Douglas Adams, writer and knower of the meaning of life, died yesterday as the result of a heart attack. He was only 49.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Obit-Adams.htmlDamn.
I was shocked and upset when I heard this news, but knew better than to ask why. I am sure that, were it possible to ask him, his answer would be, "what do you get if multiply six by nine?" He was, as I am, a fan of the Arsenal Football Club, and I hope that the team's poor performance in the FA Cup was not responsible for bringing on the heart attack.
Thanks for all the fun, Douglas, and so long.
Sad day indeed.
Dear man. Wonderful stories.
So long, Doug. Hope to see you at the cafe at the end of the universe.
the Encylopedia of Science Fiction ('93) entry for Adams says that his last published work was "Mostly Harmless" in 1992. What had he done since then?
Sparteye>>
Douglas Adams, writer and knower of the meaning of life, died yesterday as the result of a heart attack. He was only 49.
I have not read any Douglas Adams. It is a long story, but I am at least 20 years behind in my reading list.
I commiserate with the feeling of sadness you feel.
Will it hurt if I ask you to please give me a quote of your most favorite paragraphs from his ouevre?
Also, my husband is very interested in astronomy. Will he appreciate a copy of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" for his birthday which is coming soon?
chronist
What had he done since then?He had been working to arrange a movie of
HHG, as well as setting up
http://www.h2g2.com a sort of online Guide. He was also involved in creating a computer game,
The Starship Titanic, and was involved in conservation efforts related to
Last Chance To See
Will it hurt if I ask you to please give me a quote of your most favorite paragraphs from his ouevre?
The only thing it would hurt would be my copyright liability, since I'd have to quote the entire Hitchhiker series. My favorite concept was his creation of a method of faster-than-light travel through the use of restaurant mathematics: you know, the mathematics of dividing a restaurant check among the people at the table which defies all existing laws of science, nature and man.
Also, my husband is very interested in astronomy. Will he appreciate a copy of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" for his birthday which is coming soon?
Hitchhiker is best appreciated by someone who has read some other SF first, since a lot of what Adams did parodies SF writing conventions. Still, I know people who have read Hitchhiker as an early foray into the SF genre, and they have enjoyed it quite well. And, since your husband is an astronomer, I'm thinking that many of the concepts in the books would have him rolling on the floor. Get it for him, and then you can read it!
Will it hurt if I ask you to please give me a quote of your most favorite paragraphs from his ouevre?
I am sorry. I have just been browsing through my Guide files, but have reached the same conclusion as Sparteye. I would have to paste all of them, at least all of the first four books of the trilogy. One of the many gems I admire is his description of Vogon spaceships as, "hanging in mid-air in much the same way bricks don't" - to me, a wonderfully evocative phrase. I am not a particularly piratical person, but I do have the entire radio series on my hard drive in RealMedia format, and would happily pass them on to anyone who wants to listen to them.
It's a sad day, indeed. Especially since he was only a year older than me. All of a sudden, I feel my mortality a little more sharply. Then I bethink me of Bill Hunt ...
tsuwm asks what Douglas Adams had written recently. The answer is at best amorphous, and I refer you to:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=books&field-author=Adams, Douglas/102-3433212-8346539as being the best demi-answer I can come up with.
With all the will in the world, I have to say I regard Douglas Adams as a one-hit wonder to some extent, as was Frank Herbert with the Dune series. HHGTTG was an
idea first and foremost, one of the few truly new ones to emerge in the genre for many years. And it caught the popular imagination through the radio series, the TV series and the books themselves.
Adams was one of the first authors to use science fiction as the basis for hilarious comedy about current issues, rather than the other way round. He dealt with it brilliantly. And it is very
British humour. Even in Zild, there are people who just don't get the joke.
And no one has done it better since.
The series (six books in the trilogy) are probably more widely known than any other similar type of book. Once when I was giving a reasonably important presentation to a client's management team and the video projector failed to start, I muttered "Must have been built by the Syrius Cybernetics Corporation." as I struggled with the damned thing. Nearly everyone in the room laughed - they all knew what I meant.
I don't think I can come up with a "favourite" passage, Wordcrazy. There are so many. But I guess if I had to pick one, it'd be the HHGTTG's explanation of the Babel Fish and logic, which goes:
'The Babel fish,' said The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy quietly, 'is small, yellow and leech-like, and probably the oddest thing in the Universe. It feeds on brainwave energy received not from its own carrier but from those around it. It absorbs all unconscious mental frequencies from this brainwave energy to nourish itself with. It then excretes into the mind of its carrier a telepathic matrix formed by combining the conscious thought frequencies with nerve signals picked up from the speech centres of the brain which has supplied them. The practical upshot of all this is that if you stick a Babel fish in your ear you can instantly understand anything said to you in any form of language. The speech patterms you actually hear decode the brainwave matrix which has been fed into your mind by your Babel fish.
