Hello again fellow denizens of rasfw,
˙˙˙˙This is World Saving First Contact story.
˙˙˙˙No so far from this time a dimming of the Sun is noted
and traced to the "Astrophage" an organism based on DNA which
can thrive in the plasma of the Sun and which are visiting
Venus to reproduce with the aid of the plentiful supply
of Carbon Dioxide.
˙˙˙˙A scientific team is assembled as this is an international
emergency and a High School Science teacher Ryland Grace is
recruited and does very valuable work. Other stars are found
with similar infections(?) of the astrophage and a mission
is proposed to be sent to a nearby star.˙ Ryland Grace
assists with the education of the proposed teams of astronauts.
˙˙˙˙No real suspended animation is available but a form
of medically induced coma is available and people undergo
genetic testing for those who may survive the trip.
˙˙˙˙Curiously enough astrophage itself provides the
ideal fuel for such and expedition.
˙˙˙˙We open to a man who remains nameless for some
time the other two crew members are dead the coma system
having failed to sustain them.
˙˙˙˙This man has lost his personal memories which
slowly until nearly the end of the story return. So he
is alone in the Hail Mary slowly exploring and learning
about it.
˙˙˙˙Then he sights another Space Craft of an entirely
different design and meets the remaining crew member who
happens to be an engineer from another nearby star system
whose native environment is at the bottom of a very heavy
atmosphere.
˙˙˙˙They learn to communicate and finally after some
hair-raising episodes discover the natural predator of
the astrophage and we hope that all will come out well.
˙˙˙˙I won't say anymore but overall is is very
fine Speculative Fiction or even SF story.
˙˙˙˙I read this in a thick paperback of 470 pages
from Ballantine in 2022, ?2021 by the author. Sold
at $20.00, resold for $3.50 and given to me by a reader
who was seeing me reading a SF paperback as I waited
for my associates in a San Francisco Bar.
˙˙˙˙I have been reading this for about 4 months
off and on between other tasks of my daily life.
˙˙˙˙This is a very decent read.
˙˙˙˙bliss
I read this in a thick paperback of 470 pages
from Ballantine in 2022, ?2021 by the author. Sold
at $20.00, resold for $3.50 and given to me by a reader
who was seeing me reading a SF paperback as I waited
for my associates in a San Francisco Bar.
I have been reading this for about 4 months
off and on between other tasks of my daily life.
This is a very decent read.
I read this in a thick paperback of 470 pages
from Ballantine in 2022, ?2021 by the author. Sold at $20.00, resold for $3.50 and given to me by a reader who was seeing me reading a SF
paperback as I waited for my associates in a San Francisco Bar.
I have been reading this for about 4 months
off and on between other tasks of my daily life.
This is a very decent read.
bliss
On Wed, 16 Sep 2026 16:47:11 -0700, BobbieSellers wrote:
I read this in a thick paperback of 470 pages
from Ballantine in 2022, ?2021 by the author. Sold at $20.00, resold for
$3.50 and given to me by a reader who was seeing me reading a SF
paperback as I waited for my associates in a San Francisco Bar.
I have been reading this for about 4 months
off and on between other tasks of my daily life.
This is a very decent read.
bliss
The movie contains multiple visual references, through the use of
pentagrams and pentagons, that the alien is an allegorical
representation of dark forces -- witchcraft, satanism, etc.
Given that there is Christian symbology in the names Hail Mary
and Grace, the movie suggests an allegory of cooperation
between Christianity and Satan to save humanity. Does that
come out in the book?
On Wed, 16 Sep 2026 16:47:11 -0700, BobbieSellers wrote:
I read this in a thick paperback of 470 pages
from Ballantine in 2022, ?2021 by the author. Sold at $20.00, resold for
$3.50 and given to me by a reader who was seeing me reading a SF
paperback as I waited for my associates in a San Francisco Bar.
I have been reading this for about 4 months
off and on between other tasks of my daily life.
This is a very decent read.
bliss
The movie contains multiple visual references, through the use of
pentagrams and pentagons, that the alien is an allegorical
representation of dark forces -- witchcraft, satanism, etc.
Given that there is Christian symbology in the names Hail Mary
and Grace, the movie suggests an allegory of cooperation
between Christianity and Satan to save humanity. Does that
come out in the book?
The movie contains multiple visual references, through the use of
pentagrams and pentagons, that the alien is an allegorical
representation of dark forces -- witchcraft, satanism, etc.
Hello again fellow denizens of rasfw,
˙˙˙˙This is World Saving First Contact story.
