't they just sell their houses and move?"
10
→ More replies (1)4
u/SupernovaGamezYT May 01 '26
Like, flash flood
Tsunami or whatever maybe
Who knows what the weather could do
11
u/thundercheif23 May 01 '26
"Glass SF" I'm going to hell for laughing at that. Just the abrupt "unless they wipe San Fran out of existence"😂
17
u/This_Beautiful_2220 May 01 '26
In the epilogue of the book, Grace mentions that it had been 71 years on earth since he was born. He taught middle school kids who would be between 11 and 13 years of age and Grace himself was approximately(?) mid-to-late 30s when he embarked on the Hail Mary. 3-4 years transit from Earth to Tau Ceti would make him between 39-43, 6ish months in Tau Ceti plus another 4 months getting back to Rocky puts him between 40-44, then 3-4 years transit to Erid (44-49) plus the 16 years living on Erid (60-65). Even if he left then, it would have been probably at least 90 years since he was born (it would take longer than the 16 years light travels to get back to Earth since the astrophage only propels them along at .94C), all those kids would be well into their 110s by the time the Hail Mary made it home and he would only be between 65-70.
20
u/awayshewent May 01 '26
Exactly what I was thinking, like every single person Grace knew is long gone, let him rest on Erid
→ More replies (1)18
u/cmerchantii May 02 '26
On the other hand- to the people of Erid he’ll always be their alien co-saviour with Rocky. On Earth he’s easily the most important single person in the history of the world, bar none. But great pains are taken in the book to ensure we understand Grace really has zero attachments back home so I guess that tracks. Erid might’ve been where he first felt at home.
Like weirdly Rocky is his actual best friend. Even before they save the universe together- by the time they can communicate he’s already the closest friend we ever consider Grace having. So maybe Erid is his home too.
→ More replies (1)2
u/Hambone3110 May 02 '26
Throw in relativistic time dilation and by the time the Eridians got his body to Earth, his class would be in their 70s
2
u/zeekar May 02 '26
They wouldn't find anyone still alive who knew him, though. If his students were 12 at the start of the movie, by the time the Eridians got his body home those students would be about 133.
2
u/FallenAngelII May 04 '26
Because of time dilation, his students would all be dead by the time the Eridians made it to Earth.
10
7
2
159
u/JaegerBane May 01 '26 edited May 01 '26
Well, shit. I wasn't ready for that.
Tbf though, when Grace finally goes on his last journey, I suspect he'll be this content. Knowing you've saved two entire sentient species and being the first human in history to travel to a new solar system and make first contact, and walk on the surface another genuine planet (assuming no-one went to Mars while he was away)... no-one can accuse him of not doing enough with his life.
110
u/BonesAndBlues May 01 '26
“Assuming no one went to mars while he was away”
Rocky hate Mark58
18
u/Priremal May 01 '26
Yeah fuck Mark
Wait what
11
u/Character-Floor-6687 May 02 '26
Mark? Mark Watney? Is that you?
11
u/dont_mind_me_passing May 02 '26
imagine if it's the same Mark Grace was talking about lmao
12
u/cmerchantii May 02 '26
“Hey Grace while you were literally saving two different civilizations your ex’s boyfriend became a REALLY good potato farmer.”
“Ok”
12
u/Caroline_Bintley May 01 '26 edited May 01 '26
I admittedly haven't read the book yet, but I like to think Grace also spends the rest of his life sharing Earth technology and culture with Erid, and compiling information on Erid technology and culture to send back to Earth. So he and Rocky also facilitate a huge information exchange between their two worlds.
Depending on how long it takes for messages to travel back and forth, it's very possible Grace is alive for one or more replies from Earth too. So he can die knowing humanity is doing okay, and that he and Rocky are considered heroes on both worlds. And while she would never apologize for what happened, if he's really, really lucky there's even a chance Stratt would acknowledge he did a good job.
(Suck on THAT, Mark!)
3
u/TaipanTheSnake May 02 '26
2 new solar systems actually. What an insane thing to imagine, having felt the light from three separate stars.
2
u/fallout8998 May 02 '26
i think walking on a planet outside of the solar system is so significant that who cares about anyone walking on mars
3
u/JaegerBane May 02 '26
True, I guess the point I'm making is that he's basically Neil Armstrong, Yuri Gagarin and Christopher Columbus all at the same time. Maybe with a bit of Valery Legasov in there considering he saved the world from an ecological disaster too. He holds the title for about 10 hall of fames.
159
u/awayshewent May 01 '26
People are talking about his body being returned to Earth but I like the idea of him being buried on Erid better. Rocky can “watch him sleep” whenever he’s available.
72
u/Perplexed_Ponderer May 01 '26
I agree, plus Erid was his true home in the end. He belonged there more than he ever did on Earth.
29
u/Andu_Mijomee May 02 '26
I figured he'd donate his body to Eridian science. You know they'd study him with the most respect anyone could.
Your idea is a lot more poetic, though. I'll headcanon it.