'Now it is such a bizarrely improbable coincidence that anything so mindbogglingly useful could have evolved purely by chance that some thinkers have chosen to see it as final and clinching proof of the non-existence of God.
'The argument goes something like this: "I refuse to prove that I exist," says God, "for proof denies faith, and without faith I am nothing."
' "But," says Man, "the Babel fish is a dead giveaway, isn't it? It could not have evolved by chance. It proves you exist, and so therefore, by your own arguments, you don't. QED."
' "Oh dear," says God, "I hadn't thought of that," and promptly disappears in a puff of logic.
' "Oh, that was easy," says Man, and for an encore goes on to prove that black is white and gets himself killed on the next zebra crossing.
'Most theologians claim that this argument is a load of dingo's kidneys, but that didn't stop Oolon Colluphid making a small fortune when he used it as the central theme of his best-selling book Well That About Wraps It Up For God.
'Meanwhile, the poor Babel fish, by effectively removing all barriers to communication between different races and cultures, has caused more and bloodier wars than anything else in the history of creation.'The world will be a poorer place without the creator of such household names as Zaphod Beeblebrox, Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Slartibartfast, the Improbability Drive, Marvin the Paranoid Android, the Encyclopaedia Galactica, and, of course, the
fictional Max Quordlepleen. May where he's gone be as funny as the worlds of his imagination!
But I guess if I had to pick one, it'd be the HHGTTG's explanation of the Babel Fish and logic, which goes:
And the weirdness continues unabated. When looking for my "favourite" passage, I went first to that very same section, and only decided against it because of its length. Synaptic synchronicity, very hoopy.
I was somewhat surprised to find that altavista's Babelfish translation site makes no reference to the passing of the one who gave it its name.
"Good morning", said Deep Thought at last. "Er... good morning, O Deep Thought", said Loonquawl nervously, " do you have... er, that is..." " An Answer for you?" Deep Thought interrupted majestically. " Yes. I have." The two men shivered with expectancy. Their waiting had not been in vain. " There really is one?" breathed Phouchg. " there really is one", confimed Deep Thought. "To Everthing? To the great Question of Life, The Universe, and Everything?" Yes." Both of the men had been trained for this moment, their lives had been a preperation for it, they had been selected at birth as those who would witness the Answer, but even so they found thenselves gasping and squirming like excited children. " And you're ready to give it to us?" urged Loonquawl. " I am" "Now?" "Now," said Deep Thought. They both licked their dry lips. "Though I don't think," added Deep Thought, "That you're going to like it." "Doesn't matter!" said Phouchg. "We must know it! Now!" " Now?" inquired Deep Thought. "Yes! Now..." "All right" said the computer, and settled into silence again. The two men fidgeted.The tension was unbearable."You're really not going to like it" observed Deep Thought. "Tell us!" "All right," said Deep Thought. "The Answer to the Great Question..." "Yes...!" "Of Life, the Universe, and Everything..." said Deep Thought. "Yes...!" "Is..." said Deep Thought, and paused. "Yes...!" "Is..." "Yes...!...?" "Forty-two" said Deep Thought, with infinite majesty and calm.
Who agrees with me that Adams should have been Knighted, since his name doesn't look as though he was.
jimthedog
Hate to stick a fish in your ear, but Encyclopaedia Galactica was actually stolen from Asimov... Foundation series. Parodying other extant SF, indeed!
BTW, I didn't know this. My roommate did. Just passing it along to set the record straight...
Hate to stick a fish in your ear, but Encyclopaedia Galactica was actually stolen from Asimov... Foundation series. Parodying other extant SF, indeed!Different publisher. Hari Seldon's was authoritative. The HHGTTG's was ... it just was/is/will be/will-on be/will have future been ...
There was one point in the book when it was predicted that the executives of the Syrius Cybernetics Corporation's Complaints Department (which covered the land masses of three medium-sized planets) would be the first against the wall when the revolution came. A copy of the
Encyclopaedia Britannica which fell through a time warp from the 25th century confirmed that they were, indeed, the first against the wall when the revolution came.
[I think this is right, but I didn't LIU -e]
Two of his books which I haven't seen mentioned are, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency and The Long, Dark Tea Time of the Soul. Both of which I found funnier than the later books in the 6-book Hitchhiker's trilogy. Despite, the humour, they had some very useful advice. One such passage was on the Zen art of driving. If you are lost, you follow someone that you are pretty sure is going where you want to go. I have used this technique without fail a few times (god forbid I ask for directions!)