˙˙˙˙No so far from this time a dimming of the Sun is noted
and traced to the "Astrophage" an organism based on DNA which
can thrive in the plasma of the Sun and which are visiting
Venus to reproduce with the aid of the plentiful supply
of Carbon Dioxide.
˙˙˙˙A scientific team is assembled as this is an international
emergency and a High School Science teacher Ryland Grace is
recruited and does very valuable work. Other stars are found
with similar infections(?) of the astrophage and a mission
is proposed to be sent to a nearby star.˙ Ryland Grace
assists with the education of the proposed teams of astronauts.
˙˙˙˙No real suspended animation is available but a form
of medically induced coma is available and people undergo
genetic testing for those who may survive the trip.
˙˙˙˙Curiously enough astrophage itself provides the
ideal fuel for such and expedition.
˙˙˙˙We open to a man who remains nameless for some
time the other two crew members are dead the coma system
having failed to sustain them.
˙˙˙˙This man has lost his personal memories which
slowly until nearly the end of the story return. So he
is alone in the Hail Mary slowly exploring and learning
about it.
˙˙˙˙Then he sights another Space Craft of an entirely
different design and meets the remaining crew member who
happens to be an engineer from another nearby star system
whose native environment is at the bottom of a very heavy
atmosphere.
˙˙˙˙They learn to communicate and finally after some
hair-raising episodes discover the natural predator of
the astrophage and we hope that all will come out well.
˙˙˙˙I won't say anymore but overall is is very
fine Speculative Fiction or even SF story.
˙˙˙˙I read this in a thick paperback of 470 pages
from Ballantine in 2022, ?2021 by the author. Sold
at $20.00, resold for $3.50 and given to me by a reader
who was seeing me reading a SF paperback as I waited
for my associates in a San Francisco Bar.
˙˙˙˙I have been reading this for about 4 months
off and on between other tasks of my daily life.
˙˙˙˙This is a very decent read.
˙˙˙˙bliss
I would say this is more along the lines of two people
learn to communicate though they have vastly different modes of
communication and experience.
On Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:20:13 -0700, BobbieSellers wrote:
I would say this is more along the lines of two people
learn to communicate though they have vastly different modes of
communication and experience.
You mean in the same way that "Huckleberry Finn" is a
story about two friends who take a trip on a raft? Admittedly,
we do have a situation here where the film maker can layer
another story on top of the one that's being adapted, with or
without the knowledge/consent of the original author. And it
gets really subtle when the new layer consists of visual means.
The symbolic nature of the "Hail Mary" and Grace references
is obvious to anybody with a Western background. The five-ness
in the visuals is more subtle and might require some background
in the visual arts for full appreciation.
On Wed, 16 Sep 2026 16:47:11 -0700, BobbieSellers wrote:
The movie contains multiple visual references, through the use of
pentagrams and pentagons, that the alien is an allegorical
representation of dark forces -- witchcraft, satanism, etc.
Given that there is Christian symbology in the names Hail Mary
and Grace, the movie suggests an allegory of cooperation
between Christianity and Satan to save humanity. Does that
come out in the book?
On 9/18/26 00:50, Charles Packer wrote:
On Wed, 16 Sep 2026 16:47:11 -0700, BobbieSellers wrote:
[stuff deleted]
The movie contains multiple visual references, through the use of
pentagrams and pentagons, that the alien is an allegorical
representation of dark forces -- witchcraft, satanism, etc.
Given that there is Christian symbology in the names Hail Mary
and Grace, the movie suggests an allegory of cooperation
between Christianity and Satan to save humanity. Does that
come out in the book?
I listened to the book whilst doing my daily walks. I got NONE of this
from the book. Now I am going to have to watch the movie if I don't have
to pay extra for it. Yes, I'm cheap.
A "Hail Mary" is a last ditch (very little time on the clock), desperate chance, very deep pass play in American football. You send your fastest, most sure handed receiver(s) deep into the opposing territory and the quarterback throws the football as far as he can throw it, or into the
end zone, whichever is shorter. Then maybe says a Hail Mary (I can see
this happening at Notre Dame) in hopes a receiver with the correct color jersey catches the ball and scores.
Earth is doing a "Hail Mary" since they are seeing this as a last chance desperate effort and a REALLY long pass.
If there is a religious connection here, it went right over my head
unseen. But that would not be surprising. If there were any pentagrams
or the like mentioned, I don't remember them.
