Of course it didn't end there... One of the most remarkable things about the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, aside from its' relative cheapness and the fact that it has the words, "Don't Panic!" in large and friendly letters on its' cover, is that it is widely regarded as an open ended, multi-versal tome. Most of the books released by MegaDoDo Publications, headquartered in the constellation of Ursa Minor, are for the enjoyment of readers throughout this particular galaxy and in this particular Universal Constant Space/Time Continuum frequency range, (Roughly measured as, "42!") due to the contractual obligation clause noted in the Galactic Department of Commerce! The original author of the book, who was a young man when the first volume was published, was an adventurer, a dreamer, a wildly enthusiastic traveler and professional cheapskate. He also had the unfortunate knack of being one of the first IMMORTALS in existence, something that has plagued him since, literally (In every sense of that word.) the beginning of Time. The book itself was the result of a bet that he made with some friends, most of whom have long been deceased (Basically for the lack of anything better to do.) save for one particular individual who is still around, whom many people in the universe find rather insulting. The author was told that even though he was an immortal that there was no way he could visit all the habitable worlds in this one galaxy which were purported to have 'intelligent life.' The brilliant thing that this author did was to set the parameters of the bet that to be considered intelligent was to simply be able to read and understand the contents of the book he was going to write. He knew that the best way to win this bet was to write entries about the people, lifeforms, entities, artificial intelligences and even sports fans that he would meet on his travels. After all, what reader doesn't like the idea of reading interesting facts and glowing reports about their own neighborhood, planet, society, star system, galactic sector and/or team? He was also clever enough to convince everyone that he could use their assistance because he was not allowed to use any of his own money to travel with and that if they could help him out with expenses, they would each get a favorable mention in his book! (In fact, he was given a considerably generous expense account for his excursions, which he simply pocketed.) So he managed to traverse the entire width, breadth and depth of the entire Milky Way Galaxy on everyone else's dime! When he first published his book, he inserted a clause in his contract that the book should be able to be; 1) affordable to any being that would wish to read it, and 2) available anywhere. It was this last condition which became 'problematical.' For when the original publisher of the book ( A company whose name has long since been forgotten by history and numerous credit collection agencies.) was bought out by Mega Dodo Publications, it was found that the original legal department did not take into account that there were "multiple universes" which comprised this infinite continuum, commonly known as "REALITY." Which meant that the publishing house was contractually obligated to produce an unimaginably infinite amount of copies for readers in every known universe! Fortunately, a wily editor was able to "sub-contract" the publication of the book to other versions of MegaDodo Publications, which itself is found in other universes and dimensions, and managed to cut production costs by a considerable amount, earning a rather hefty bonus in the process. Which, of course, also meant that the author, getting residuals from almost every known universe imaginable, became exceedingly rich! In fact, he was able to buy his own manufactured planet, built to his own specifications, and was able to retire to a small house in an area where it rains most of the time. He spends his long, uneventful and considerably wet days mostly talking to himself and feeding his cat.
I personally really enjoyed this book, and I’m glad to see a review that really analyzes it and gives it a fair shake. Sure, it’s not perfect, but Eoin did a good job overall concluding the series.