Both of which I found funnier than the later books in the 6-book Hitchhiker's trilogy
Agreed. I thought that the last two books in the Guide series were rather disjointed, a little like poor hybrids of The Guide and Dirk Gently, as if he wasn't sure which series he was writing sequels for.
Yes, "So Long and Thanks for All The Fish" starts out okay - slagging Rickmansworth is always a starter for ten - but degenerates fairly quickly. The first book - and parts of the second and third - were, however, timelessly hilarious.*
* The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, CK Edition, has this to say about timeless hilarity: 'Timeless hilarity is that state in which the diaphragm of someone laughing has contracted against the lungs in so semi-permanent a manner as to render the sufferer unable to (a) breath, or (b) remember what the dickens it was that he or she was laughing about. This is because the minute or so it takes for normal breathing to resume seems like hours, and sufferers often see what they perceive to be their entire incredibly drab and boring lives rushing before their eyes. (It is a curious coincidence that the majority of people who report this side-effect are staring out of an express train window at the exact minute it strikes.) This takes all of the fun out of the situation, every time.
'There are other, more extreme forms of timeless hilarity. cf "laughing till it hurts" and "laughing yourself to death".
'The Slannerdalath of Myxonas VIII were known to be prone to the timeless hilarity ailment, but rubbed along well enough until Zaphod Beeblebrox, then President of the Entire Galaxy, gave a lunch time speech on democracy. The entire population immediately succumbed to terminal timeless hilarity, and Beeblebrox had genocide added to his already incredibly long rap sheet.
'Timeless hilarity is therefore, ipso facto, not at all a laughing matter.'
I too enjoyed the HHGG series and herewith salut Mr. Adams.
For a great java game version of HHGG try this link. It's quite hard:
http://www.douglasadams.com/creations/infocomjava.htmlSo long and thanks for all the laughs, Doug.
It's quite hard:That's like saying that Vogom poetry is mildly unpleasant!
I have played that game often, having managed to track down an emulatior that enables me to play it offline. I
still can't get past the pathway in front of the buldozer!
I was playing the (pirated) Infocom game reprised here back in the 1980s. Except in those days the coffee was on the desk, not on the screen. Most of the time. I think a nice graphical version of it would be much less insane. No, no, it would drive me much less insane. Or something.
And I don't think I ever got past the bulldozer, either.
I was playing the (pirated) Infocom game reprised here back in the 1980s.
My first taste of it was on a friend's C64 in about 87 - 14 years later and I'm still no good at it!
(six books in the trilogy)
Six? I only have five. Or are you considering something else to be part of the trilogy that I don't have/didn't think of?
Wait up, there's....
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Life, the Universe and Everything
So long, and Thanks for All the Fish
Mostly Harmless
... what else?
Just to add my own name to the sorrow list. Hitch Hiker's Guide was one of the few radio programs of that era to hold me, and it is one of the few writings that can still make me laugh out loud. The writing worked at different levels, concept, narrative and characterisation, and the local asides and word play. An appropriate (for this board) wordplay from memory is where Arthur Dent is told by Ford Prefect that the effects of the Vogon hyper-space drive is like being drunk. "What's so bad about that?" "Try asking a glass of water". I enjoy his other books as well.
I read of Douglas Adam's death in the newspaper while I was halfway through my 5 minute warm up on the bike in the gym. Scary!
Rod
Wait up, there's....
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Life, the Universe and Everything
So long, and Thanks for All the Fish
Mostly Harmless
... what else?Those are the ones I have. Also there are the two Dirk Gently books (Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency and The Long Dark Teatime of the Sould), the Meaning of Liff and The Deeper Meaning of Liff, and Last Chance to See...My mother also gave me "Don't Panic" for my birthday one year.
I agree with other favourite quotes posted above and I also like the reference to "a liquid that tasted almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea." How many times did we all have to work that one out in our heads to get if it did or didn't taste like tea?
Sad news, indeed, for one so creative to go so young. It's been years since I've read the series, and all of the brilliant excerpts here make it clear I need to do so again.
My favorite concept from the series is the spaceship that is rendered invisible as it lands on the cricket pitch (IIRC) by a SEP field. This is the Somebody Else's Problem field, which causes anyone who happens to look at the impossibly technically advanced craft that has just appeared out of the sky and landed on Earth is Somebody Else's Problem - and thus, they ignore it.
I think the sixth HHGG "book" people are thinking of is the short story "Young Zaphod Plays It Safe", included in a lovely leatherbound omnibus edition of the first four books.