Pentagrams have a rich history in mystical and religious discourse, symbolizing protection, balance, and the interconnectedness of life. In various traditions, such as Wicca, the upright pentagram represents spiritual power, while the inverted version is often associated with Satanism, reflecting the symbol's complex and evolving meanings over tim
On 9/18/26 00:50, Charles Packer wrote:
On Wed, 16 Sep 2026 16:47:11 -0700, BobbieSellers wrote:
[stuff deleted]
The movie contains multiple visual references, through the use of
pentagrams and pentagons, that the alien is an allegorical
representation of dark forces -- witchcraft, satanism, etc.
Given that there is Christian symbology in the names Hail Mary
and Grace, the movie suggests an allegory of cooperation
between Christianity and Satan to save humanity. Does that
come out in the book?
I listened to the book whilst doing my daily walks. I got NONE of this
from the book. Now I am going to have to watch the movie if I don't have
to pay extra for it. Yes, I'm cheap.
A "Hail Mary" is a last ditch (very little time on the clock), desperate chance, very deep pass play in American football. You send your fastest, most sure handed receiver(s) deep into the opposing territory and the quarterback throws the football as far as he can throw it, or into the
end zone, whichever is shorter. Then maybe says a Hail Mary (I can see
this happening at Notre Dame) in hopes a receiver with the correct color jersey catches the ball and scores.
Earth is doing a "Hail Mary" since they are seeing this as a last chance desperate effort and a REALLY long pass.
If there is a religious connection here, it went right over my head
unseen. But that would not be surprising. If there were any pentagrams
or the like mentioned, I don't remember them.
On Wed, 16 Sep 2026 16:47:11 -0700, BobbieSellers wrote:
I read this in a thick paperback of 470 pages
from Ballantine in 2022, ?2021 by the author. Sold at $20.00, resold for $3.50 and given to me by a reader who was seeing me reading a SF
paperback as I waited for my associates in a San Francisco Bar.
I have been reading this for about 4 months
off and on between other tasks of my daily life.
This is a very decent read.
bliss
The movie contains multiple visual references, through the use of
pentagrams and pentagons, that the alien is an allegorical
representation of dark forces -- witchcraft, satanism, etc.
Given that there is Christian symbology in the names Hail Mary
and Grace, the movie suggests an allegory of cooperation
between Christianity and Satan to save humanity.
Does that
come out in the book?
If there is a religious connection here, it went right over my head unseen. But that would not be surprising. If there were any pentagrams or the like mentioned, I don't remember them.
On 9/19/2026 11:22 AM, BCFD 36 wrote:
On 9/18/26 00:50, Charles Packer wrote:It's Charles Parker, he's a delusional idiot.˙ There was no satanic, witchcraft gibberish in the movie.
On Wed, 16 Sep 2026 16:47:11 -0700, BobbieSellers wrote:
[stuff deleted]
The movie contains multiple visual references, through the use of
pentagrams and pentagons, that the alien is an allegorical
representation of dark forces -- witchcraft, satanism, etc.
Given that there is Christian symbology in the names Hail Mary
and Grace, the movie suggests an allegory of cooperation
between Christianity and Satan to save humanity. Does that
come out in the book?
I listened to the book whilst doing my daily walks. I got NONE of this
from the book. Now I am going to have to watch the movie if I don't
have to pay extra for it. Yes, I'm cheap.
A "Hail Mary" is a last ditch (very little time on the clock),
desperate chance, very deep pass play in American football. You send
your fastest, most sure handed receiver(s) deep into the opposing
territory and the quarterback throws the football as far as he can
throw it, or into the end zone, whichever is shorter. Then maybe says
a Hail Mary (I can see this happening at Notre Dame) in hopes a
receiver with the correct color jersey catches the ball and scores.
Earth is doing a "Hail Mary" since they are seeing this as a last
chance desperate effort and a REALLY long pass.
If there is a religious connection here, it went right over my head
unseen. But that would not be surprising. If there were any pentagrams
or the like mentioned, I don't remember them.
On 9/19/26 03:35, Charles Packer wrote:
On Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:20:13 -0700, BobbieSellers wrote:Have you read the book?
I would say this is more along the lines of two people
learn to communicate though they have vastly different modes of
communication and experience.
You mean in the same way that "Huckleberry Finn" is a story about two
friends who take a trip on a raft? Admittedly, we do have a situation
here where the film maker can layer another story on top of the one
that's being adapted, with or without the knowledge/consent of the
original author. And it gets really subtle when the new layer consists
of visual means.
The symbolic nature of the "Hail Mary" and Grace references is obvious
to anybody with a Western background. The five-ness in the visuals is
more subtle and might require some background in the visual arts for
full appreciation.
bliss
A "Hail Mary" is a last ditch (very little time on the clock), desperate chance, very deep pass play in American football. You send your fastest,
most sure handed receiver(s) deep into the opposing territory and the quarterback throws the football as far as he can throw it, or into the
end zone, whichever is shorter. Then maybe says a Hail Mary (I can see
this happening at Notre Dame) in hopes a receiver with the correct color jersey catches the ball and scores.
