The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

[BehemothClock]

I first  read the series about 4-5 years ago when I found a huge compilation of all 5 books in my basement. I finished it the very weekend I found it, and I loved every moment of it. Recently I decided to re-read  them. I finished the first 4 books and they were as good, if not better, than when I first read them. Then I got to Mostly Harmless. After reading it again I have decided that I could have done without reading it.

Sure, the ending to So Long and Thanks for all the Fish was a tad bit on the melancholy side, but at least Marvin was able to come to some sort of peace with himself before he died. It also left you to imagine what kind of crazy adventures that Arthur and Fenchurch would go on. At the end of Mostly Harmless I felt as though Arthur died as a thoroughly disappointed person. The only part of MH that I enjoyed was the part with Ford in the Guide office. But even that was a bittersweet moment. Sure, Ford was being his wacky self, but the guide had changed from a fun loving group of people into a big nasty corporation.

And sorry if that just seemed like ramblings. It had been on my mind for the past few days and I felt like I needed to vocalize it. Please feel free to share your own opinions on the matter.

[zl]

That one does have a really interesting shift of tone from the rest of the series.  It's less wacky and carefree...but it has a number of very wise moments.

I like it in a different way than I like the rest of the books.  It seems a bit more important, even.

[BootClock]

It's been a couple of years since I've read mostly harmless but I recall differently that in fact when Arthur died he was some what at peace.

Also, personally, I felt it concluded the series well, if not, in the greatest way possible, with the final destruction of the earth I feel that it rolls up the plot nicely to bring conclusion to the original issue at hand.

I thought it was good, of course, this is just my opinion.

[BehemothClock]

That one does have a really interesting shift of tone from the rest of the series.  It's less wacky and carefree...but it has a number of very wise moments.

I like it in a different way than I like the rest of the books.  It seems a bit more important, even.

I guess I'm just trying to compare it to the other 4 in terms of humor, I suppose that I don't like to think of those characters in a more serious light.

It's been a couple of years since I've read mostly harmless but I recall differently that in fact when Arthur died he was some what at peace.

Also, personally, I felt it concluded the series well, if not, in the greatest way possible, with the final destruction of the earth I feel that it rolls up the plot nicely to bring conclusion to the original issue at hand.

I thought it was good, of course, this is just my opinion.

At the end of the book it does seem as though Arthur is happy, but I can't imagine how he would be. He has a daughter who may or may not hate him. The mother of his child is Trillian who turned into the universe's biggest bitch. And the woman who he had fallen in love with in the previous book literally disappeared.

And yes I agree that the final destruction of earth was the only way that the series could have been resolved, I just wish that Arthur hadn't had such a hard time getting to that point.

[beebles]

DNA wanted to write one more hitchhiker novel because he didnt like the low ebb the series ended on. Obviously he's taking a few years dead for tax reasons at the minute and hasnt had a chance to finish it up.

[INoodleClock]

It you like Douglas Adams get yourself a copy of Dirk Gently - the book which was in progress when Adams died was hinting that Dirk and Arthur Dent were to meet. CLIFF-HANGER. How dare he die while writting something so epic.. guess we'll never know.

[beebles]

It you like Douglas Adams get yourself a copy of Dirk Gently - the book which was in progress when Adams died was hinting that Dirk and Arthur Dent were to meet. CLIFF-HANGER. How dare he die while writting something so epic.. guess we'll never know.

.

[BootClock]

It you like Douglas Adams get yourself a copy of Dirk Gently - the book which was in progress when Adams died was hinting that Dirk and Arthur Dent were to meet. CLIFF-HANGER. How dare he die while writting something so epic.. guess we'll never know.

I read Holistic Detective Agency and Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul and this did not appear to come up. Or is this supposed to be in that rough manuscript that he was working on when he died?

[INoodleClock]

I read Holistic Detective Agency and Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul and this did not appear to come up. Or is this supposed to be in that rough manuscript that he was working on when he died?

It was a manuscript for a new Hitchikers he was working on. You can download it somewhere apparently.

[INoodleClock]

Just started Dirk Gently. ^^

[TequilaClock]

I guess the only thing remaining is to invent your own ending by what it gathered so far.

I have always wanted to start reading these after watching the movie. Cleverness overload.

[INoodleClock]

Such as the Babel fish, it's a standard term for translation now. This is why good sci-fi is great to read; clever people, expressing clever ideas in a creative form - that's the juice of life right there.

See also Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov

[Professor Lord Remmington]

I'm not sure if you've been able to pick up the special edition of the enite HHGTG Series, which is very ingeniously compressed into on very large, very heavy book, including all the origianls, the manuscript, the radioseries notes and a few sort stories.
At the start Douglas Adams talks a little about his life up to the point where he he wrote the book and the pressures he faced trying to get it turned into a movie, He also adds in a disclaimer about the 5th book (mostly harmless) in which he states that the final book condtradicts not only everything previously written, but chapters 7,8,9,10 and 11 of the radio series as well as itself.
Though personally I loved the last book, it wrapped everything up in a happy slightly confusing ball and ment I could think happy thoughts and get on with my life.
Arthers Dead and the Earth has been demolished, Douglas Adams is also dead so thats it, no more sleepless nights wondering what will happen next, its gone, its over, it stopped on a high.
At least it didn't fall down a cliff and die when the fanboys and buisnessmen in suits try to take it over, as is the way with all Sci-Fi series.

[Pin Clock]

Started this recently, just finished the first book and loved it.

[Munglai]

The main thing that I didn't like about Mostly Harmless was the Fenchurch was kicked out of it without so much as a goodbye and I really liked her. I read it knowing that it wasn't intended to be the for definite last book and that was all fine but I felt that Fenchurch got a bit of a shit deal.

[Professor Lord Remmington]

Well, if she had remained her and Arthur would of proably gone off on some crazy whacky adventure togther involving lots of romantic couple stuff, flying and drinking milkshake, or whatever you average love children do with each other, the result,  mildy predicatble slightly interesting novel with an annoying end

[Munglai]

Well, if she had remained her and Arthur would of proably gone off on some crazy whacky adventure togther involving lots of romantic couple stuff, flying and drinking milkshake, or whatever you average love children do with each other, the result,  mildy predicatble slightly interesting novel with an annoying end

No it wouldn't because Douglas Adams had an imagination. I'm not saying they should have stayed together and had a romantic couple adventure, she could have got abducted or seduced or eaten or anything but she literally just vanishes at the beginning of the book for no reason other than Douglas Adams not wanting to write about her and that's a pretty shitty thing to do to an already developed character that the readers may (I know I did) have an emotional attachment too. She deserved a proper exit at the very least.

[ShotglassClock]

I thought it tied everything together pretty well, and it made sense.  It WAS a completely different feel though, which I guess was the point.  When it was finished, and I closed the book, I felt like it really was a complete story.  Some stories leave you with this feeling that you want to see more and know more, and it leaves you wondering, which this book doesn't really do.  It just kind of leaves you feeling like "Well, there you go.  I guess that was the way it was meant to be."  I liked it.

[HitchhikerClock]

When I was reading the last books, I was really upset at how the story was leaving it's comedy roots. It was turning into something serious and dark, and I wanted to beat somebodies face in. What happened?

Anybody who hasn't read past #3 yet, forget it. You'll end up getting your heart broken.

[TequilaClock]

You know guys you should like use fucking spoiler tags or something!? ): I was already fetching for it in the library.