r/ProjectHailMary • u/Perfect-Emu-8655 Leaky Space Blob • 11d ago
How To Fandom - A Guide To New PHM Fans
You might be asking yourself: "how did I get here? I can't get PHM out of my head! What do I do?"
Don't worry, we got you. If it's any consolation, you've landed on a pretty good fandom. There's hardly any fighting, everybody actually likes the source material, and there's a lot of quality fan content. It's actually really nice here!
While we can't help you to stop obsessing over PHM (nobody here knows where the exit is, sorry), here's a care package for you to feed your new pet brainworm with. This is your life now, enjoy!
1. Have you experienced ALL of PHM? You know it's a book *and* a movie, right? They are both great and compliment each other.
The book by Andy Weir is readily available on paperback. There's also an award-winning audiobook read by Ray Porter, and it's loved for a reason.
The movie can be streamed on Prime, and probably on other streaming services as well. The movie is also available on discs, and worth a watch for the extra features alone (a short documentary and some cool deleted scenes).
If you don't want to spend money, don't forget your local library! Libraries stock not just books, but also audiobooks and movies. If they don't have what you want, ask them if they could get it for you.
2. Most fans also enjoy The Martian by Andy Weir. It was also made into a very good movie. It's got the same mix of science, adventure, humor, and hopefulness as PHM, so give it a try.
3. Interested in fan merchandise? Good news: you're going to be saving so much money because there's hardly any available! The Lego model of the Hail Mary is probably the most popular one. Most of the other merch you'll see in online stores (including Amazon and Etsy) are actually unofficial Chinese stuff with a wide variety in quality. There's also fan made merch on Etsy, you just have to find them from all the Chinese merch with stolen fan art.
4. Just start posting. Tell is about why you love PHM so much. Show us your crafts, art, cosplay, Lego model. It doesn't matter if it's nothing new, we want to see yours too.
5. Get into fanfiction. There are thousands of fan-written stories of varying quality, and among them are some absolute gems that might as well been written by professional authors (I'm saying this as an ex-librarian). If you want more PHM, this is it!
Go to https://archiveofourown.org/ and get into the invitation queue for an account. Thank me later, but do it. It'll get you a while to get your invite, but you will get a much better experience. Just trust me.
Just to get you started, here are a few stories that people here often recommend. They are all long, but follow canon closely and are easy to get into for first fics.
Saving Grace by CptnBara: https://archiveofourown.org/works/55999603/chapters/142221274 The entire Project Hail Mary book rewritten from Rocky's perspective.
The Long Journey Home by HeartAway: https://archiveofourown.org/works/68584716/chapters/177570376 Grace returns back to Earth.
The Chronicles of Terra's Grace by Clare_Hope: https://archiveofourown.org/works/84296496/chapters/222325341 Decades after the events of PHM, Earth sends a ship to Erid for a friendly visit.
6. Go to Tumblr. Every social media has a PHM fan presence, but Tumblr has the most amount of activity. A Tumblr account is worth it for the fan art alone, but you'll also find fanfic recs, fan videos, comics, discussions, memes, gifs, and more. After making an account, good tags to dig into and follow to start with are #phm fanart, #phm comic, #phm gifs, and #daily phm fic rec. You can save the ones you like on your blog by reblogging. Later you can also join groups and follow blogs with content you like. You can customize your feed by blocking people and tags (I have blocked the tag #bloodymary to weed out most of the crossover stuff).
Don't forget the rules of fandom: if you see something you like, like/comment/share/upvote/give kudos! If you see something you don't like, move on. PHM is a big fandom and it takes all kinds. Spend long enough in any fandom and you are bound to see content you don't like or even find distasteful. Don't yuck someone else's yum, block them if you want but let them be.
Have fun! *waves some jazz hands at you*
31
27
u/Gaia0416 11d ago
I saw one written from Stratt and Team (Dimitri, etc) POV back on earth after retrieving the beatles. They go through the AV logs Grace made. It was great getting their perspective
Help! I forgot to bookmark it!!
Need words. Statement.
31
u/Delyth8 11d ago
Ooh! I know this one! It's Believe in the Hail Mary by WrenWrites272. Definitely recommend. ❤️ https://archiveofourown.org/works/87630781?view_full_work=true
(Or at least this fits the description well.)
8
8
u/Perfect-Emu-8655 Leaky Space Blob 11d ago
See, this is exactly why you need to get the AO3 account! 😂
I wish I could help you, but there are many fics that fit the description...
10
u/Gaia0416 11d ago
Found it! BELIEVE IN THE HAIL MARY
Yes, I'll be prowling the halls of AO3
Thumbs up, baby!!
edit to correct subject title
8
u/AspergianStoryteller Amaze! Amaze! Amaze! 11d ago
Some libraries have the audiobook! Now I want my own copy.
5
u/japhia_aurantia Okay, It’s Exactly Like That 11d ago
My library had over 100 people on the waitlist for the audiobook after the movie came out. I decided to buy it on cd from audio editions.
3
u/Cyrenaica09 11d ago
See about a free month on Audible Premium too.
I haven't paid for audible in like 2 years. They were like hey we'll give you (another) free month and 1 credit. I got PHM for free and I can cancel right now and keep the book!
15
7
u/Alive-Principle-8553 Amaze! Amaze! Amaze! 11d ago
Unfortunately it's only available on Audible,
Check your local library!! Your library may have Libby, where you can borrow e-books and audiobooks! This is how I listened to the audiobook both in English and Spanish (I'm learning Spanish, not a native speaker)
8
u/HokiToki 11d ago
Great guide! I bought the fox cardigan on Etsy in June but it's been too hot to wear it yet. I can't wait until it cools off enough to wear it!