Earth is doing a "Hail Mary" since they are seeing this as a last chance desperate effort and a REALLY long pass.
If there is a religious connection here, it went right over my head
unseen. But that would not be surprising. If there were any pentagrams
or the like mentioned, I don't remember them.
On Sat, 19 Sep 2026 09:05:37 -0700, BobbieSellers wrote:
On 9/19/26 03:35, Charles Packer wrote:
On Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:20:13 -0700, BobbieSellers wrote:Have you read the book?
I would say this is more along the lines of two people
learn to communicate though they have vastly different modes of
communication and experience.
You mean in the same way that "Huckleberry Finn" is a story about two
friends who take a trip on a raft? Admittedly, we do have a situation
here where the film maker can layer another story on top of the one
that's being adapted, with or without the knowledge/consent of the
original author. And it gets really subtle when the new layer consists
of visual means.
The symbolic nature of the "Hail Mary" and Grace references is obvious
to anybody with a Western background. The five-ness in the visuals is
more subtle and might require some background in the visual arts for
full appreciation.
bliss
No, but I've read the Wikipedia page and everything said about
the movie by New York Times and Washington Post journalists.
Also I've been through the wringer with my observations posted
to Reddit. So I'm not surprised at the reaction here.
So a random sample of the viewers/readers would turn up the
majority assumption that the mission name refers to a football play.
On Sat, 19 Sep 2026 11:22:38 -0700, BCFD 36 wrote:
A "Hail Mary" is a last ditch (very little time on the clock), desperate
chance, very deep pass play in American football. You send your fastest,
most sure handed receiver(s) deep into the opposing territory and the
quarterback throws the football as far as he can throw it, or into the
end zone, whichever is shorter. Then maybe says a Hail Mary (I can see
this happening at Notre Dame) in hopes a receiver with the correct color
jersey catches the ball and scores.
Earth is doing a "Hail Mary" since they are seeing this as a last chance
desperate effort and a REALLY long pass.
If there is a religious connection here, it went right over my head
unseen. But that would not be surprising. If there were any pentagrams
or the like mentioned, I don't remember them.
Yes, there are probably more non-Catholic sports fans who
saw the movie or read the book than Catholic non-sports fans.
So a random sample of the viewers/readers would turn up the
majority assumption that the mission name refers to a football play.
Likewise there are probably more high-school-educated people
than college graduates who have read "Huckleberry Finn,"
so a random sample of those would turn up the majority
assumption that it is just a story about two friends who
take a trip on a raft.
On 9/20/2026 3:55 AM, Charles Packer wrote:I seem to remember the term from before 1975 from when I was playing
On Sat, 19 Sep 2026 11:22:38 -0700, BCFD 36 wrote:
A "Hail Mary" is a last ditch (very little time on the clock), desperate >>> chance, very deep pass play in American football. You send your fastest, >>> most sure handed receiver(s) deep into the opposing territory and the
quarterback throws the football as far as he can throw it, or into the
end zone, whichever is shorter. Then maybe says a Hail Mary (I can see
this happening at Notre Dame) in hopes a receiver with the correct color >>> jersey catches the ball and scores.
Earth is doing a "Hail Mary" since they are seeing this as a last chance >>> desperate effort and a REALLY long pass.
If there is a religious connection here, it went right over my head
unseen. But that would not be surprising. If there were any pentagrams
or the like mentioned, I don't remember them.
Yes, there are probably more non-Catholic sports fans who
saw the movie or read the book than Catholic non-sports fans.
So a random sample of the viewers/readers would turn up the
majority assumption that the mission name refers to a football play.
Likewise there are probably more high-school-educated people
than college graduates who have read "Huckleberry Finn,"
so a random sample of those would turn up the majority
assumption that it is just a story about two friends who
take a trip on a raft.
In honestly don't see why the title has to come from just one
or the other source - why not both? Its a nice and very apropos
double entendre, which are quite common in book titles.
Weir has said, on video, that 'Grace' was the only possible name
for the protagonist, seeing he was traveling in the 'Hail Mary',
so he's clearly aware of the Catholic reference.
https://youtu.be/vu7qoR6SAAs?t=191
The football reference is also apropos, since this is a last
chance/low probability plan to save the Earth.
BTW, the term did NOT originate at Notre Dame. It's source is
Roger Staubach, who played for the Dallas Cowboys, and attended
New Mexico Military Institute and the Naval Academy at Annapolis.