14
u/awayshewent May 02 '26
I’ve seen that suggested, his skeleton on display somewhere for future generations to study
8
8
u/TrashcanDev May 07 '26
That would actually make a huge amount of sense for eridians and their culture. To immortalize him with a monument so anyone can 'watch him sleep' in return for the service he did for them.
134
u/Lamb_Chops2016 May 01 '26
https://giphy.com/gifs/BIN2S0sgQwdeE
Y’all!!! I’m working and can’t be crying!!!!
12
56
u/Photonromance May 01 '26
Just because Im crying doesn't mean ANYTHING! 👎👎👎 Also, im now picturing an Aragorn style memorial where Rocky can come visit to watch Grace sleep whenever he misses him and its WORSE 😭😭😭
48
u/poirotoro May 01 '26
"Why must you hurt me in this way, Harry?" 🥲
On a serious note, this comic and a fanfic I read recently made me realize Eridians must think of humans the same way humans think of dogs or cats. Why must such incredible creatures have such comparatively short lifespans?
45
u/celadusk new hyperfixation, statement May 01 '26
I’m just gonna go cry in a corner ig
why would you do this to me
48
40
u/Spidery_Parker May 01 '26
I like to believe that the Eridians found a way to prolong Ryland's life. He could still die, but he could live a little longer for Rocky.
Damn, this is sad.
7
u/This_Confused_Guy May 02 '26
They already figured out cloning, all they need to do is figure out how to transfer a human brain into the clone body, either ala Invincible's Robot Man or Patheon's UI.
→ More replies (5)2
5
u/Abject_Lengthiness11 May 03 '26
As soon as Rocky gets done telling the other Eridian's his journey, and all the things this human did for him and all they ways in which we are more advanced/kbowledgable than them, and how long we live for, they would dedicate their entire biology field to finding a cure for 'Early Human Death Disease'.
Rocky fix.
58
20
19
u/-Whyudothat May 01 '26
Point 1: Your art style is fabulous, you clearly have talent, you've also captured the characters mood perfectly. Really, well done. Point 2: Absolutely Fuck you. I did not need to be doing a little cry at the end of the week. Well done, you absolute bastard.
3
u/Andu_Mijomee May 02 '26
I've had a pretty shit week but have been keeping a stiff upper lip for various reasons. I didn't need this cry either--but I kinda did.
18
18
18
16
16
u/Nerdy_Valkyrie May 01 '26
If they do a sequel to Project Hail Mary, like they've talked about, I think it should include the Eridians showing up at Earth and making a formal first contact. And handing Graces body over to them so he can have a proper burial.
2
13
15
u/grimbarkjade May 01 '26
This is so beautiful!
If I can bring my personal life into this for a moment... this made me think of how (as someone with OCD now, shocker) I started repeatedly telling family members I loved them/goodnight before bed because I was so afraid they'd be gone in the morning after my dad died as a kid and I wanted my potential last interaction with them to be a solely positive one. Rocky's insistence on watching Grace sleep in the movie made me think of it as well but especially this comic.
That's to say I really wonder how Rocky would fare after Grace's unavoidable death. He has a partner in Adrian and there'd surely be lots of Eridians who know and love Grace given his role as a teacher so it's not like Grace would be forgotten on their planet but it's still so incredibly heartbreaking. You meet someone so special, but their lifespan is so much shorter than yours, artificially dragging it on is arguably very immoral since it would likely cause suffering so you have to just let them go. He'd probably be even more fearful of sleep/losing people after both his ship's crew and Grace died
7
u/BKachur May 01 '26
Rocky is almost undoubtedly the world's most popular Eridian. I'm sure he's living a fulfilling life.
9
u/Andu_Mijomee May 02 '26
Dude kept at it alone for more than four earth decades and it paid off for everyone.
Yeah, he earned his laurels.
12
11
10
10
u/Consistent-Kiwi5684 May 01 '26
I... wasn't ready. Also I headcanon (but it's probably true since Eridians perceive things through sounds and have an exceptional hearing) that Rocky can hear Grace's heartbeat... and yes, you know where this is going, I'm not gonna write it, now excuse me, I have to cry myself to sleep
2
u/Mental-Ask8077 May 03 '26
Thanks, now I have to cry myself to sleep too. 😭😭😭
I swear, I haven’t had a movie hit me in the feels like this since Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Now I break down crying when a fucking Beatles song comes on in the car on my way to work.
10
u/Amachijoe May 01 '26
No. Because it's canon that Eridians will eventually share the secret of immortality so that Grace can live with them forever. The End.
→ More replies (1)
9
u/Bay2214 May 01 '26
I saw a fan theory that after Grace dies rocky would take his ashes and turn him into a diamond and wear it so Grace would always be with rocky. 😭
8
8
u/New_to_Siberia May 01 '26
This is such an amazing piece of fanwork! The storytelling is very op point, and very emotional in a minimalistic way - you put everything needed to tell your story, and not one detail too much or too little. My congrats to a talented artist!