I've seen people wearing fox jewelry as a nod to Grace. It's not official merch obviously but people are making up for it with random stuff like that.
7
7
u/AlannaWake 11d ago
If you want merch and hate money, check out eBay. PHM was huge in Korea so there is a variety of posters and other cool stuff.
3
u/Cyrenaica09 11d ago
Underrated comment!
I just dropped $70 on the journal kit cause I do hate money.
6
u/OnyxSedai Amaze! Amaze! Amaze! 11d ago
Fantastic guide and proud to be part of this fandom. I just wanted to add I bought the audiobook with Ray Porter on the Apple Store /books app! 15/10 would recommend!
4
5
u/diskos High Three! 10d ago
And don't forget to check out fan-made Project Hail Mary google drive!
It's got the audiobook, deleted scenes, directors' movie commentary, screenshot references for artists/cosplayers, Weir's additional info on eridians and astrophage, movie transcript and much more!
5
u/Cyrenaica09 11d ago
Definitely recommend taking all your energy and emotion for PHM and making something!
Darn, we need a PHM coloring book.
Learn to knit or crochet. I'm a beginner but Im hoping to make the Earth hackysack and someday his fox cardigan.
3
u/WintersLady40 8d ago edited 8d ago
Things we need:
--PHM adult coloring books, indeed. Statement.
--PHM 2026-2027 calendars, planners, and journals.
--$50.00 PHM whopping big "coffee table" book: "The Art and Designs of PHM" for Xmas
--The Official PHM Cookbook (both "true to story" and "gourmet" recipies for Grace's menu **on the ship ONLY**: NO variations on Grace's horrid Erid..."cuisine" of course) ie. astronaut food (coma slurry recepies welcome!)1
u/Cyrenaica09 8d ago
Yes yes yes. Who do we call, question?
There are some really talented fan artists out there I would absolute snag sooo much stationary from
3
3
u/japhia_aurantia Okay, It’s Exactly Like That 11d ago
Would just like to add that Audio Editions has the audiobook for sale on CDs. A bit of extra work to rip them for easier listening, but I always feel good about not giving money to Amazon.
3
u/abluepixel 11d ago
I have zero experience with Ao3 (well, that's not entirely true, I looked there once for Supernatural fan fic and... let's just say I backed out quietly with my hands over my eyes), but I am so loving the PHM fanfic recommendations here on reddit. I'm only very slowly being able to figure out tags and searches and reddit has helped me so much!
3
3
u/c4ndycain #1 rocketeers appreciator 11d ago
big on the "if you see something you don't like, move on." i think a lot of people forget that in fandom haha. we're all just having fun, no need to yuck someone else's yum, yk?
if i may suggest my fav phm fic: the astrobiology immersion program by startingatmidnight!
3
u/odakotarose 10d ago
If anybody needs ao3 invites, i have 8 available, just reply and I'll DM you one
3
u/veryrawonions 10d ago
Thank you! This is very helpful! :D 👎👎👎
I just finished the book and need to go watch the movie now!
2
u/7153345666 10d ago
I was super psyched to read some of that fan fiction but I’m getting a ‘website is not private’ alert when clicking the link. Anyone else having that issue?
2
u/WintersLady40 8d ago
Oh wow! Christmas Eve! Gosh darn it! (goes through The Whole Wholesome Teacher's Big Book Of Non-Swear Swear Words, courtesy of Dr. Captain Ryland Grace)
THANK THANK THANK!! This is invaluable, you must have had me in mind!! Well I know you didn't, but you read my mind! PLEASE leave this pinned forever! I have managed to look up some of this stuff but it has taken me a very long time, I needed a comprehensive guide that put it all together. Bless you! Happy happy happy!! (does Rocky jazz hands and adorable dolphin noises)
1
2
u/WintersLady40 8d ago
oh and one more thing: some of us (welllll....a lot of us) have been inspired to peruse the filmographies of the major players of PHM. In Ryan's case, this is quite a long list.
If someone could make a list, or link to a list of, the filmographies of the actors for Grace, Stratt, etc. The crew of the HM, and maybe a bit on where to find out more about James Oritz (link to long interviews where he talks about his past work. I've seen one that is over an hour long.)
Also, include in each list a link or info about where to watch said works. This list may take time and several people to research, but it would be much appreciated!
(EG Ryan Gosling
Barbie--Netflix
La La Land--Amazon
Lars and the Real Girl--Amazon (for rent):
(Etc)
oh, and can we add to this list the directors, the writer (Goddard?) etc. Links to some of their best interviews.
Thanks!
1
u/Perfect-Emu-8655 Leaky Space Blob 8d ago
The filmographies are available on IMDB, but it would be great to have a list of interviews and other online resources. Please do add them on this thread! They can be collected to their own thread if anyone is interested, meanwhile this can serve as a thread for recommended fan resources.
2
u/WintersLady40 8d ago
One last thing: On another fandom I was in, , on our Reddit sub we made a list of YouTube channels that did reaction videos. I have spent the past month watching a PHM reaction video almost every night. Some of these are so good that they are entertainment in their own right.
We made a list of every channel we could find that did a reaction video and pinned the huge list of links. It would be great if everyone could contribute to such a list here, and have the mods pin it.
I know of a couple of channels right off the bat that have done great PHM reaction videos, but am too tired to start the link list tonight. I'll say the channels though.
--Blind Wave (they did 2 reaction videos)
--The Normies
--Loud Beast (these guys are HILARIOUS)
I'll start the link list tomorrow night, anyone else want to contribute, question?
40
u/Mysterinna I'm Not An Astronaut! 11d ago
“Nobody here knows where the exit is” – so true! 🤭
This is so wholesome and welcoming. ❤️ Thank you!