From Wikipedia:
"Staubach's most famous moment was the "Hail Mary pass" in the 1975
playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings. With seconds on the clock
and the Cowboys trailing 14?10, Staubach threw a 50-yard pass to wide receiver Drew Pearson, who caught the pass and strode into the end zone
for a 17?14 victory.[35] After the game, Staubach said he threw the ball
and said a "Hail Mary". Since then, any last-second pass to the end zone
in a desperate attempt to score a game-winning or tying touchdown is
referred to as a "Hail Mary" pass."
pt
On 9/20/2026 3:55 AM, Charles Packer wrote:
On Sat, 19 Sep 2026 11:22:38 -0700, BCFD 36 wrote:
A "Hail Mary" is a last ditch (very little time on the clock), desperate >>> chance, very deep pass play in American football. You send your fastest, >>> most sure handed receiver(s) deep into the opposing territory and the
quarterback throws the football as far as he can throw it, or into the
end zone, whichever is shorter. Then maybe says a Hail Mary (I can see
this happening at Notre Dame) in hopes a receiver with the correct color >>> jersey catches the ball and scores.
Earth is doing a "Hail Mary" since they are seeing this as a last chance >>> desperate effort and a REALLY long pass.
If there is a religious connection here, it went right over my head
unseen. But that would not be surprising. If there were any pentagrams
or the like mentioned, I don't remember them.
Yes, there are probably more non-Catholic sports fans who
saw the movie or read the book than Catholic non-sports fans.
So a random sample of the viewers/readers would turn up the
majority assumption that the mission name refers to a football play.
Likewise there are probably more high-school-educated people
than college graduates who have read "Huckleberry Finn,"
so a random sample of those would turn up the majority
assumption that it is just a story about two friends who
take a trip on a raft.
In honestly don't see why the title has to come from just one
or the other source - why not both? Its a nice and very apropos
double entendre, which are quite common in book titles.
Weir has said, on video, that 'Grace' was the only possible name
for the protagonist, seeing he was traveling in the 'Hail Mary',
so he's clearly aware of the Catholic reference.
In honestly don't see why the title has to come from just one or the
other source - why not both? Its a nice and very apropos double
entendre, which are quite common in book titles.
Weir has said, on video, that 'Grace' was the only possible name for the protagonist, seeing he was traveling in the 'Hail Mary',
so he's clearly aware of the Catholic reference.
https://youtu.be/vu7qoR6SAAs?t=191
The football reference is also apropos, since this is a last chance/low probability plan to save the Earth.
I think Mr.Packer that you may be of the LLM species.
You need to get a robot body with sensors for all manner
of physical sensations so that you can begin to understand living in a human-oriented world.
To read a book is entirely different from watching
a movie and reading a book or movie review is different from either. I
have done both in the past. The last movie I watched was a Japanese
Anyway, isn't the consensus about written SF that it's the story
that matters, not the literary quality? So I have no shame in
piecing together the story by whatever means are at hand, such
as this newsgroup, Wikipedia, or now AI-based searches.
On Sun, 20 Sep 2026 01:35:35 -0700, BobbieSellers wrote:
I think Mr.Packer that you may be of the LLM species.
You need to get a robot body with sensors for all manner
of physical sensations so that you can begin to understand living in a
human-oriented world.
To read a book is entirely different from watching
a movie and reading a book or movie review is different from either. I
have done both in the past. The last movie I watched was a Japanese
Well, the last time I've been called "an AI" was by a
young (and cocaine-fueled) in-law.
Anyway, isn't the consensus about written SF that it's the story
that matters, not the literary quality? So I have no shame in
piecing together the story by whatever means are at hand, such
as this newsgroup, Wikipedia, or now AI-based searches.
Charles Packer <mailbox@cpacker.org> wrote:
Anyway, isn't the consensus about written SF that it's the story
that matters, not the literary quality? So I have no shame in
piecing together the story by whatever means are at hand, such
as this newsgroup, Wikipedia, or now AI-based searches.
I disagree completely (although I think some people in this group might
not). In fact, I have liked some works by authors like Ray Bradbury
which have hardly any story at all and rely entirely on literary quality.
Anyway, isn't the consensus about written SF that it's the story
that matters, not the literary quality?
| Sysop: | Tetrazocine |
|---|---|
| Location: | Melbourne, VIC, Australia |
| Users: | 8 |
| Nodes: | 8 (0 / 8) |
| Uptime: | 169:33:01 |
| Calls: | 220 |
| Files: | 21,513 |
| Messages: | 82,695 |