I'd just like to add a wonderful bit of description from "So Long and Thanks For All the Fish" (which I rather liked, to be honest). Describing the Californian mystic/seer/prophet/whatever Wonko the Sane: "He looked like someone had taken David Bowie and attached additional David Bowies to the arms and legs of the first David Bowie and then wrapped the lot in a dirty beach robe. He was tall and he gangled." (That's from memory, so forgive the inaccuracy)
Adams had the wonderful twin gifts of a thoroughly twisted imagination and a knack for clearly and eloquently describing the products of that imagination. We've lost a master of the language, friends. Let's all raise a glass for him when we get to Milliway's.
That was rather terrible news to wake up to on Saturday morning, I must say.
I have one of those strange stuffed animals which you win at an Exhibition, and it's named Wonko the Sane. It dates from the era (my high school years) when I first read those books.
The edition I have is the one where the first four books each have four pieces of four photos on them. Depending on how you arrange them on the table, you a towel, a running shoe, a fish, or a face (presumably Arthur's). The spines, when lined up in the right order, spell "42" in the bubbles used for colour-blindness tests. I'm quite fond of them as a set, and I am now glad I have that edition.
Farewell dear Douglas. I wafted through my early days at University on the cloud of air that emanated from my weekly radio dose of the Hitch Hikers Guide. I still think that the words on the page can never live up to the excitement of waiting for the next week's radio programme, better by far than squeeky clean, infinitive splitting,non interfering "Star Trek" or lavishly produced "Star Wars". It was the off-the-wall humour and whiff of anarchy that made "The Guide" so special for those of us at the end of our spiral arm of the Galaxy, close to a second rate sun. I will always know where my towel is. Thanks for all the fish.
Sincere condolences to Max.
It's small comfort, I realize: but maybe Max's elevation to Pooh-Bahhood upon the transmogrification of D. Adams carries with it some sort of cosmic significance.
>some sort of cosmic significance.
...or not.
-marvin
wasn't Douglas Adams the only author to have no kids and not live in surrey?
i seem to remember laughing myself hoarse over that one back in my teen years.
>some sort of cosmic significance.
...or not.
-marvin
"But the author's died out and the Pooh-Bahlet is
obviously set to replace him."
"Exactly. So do you see what this means?"
"What?"
"Cock up," said Ford Prefect.
['nuffsaid e]
Sparteye>>>>>
Also, my husband is very interested in astronomy. Will he appreciate a copy of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" for his birthday which is coming soon?
Hitchhiker is best appreciated by someone who has read some other SF first, since a lot of what Adams did parodies SF writing conventions. Still, I know people who have read Hitchhiker as an early foray into the SF genre, and they have enjoyed it quite well. And, since your husband is an astronomer, I'm thinking that many of the concepts in the books would have him rolling on the floor. Get it for him, and then you can read it!
Sparteye
After reading through this thread and the new one that MaxQ just started somewhere on this board, and pondering your thoughtful reply to my query, I am convinced Douglas Adams books will be a most welcome gift for my husband who is a scientist, who has read many SF books, and loves astronomy--why , oh, why hasn't he read any of his books?
Well, anyway, I am looking forward to stepping into a whole new world when I start reading this much-praised bobby dazzler.
chronist
I envy your husband - reader and scientist that he is - his first experience with Hitchhiker's. I suppose most people on this board can remember the first joy of their discoveries of treasured books. I suspect you and hubby are in for one of those experiences. Enjoy.
In reply to:
this much-praised bobby dazzler.
This much-praised what? One who dazzles policemen? One who dazzles wearers of bobby socks or bobby pins?
Bingley
In a post about Douglas Adams I mentioned that he is a much-praised bobby dazzler.
Bingley, a bobby dazzler himself, asks--
This much-praised what? One who dazzles policemen? One who dazzles wearers of bobby socks or bobby pins?
Sorry, Bingley, it was one of those words I saw while looking for another, It is supposed to be an Australian or New Zealand term for somebody who is outstanding or excellent. That is why it could apply to you , too! Aren't you glad you asked?
chronist
I'm flattered, but would like to know which bobby (or as I first typed it, booby) I'm dazzling. Any supplemental information from our North, South, or West Islanders?
Bingley
Bobby-dazzler is something which is really good, bonzer. I tried to track down provenance, but no luck, I'm afraid.
May 25th has been designated Towel Day, in nature of a wake for Douglas Adams. See
http://www.binaryfreedom.com/towelday/I just pass the information on with no comment.
Rod
May 25th has been designated Towel Day,
Excellent! I can use my official HHGTTG fan club towel, now some 12-15 years old!
Excellent! I can use my official HHGTTG fan club towel, now some 12-15 years old!Excellent! One should always know where one's towel is! And how old it is ...
Where do you get these things, Max?
jimthedog
Where do you get these things, Max?42! But seriously, check out this page:
http://www.zz9.org/contacts/index.html