Of course it didn't end there... One of the most remarkable things about the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, aside from its' relative cheapness and the fact that it has the words, "Don't Panic!" in large and friendly letters on its' cover, is that it is widely regarded as an open ended, multi-versal tome. Most of the books released by MegaDoDo Publications, headquartered in the constellation of Ursa Minor, are for the enjoyment of readers throughout this particular galaxy and in this particular Universal Constant Space/Time Continuum frequency range, (Roughly measured as, "42!") due to the contractual obligation clause noted in the Galactic Department of Commerce! The original author of the book, who was a young man when the first volume was published, was an adventurer, a dreamer, a wildly enthusiastic traveler and professional cheapskate. He also had the unfortunate knack of being one of the first IMMORTALS in existence, something that has plagued him since, literally (In every sense of that word.) the beginning of Time. The book itself was the result of a bet that he made with some friends, most of whom have long been deceased (Basically for the lack of anything better to do.) save for one particular individual who is still around, whom many people in the universe find rather insulting. The author was told that even though he was an immortal that there was no way he could visit all the habitable worlds in this one galaxy which were purported to have 'intelligent life.' The brilliant thing that this author did was to set the parameters of the bet that to be considered intelligent was to simply be able to read and understand the contents of the book he was going to write. He knew that the best way to win this bet was to write entries about the people, lifeforms, entities, artificial intelligences and even sports fans that he would meet on his travels. After all, what reader doesn't like the idea of reading interesting facts and glowing reports about their own neighborhood, planet, society, star system, galactic sector and/or team? He was also clever enough to convince everyone that he could use their assistance because he was not allowed to use any of his own money to travel with and that if they could help him out with expenses, they would each get a favorable mention in his book! (In fact, he was given a considerably generous expense account for his excursions, which he simply pocketed.) So he managed to traverse the entire width, breadth and depth of the entire Milky Way Galaxy on everyone else's dime! When he first published his book, he inserted a clause that the book should be able to be; 1) affordable to any being that would wish to read it, and 2) available anywhere. It was this last condition which became 'problematical.' For when the original publisher of the book ( A company whose name has long since been forgotten by history and numerous credit collection agencies.) was bought out by Mega Dodo Publications, it was found that the original legal department did not take into account that there were "multiple universes" which comprised this infinite continuum, commonly known as "REALITY." Which meant that the publishing house was contractually obligated to produce an unimaginably infinite amount of copies for readers in every known universe! Fortunately, a wily editor was able to "sub-contract" the publication of the book to other versions of MegaDodo Publications, which itself is found in other universes and dimensions, and managed to cut production costs by a considerable amount, earning a rather hefty bonus in the process. Which, of course, also meant that the author, getting residuals from almost every known universe imaginable, became exceedingly rich! In fact, he was able to buy his own manufactured planet, built to his own specifications, and was able to retire to a small house in an area where it rains most of the time. He spends his long, uneventful and considerably wet days mostly talking to himself and feeding his cat.
I'd like to hear more of your thoughts on the Hitchhiker radio series. I like them both, but in some ways I prefer the radio versions. I think the later phases produced by Dirk Maggs are especially impressive and help things feel more cohesive overall since there's a higher emphasis on comedy and continuity. Lots of callbacks and foreshadowing make it feel like events are flowing more naturally and not just because the author kept changing his mind about where the ending should be.
But, if one of Zaphod's heads is removed, then how can he enjoy the stereoscopic flavors of two separate and just slightly differently mixed Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters consumed simultaneously?!?
The ending felt like it was added because the author (and I was wondering how to pronounce that name, is it Irish?) was afraid he'd be criticized for not being cruel enough to Arthur.
Thank goodness that, much like when Mostly Harmless was adapted into radio, And Another Thing’s adaptation expanded to actually give Arthur a happy ending.
I recently listened to the hexagonal phase of the radio series, which is based on and another thing, and I thought it was good, not a patch on the ones written by Douglas Adams but I wasn't expecting it to be
I think I had an epiphany. Marvin calls the other characters up to dunk his head in a bucket of ice water. Could this be the origins of the ice bucket challenge? In the perverseness of Douglas's universe, combined with the Heart Of Gold, it wouldn't surprise me if it were. I even think Marvin himself might get one chuckle out of it, knowing millions of gullible humans were , in effect, recreating his act of desperation to have his depression acknowledged become almost a cult like action to prove one's adultness in this child like behavior, and to think you are actually doing some good for some random cause. I would hope Douglas would be laughing his ass off where ever he is now, if it were the cause.
