Customer Reviews

Don't Panic: Douglas Adams and the "Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy"

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is part a biography of Douglas Adams, and part a description of how the different versions of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy came to be. Douglas Adams was a very interesting and intelligent man whose life was cut tragically short. The story of how his most famous work was created is almost as funny and capticating as the Hitchiker's Guide itself. We get some examples of his early work, which can be incredibly funny ("How many kamikaze missions have you flown?" "Fourteen Sir!" "Shouldn't it be just one?"). He was involved with the Monty Python group, and wrote some material for them.
I think the book should be essential not only for Hitchhiker's buffs but also for wannabes in any creative profession.

Neil Gaiman does an excellent job of capturing the style and mood of Douglas Adams, and reveals the man behind the books revered by many. This book is enjoyable, and interesting, and a definite read for anyone who loves the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The only sad part is that it's a bit short - like Adams' life. So that's a bit depressing. Otherwise, a good read!

This is a neat little book. I found the 1st edition years ago by chance in my university bookstore and bought it. When this revised edition (with some new material) was released, I snapped that up as well and re-read it.
Basically, think of this as the book equivalent to a "Bonus Features" DVD. It's jam packed with odd little stories and insights into the making of the Hitchhiker's universe (all media: radio, records, books, & TV). Die-Hard Adams fans will enjoy this.
And the fact that this happens to be compiled by Neil Gaiman, one of my other favorite writers, is just an added bonus.

Neil Gaiman and the associated writers cover Douglas Adams and the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy well. First there is an explanation of how Adams came up with the title "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" in 1971, then a brief biography of Adams from childhood to the period just before he wrote Hitchhiker's Guide. He always wanted to write since the age of ten when he received a rare perfect score from his composition teacher. However, Adams had trouble keeping up with deadlines, so his papers were usually late. He appeared in school plays and developed a love for performing. After watching Graham Chapman on TV, Douglas decided that he was going to be a writer-performer like Chapman. Adams later attended Cambridge University after winning a writing contest, there he joined the legendary Footlights performing society. Unfortunately, he didn't fit in there because the ideas he submitted to the group were rejected as being not particularly funny. But he kept trying and formed a small troupe with two other students, one named Smith and the other Adams. They called themselves Adams, Smith and Adams and were known for putting on sketches like the educated railway brakeman who tied up the line trying link existentialism with the switching system. After that he gave performing to write. He wrote several sketches for radio shows after that, some memorable, others forgettable. But in 1977, Adams came up with the script that would make him famous. He took the title that he dreamed up in 1971 and paired with with the story of a man driven from his planet (which was destroyed for a better path for spaceships) and forced to wander the galaxy with a reporter for the Guide. Adams submitted the script outline to the BBC and they approved it in March. One month later Adams completed the first script and submitted that hoping for a quick production agreement (and payment). However, the BBC staff spent the summer on vacation and didn't get back to Adams until August. In desperation he also submitted the script to the Doctor Who show, hoping that they would buy it. They didn't, but asked him to write some scripts for them. So when the BBC approved the production of six episodes of The Hitchhiker's Guide, poor Douglas found himself drowning in work for two different shows (but now he was a known writer and after The Hitchhiker's Guide was broadcast he became famous).

I wasn't really expecting this kind of amazing compilation of materials and I loved being able to read some of the original cut scripts and here about ideas which were later discarded. I have listened to the radio series and watched the TV series and I really likes Gaiman's portrayal of the behind the scenes drama, as well as some sneaky information on how they got it all done. I also love the snippets we get about Adams working style (disorganised) and his personal life (baffled) because I am terribly nosey and love getting to know more about my favourite authors. I love Gaiman's other work, particularly The Graveyard Book, and expected nothing less than amazing and I was not disappointed.

This is a creditable survey of Adams writing and production of his most famous (and some not so famous) works. It has a brief section on Adams' school writings - he got the only perfect score on one writing assignment a teacher had ever handed out - and from there to college, radio, television, and computer games.

I thought the treatment of the text adventure games was particularly interesting, taking one back to a world where authors were critical to the design of a computer game.

The discussion of the politics around making the BBC television show was also interesting and rang true.

There is not a lot of depth in much of the analysis of the texts, nor is there much psychological analysis of Adams himself. It mostly focuses just on how the various texts were finally produced. But it yields valuable insights into Adams nonetheless.

DON'T PANIC: DOUGLAS ADAMS & THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY appears in a new, updated edition to celebrate the life and work of Douglas Adams. Here Gaiman covers all of Adams' work, from Doctor Who scripts to his famous Hitchhiker originals through their book, TV and radio show renditions, offering a powerful guide perfect for any Adams fan or library catering to them.

Years ago, while browsing in a book shop, desperate for something to read during lunch, I stumbled across this little book. I was a big fan of Adams but had never heard of Gaiman but decided to pick it up and give it a chance. It was well worth it as it was a great read.

Some time later, I spotted a new hardback on the shelves at the same book shop. I knew the name Pratchett and had to think for a while as where I knew the name Gaiman from and then recalled that he had written that little book called Don't Panic, so I picked it up. Haven't looked back since.

Interesting and funn at times, this book is pretty bland considering it is a biography of one of (in my mind) the greatest authors I've ever read. (I've only read about 5 different authors, however).

In Douglas Adams' own review of this book, I totally agree:

"The best biography of Douglas Adams & the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy written since this morning" - D.A.

I'd give it a miss, in retrospect. (Maybe you can buy mine).