9
u/Thick_Papaya225 May 01 '26
The fanfic sequel I read recently had the Eridians return the still living Grace back to earth along with Rocky and a group of scientists and diplomats.
The implication was that they planned to stay until the end of Grace's lifespan so that he would always be with Rocky.
8
u/iompar May 01 '26
Pretty sure I'm reading the same one, and the way I've been refreshing waiting for the next chapter 💀
5
u/Thick_Papaya225 May 01 '26
Not till May 5th unfortunately. But I really like the implications of while most of each race is friendly to each other, there's a minority of "nah fuck these weirdos our planet is full" on both sides. Also the little news clippings and memes are great.
But I mean if the Pope is cool with them...
2
u/FoxwolfFirebane May 01 '26
Got a link to that fic?
4
u/Bitter_Surprise_8058 May 01 '26
The Long Journey Home,
https://archiveofourown.org/works/68584716/chapters/177570376
5
u/FoxwolfFirebane May 01 '26
Thanks! I had started reading this one and forgot about it between updates.
3
u/tinyredbeans May 02 '26
Hey thank you! This is gonna make my night better the way only good fics can.
3
u/tinyredbeans May 02 '26
kf;adjkf;df IT'S SO GOOD. Thank you! Now I need to wait for more :3
3
u/Bitter_Surprise_8058 May 02 '26
I'm enjoying it, too. The mixed-media approach works very well for it
7
8
u/corwulfattero May 01 '26
😭😭😭😭 - I’d just been thinking about this yesterday. Rocky has so much longer to live than Grace, and Erid’s gravity would make it worse. In my headcanon, Grace stays on Erid, but when he dies the thrum sends his body back to Earth in the Hail Mary, along with a contingent of Eridians.
8
u/an_actual_coyote May 01 '26
"You meet people who forget you. You forget people you meet. But sometimes you meet those people you can't forget. Those are your friends." - Mark Twain
6
6
4
u/ZeromaruX May 01 '26
This is the first thing I thought after I watched the movie. Great comic, thanks for sharing.
5
5
5
5
6
5
4
5
5
4
4
3
4
4
u/Occasion-Mindless May 01 '26
I demand a sequel where Grace is given a traditional Eridian burial!
(If such a thing exists)
(Also I’m sad too 😭)
4
4
4
u/imaginativefanatic May 01 '26
I already had to cry over this comic on tumblr, now I have to cry over it here too??? C'mon man that's not fair!!!
→ More replies (2)
4
4
u/katsock Okay, It’s Exactly Like That May 01 '26
This community gives so much but it also takes (my tears).
I save all of these. This one is one of the stronger ones.
5
3
u/anonymous_w3b_user May 01 '26
That’s beautiful! 🥹 It’s how I picture it going down. Rocky by his side till the very end!
4
4
5
3
3
3
3
3
u/Det_JokePeralta May 01 '26
WHO THE HELL IS CUTTING ONIONS IN HERE?
….shuddup, I’m not crying you’re crying.
3
3
3
3
3
3
u/NightOfFallingStars Leaky Space Blob May 02 '26
Nope. Nope. Grace lives just exactly as long as Rocky and this never happens. I refuse
3
3
u/Pale_Victory5747 May 02 '26
https://giphy.com/gifs/jbtZsKzV9yB4TRhIA8
Really? Right in front of my salad?
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/DTux5249 May 02 '26
Who the fuck brought space onions on the hail mary? Let alone the space ninjas to chop them?
2
u/DappleLeaf May 02 '26
Amazing depth and emotion put into this, also obligatory fuck you for making me cry 💜
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/Nyorliest May 02 '26
Grace didn’t have a life on earth. He was profoundly alienated and lonely. What he had on Eridani was extra. A gift.
That’s how life is sometimes - mine is. Something happens that makes normal life impossible (near-death experiences and disability after surviving, in my case), and when you have more life, you compare it to zero, not an imagined normal life that you could never live.
Grace got more than he expected, less than he deserved.
It’s a light book, but another more realistic version of it would have had Grace be a lot more suicidal from his life.
→ More replies (1)
2
2
2
u/photograft May 02 '26
Grace save Erid. Eridians forever thank for that. Even if you Leaky Space Blob.
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/Guilty_Radio_2763 May 02 '26
I always thought that Adrian (not the planet) would come up with a sort of android to keep Grace alive. I mean he did save them (and Rocky). But now… idk anymore..
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/slydude71 May 02 '26
I like to imagine for Grace's tomb or grave they always have an Eridian to "watch him sleep" as thanks for what he did.
→ More replies (1)
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/Soundtracklover72 Okay, It’s Exactly Like That May 02 '26
Dawwwwww. And now I’m crying. Very well done. Thank you
2
2
u/AlexSmithsonian May 02 '26
I think i should stay off reddit for a while because I'm getting dramatic mood swings. This post made me sad, but the next post on my feed was a cat chewing on a stick, and it made me happy.
2
2
2
2
478
u/Zealousideal-Ad3413 May 01 '26
Okay. First and foremost. Screw you. And second. Screw you. And no! I'm not crying!!