New 'Hitchhiker's Guide' novel to be published
- Thread starter CaptJimboJones
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Hmmm, I didn't really care for So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish and had no idea there were five books in the series (thus far).
In keeping with tradition (where each book is named after a key phrase in the first volume), for a moment I thought it was going to be called "Oh No, Not Again." 
But seriously, this looks interesting, in a Sebastian Faulks sort of way.
But seriously, this looks interesting, in a Sebastian Faulks sort of way.
I cannot imagine anything I would care less about than a Hitchhiker's book written by someone other than Douglas Adams. Nothing against Eoin Colfer, whose work I haven't read, but even if it were someone whose writing I adore (like Neil Gaiman, who as Adams' friend and biographer would at least have some sort of claim, if probably not the interest), I don't think I'd want to read it.
Why? Because for me at least, the appeal of Adams' books was never just the characters (who were admittedly great fun), the plot (to the degree that there was one), or the setting (which went all over the place!) - it was Adams himself: his prose style, his wit, his sense of humour. A Hitchhiker book that doesn't have those things wouldn't feel like a Hitchhiker book to me - and a writer trying to copy Adams, even a good copy, even a great copy, could never be as good as the real thing.
I mean, that's just me. Others may disagree.
Why? Because for me at least, the appeal of Adams' books was never just the characters (who were admittedly great fun), the plot (to the degree that there was one), or the setting (which went all over the place!) - it was Adams himself: his prose style, his wit, his sense of humour. A Hitchhiker book that doesn't have those things wouldn't feel like a Hitchhiker book to me - and a writer trying to copy Adams, even a good copy, even a great copy, could never be as good as the real thing.
I mean, that's just me. Others may disagree.
It's one of those "continuation novels" that I really can't give a monkey's about.
It's one thing where it's a character or plotline that the readers care about - for example James Bond - versus when it's the writer.
So, when it's the writer (in this case Douglas Adams)... There's only one of him or her. It's not going to be a Douglas Adams book cos Eoin Colfer isn't Douglas Adams. End Of.
It's one thing where it's a character or plotline that the readers care about - for example James Bond - versus when it's the writer.
So, when it's the writer (in this case Douglas Adams)... There's only one of him or her. It's not going to be a Douglas Adams book cos Eoin Colfer isn't Douglas Adams. End Of.
You can file this under BAD IDEA.
I tried reading Artemis Fowl, but I threw the first book across the room in complete disgust about halfway through. There's no way I'm reading this book.
I tried reading Artemis Fowl, but I threw the first book across the room in complete disgust about halfway through. There's no way I'm reading this book.
Meh. It can't be any worse than the wretched "Mostly Harmless".
I have a feeling this will go as well as the "New Foundation Trilogy."
^^I think the question was about single-author novel series.
I always thought the better parts of the books were more in the amusing little asides, and Adams' clever way of wording things, than in the actual plot; I don't see any point in trying to revive it with another author.
Quite.
Even DH himself was reportedly unhappy with how MH turned out. He must have been in a really shitty mood when he wrote that novel, given how utterly depressing its ending is.
I hope Eoin manages to salvage the shattered remnants of HHGTTG's story with the sixth novel.
I must be in the minority, but I loved both So Long, and Thanks for the Fish and Mostly Harmless, but I'll admit they're not as strong as the first three. But then I also think Life, The Universe, and Everything is the best.
This won't be the first time a book in the HGTtG universe has been written by someone other than Adams. The novelization of the computer game Starship Titantic, which was based on a throwaway line in Life, The Universe, And Everything, was written by Terry Jones in 1998.
That book was alright, but (and this is my biggest fear for And Another Thing...) it seemed like Jones was trying too hard to emulate Adams' style, with limited success.
That book was alright, but (and this is my biggest fear for And Another Thing...) it seemed like Jones was trying too hard to emulate Adams' style, with limited success.
The phillistines!
Don't these cretins realise this is sacrelige ?Pin-stripe barbarians!
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