I actually just finished this book about a month ago. It was okay. I enjoyed most of it, but the parts I didn't enjoy bugged me in a way the parts of the Adams books I didn't enjoy. In the latter I could overlook it as the whole was better. In the former, it's usually what I think about first. :/
Of course it didn't end there... One of the most remarkable things about the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, aside from its' relative cheapness and the fact that it has the words, "Don't Panic!" in large and friendly letters on its' cover, is that it is widely regarded as an open ended, multi-versal tome. Most of the books released by MegaDoDo Publications, headquartered in the constellation of Ursa Minor, are for the enjoyment of readers throughout this particular galaxy and in this particular Universal Constant Space/Time Continuum frequency range, (Roughly measured as, "42!") due to the contractual obligation clause noted in the Galactic Department of Commerce! The original author of the book, who was a young man when the first volume was published, was an adventurer, a dreamer, a wildly enthusiastic traveler and professional cheapskate. He also had the unfortunate knack of being one of the first IMMORTALS in existence, something that has plagued him since, literally (In every sense of that word.) the beginning of Time. The book itself was the result of a bet that he made with some friends, most of whom have long been deceased (Basically for the lack of anything better to do.) save for one particular individual who is still around, whom many people in the universe find rather insulting. The author was told that even though he was an immortal that there was no way he could visit all the habitable worlds in this one galaxy which were purported to have 'intelligent life.' The brilliant thing that this author did was to set the parameters of the bet that to be considered intelligent was to simply be able to read and understand the contents of the book he was going to write. He knew that the best way to win this bet was to write entries about the people, lifeforms, entities, artificial intelligences and even sports fans that he would meet on his travels. After all, what reader doesn't like the idea of reading interesting facts and glowing reports about their own neighborhood, planet, society, star system, galactic sector and/or team? He was also clever enough to convince everyone that he could use their assistance because he was not allowed to use any of his own money to travel with and that if they could help him out with expenses, they would each get a favorable mention in his book! (In fact, he was given a considerably generous expense account for his excursions, which he simply pocketed.) So he managed to traverse the entire width, breadth and depth of the entire Milky Way Galaxy on everyone else's dime! When he first published his book, he inserted a clause that the book should be able to be; 1) affordable to any being that would wish to read it, and 2) available anywhere. It was this last condition which became 'problematical.' For when the original publisher of the book ( A company whose name has long since been forgotten by history and numerous credit collection agencies.) was bought out by Mega Dodo Publications, it was found that the original legal department did not take into account that there were "multiple universes" which comprised this infinite continuum, commonly known as "REALITY." Which meant that the publishing house was contractually obligated to produce an unimaginably infinite amount of copies for readers in every known universe! Fortunately, a wily editor was able to "sub-contract" the publication of the book to other versions of MegaDodo Publications, which itself is found in other universes and dimensions, and managed to cut production costs by a considerable amount, earning a rather hefty bonus in the process. Which, of course, also meant that the author, getting residuals from almost every known universe imaginable, became exceedingly rich! In fact, he was able to buy his own manufactured planet, built to his own specifications, and was able to retire to a small house in an area where it rains most of the time. He spends his long, uneventful and considerably wet days mostly talking to himself and feeding his cat.
As someone who did read the books many times, I hated it. It's also kind of terrible that he tried for so long to get the movie made and they only did it after he died and ruined it.
I don't hate the movie, but I definitely prefer the books and the radio series. The movie is a bit of a mixed bag because there's stuff in it that I like, but it also has a lot I don't, so it comes across as an uneven experience overall. I think Hitchhiker benefits from long form episodic storytelling providing plenty of time for Guide entries that aren't tied directly to the plot. Unfortunately feature films don't really function that way, so the movie often feels like it's rushing through a version of the first book's events and also trying to have a more traditional movie structure. I think the events in the books and radio series would work better as an limited run TV miniseries with the budget of modern Doctor Who. Sort of like what the BBC did in 1981, but following a structure more similar to all six phases of the radio series. Maybe 20 hour long episodes. I like what Netflix has done with Unfortunate Events, so maybe they could do a joint production with the BBC. Just an idea.
Like many, I kinda.. shied away from the book? I was already upset with how Mostly Harmless ended, and while I'd heard of Artemis Fowl I hadn't read them so didn't know what to expect. I'd also had the much more satisfying ending via the radio show, and really didn't want to diminish the enjoyment of that with a potentially sour note. Maybe I'll give it a look someday, but part of me doubts it.
@@schwarzerritter5724 Nope. Personally thought it was terrible. The author seemed to confuse giving things silly names with humor. Also it was overly supernatural for my taste. It's one of the only books that I was never able to finish.
