Customer Reviews

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Tertiary Phase (BBC Radio Full-Cast Dramatization)

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When I heard they were going to continue the radio series, I found myself being both extremely happy and a little puzzled. After all, Douglas Adams has been dead for a number of years.

I grew up listening to the original radio show and have gone to sleep with it playing for more nights than I can count. As far as Tertiary Phase goes, it is certainly better than all 53 things you can do in zero gravity and is more exciting than a zerbra crossing.

If your a big fan of the original two series, these are the things you need to know: The voices are different but the same! Sadly, Peter Jones died in 2000, before the series was recorded so the voice of the book is a different actor. However, despite the differences in voice the new actor does a comendable job. Despite Peter's passing, they have managed to get all the same actors back again. Mark Wing-Davey as Zaphod, Simon Jones as Arthur, and even Stephen Moore for Marvin. While it's awesome that they all came back, you can tell how much they have aged. Zaphod's beech-bum style of talking sounds oddly strange coming from an "old man's" tone of voice. Despite this, all the actors bring the same great performances they did in the original.
There's also a bit score for this series which is a good addition.

Dirk Maggs, who is this series producer has managed to create Douglas' world again without making it seem like someone other than Douglas was creating it.

All in all, if you enjoyed the first two series, I am certain you will enjoy this one. And for those of you just looking at this because you saw the movie or read the book, get the Radio Show and listen to it now! (Be sure to get the other parts first).

As a fan of the original radio series from way back, I was delighted when I heard that the BBC was going to do 6 more radio episodes with the original cast. Unfortunately, this is like listening to a reunion concert of an old rock group -- they try, but they can't recapture the original energy, and their new material isn't as good as their old hits. To be sure, there are some wonderful bits scattered throughout these 3 hours (such as "Bistro Math"), but not enough to make up for a lot of tedium, either from lackluster gags or overlong scenes that simply wear out their welcome. Much of this is due to the material itself, given that HHGTHG after its first original six episodes became something of a shaggy dog story. Still, the "secondary phase" had a manic energy, perhaps because all concerned were in some sense working with a proverbial gun to their heads, scrambling to come up with the next episode and get it on the air, mixed with great chemistry in the cast. That sort of energy just can't be recaptured, and the chemistry is gone. Although Arthur Dent remains a solid anchor, Zaphod sounds like a tired old shell of himself, and Ford, with little to do, isn't firing on all cylinders. Marvin, who was always a one note gag, isn't funny this time -- we heard the joke enough before. None of the nice sound effects and production can compensate for what's missing in the script and performances.

Bottom line: I can't imagine ever listening to these episodes a second time, which to me is the ultimate gauge of whether you should spend this much money to buy audio entertainment (much less invest 3 hours listening to them all). The old episodes on the 4th listening are still more enjoyable than these are on the 1st listening. You can't go home again.

Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy returns to the radio in this BBC Radio production of HHGG: The Tertiary Phase. The "Tertiary Phase" is a radio adaptation of Adams' third Hitchhiker's Guide novel Life, The Universe and Everything. Producer Dirk Maggs and his cast have put together a very good, highly entertaining production of Book Three. Many of the original cast from the first two Hitchhiker's radio series have returned, including Simon Jones as Arthur Dent, Geoffrey McGivern as Ford Prefect, Mark Wing-Davey as Zaphod Beeblebrox, Susan Sheridan as Trillian and Stephen Moore as the terminally depressed Marvin the Paranoid Android. Other cast members include Richard Griffiths, Joanna Lumley (of Absolutely Fabulous), Chris Langham as well as cricket commentators Henry Blofeld and Fred Trueman. The late Douglas Adams himself voiced the character Agrajag, a creature who has lived many lives, only to have each one ended accidentally at the hands of Arthur Dent, although Agrajag believes Arthur is deliberately murdering him each time. The storyline picks up where the previous radio series left off, as Arthur and Ford escape prehistoric Earth on a space-time eddy manifested in the form of a sofa. They arrive at Lords Cricket Ground where a group of homicidal robots who strangley resemble cricketers proceed to blow the place up. Arthur and Ford reunite with Slartibartfast and embark on a mission to save the Universe from these xenophobic murderers from the planet Krikkit. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Tertiary Phase is a hilarious adaptation of Book Three in the Hitchhiker's Guide series, and I look forward to the Quandary and Quintessential Phase radio adaptations of Books Four and Five.

This is probably my favorite Hitchhiker's item ever! It helps, however, to have already read Douglas Adam's "Life, The Universe and Everything" because the 3 CDs seem to cover most of that book. Although it seems to just be an audiobook, these CDs were actually part of the BBC radio series for Hitchhikers. Even a television series was made based on the radio series, which also can be found on a 2-disc DVD set - so buy it too while you're at it!

The voice acting on these CDs is fantastic! Everything is just as expressive and imaginative as the books are. You can just feel those Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters (they hurt - a lot)! My favorite part is where Douglas Adams himself plays the scary, psychotic Agrajag. The sound effects add to it all to make the mental images crystal clear. If you like the Hitchhiker's feel, then this is definitely for you! Arthur is still stumbling through space with Ford Prefect and Slartibartfast, but they'll need Zaphod and Trillian's help to save the galaxy from the murderous people of the planet Krikkit! Can Marvin the paranoid android stop sulking long enough to stop the cricket-bat-carrying, grenade-ball-wielding robots? These CDs are perfect for a long car ride, and they're even better for making that ride to work extremely hoopy (extremely wonderful and a general happy feeling)! I hope you'll enjoy them just as much - especially all you froods who know where your towel is!

Sometimes people get stuck of something they like and expect the next effort to be the same. Other time people get mad at the new effort for being the same as the last.
Personally I find the Tertiary Phase has all the same of the old and great new stuff to enjoy.
This version of the book "Life, the Universe and Everything" harkens back to the original radio shows. Most of the original cast is back as well as small tribute to Adams by using some of the voice over he used in a book on tape. There are great elements such as the party the never ends, The man who gets an award for the most gratuitous use of the word #@%@%$%, the kriquett warriors, bistro math(a mathematical method that is based on how to split up a check at a restaurant) and such. It is a great buy and I recommend trying to get the first two parts as well.

When I found this item on the audiobook rack at my local bookstore (the one with the cafe stapled onto it) it took me at least an entire minute to figure out what it was I was looking at. I thought it must be a reissue of the original radio episodes (from 25 years ago) or a new reading by somebody or other. Gradually it dawned on me like a sledgehammer through molasses that this was an all-new radio series based on the third Hitchhiker's book performed by the (surviving) original radio cast, four years after the untimely death of author Douglas Adams.

"Mine," I judged as soon as I sorted out just what the hell it was. I was delighted to find that Stephen Moore was still alive and had returned to voice Marvin the Paranoid Android again. Peter Jones has unfortunately passed on, but makes a posthumous appearance in this new series, as does Douglas Adams himself!

From the moment I popped it in my CD player and began listening to it, tears bubbled into my eyes. Here again was that wonderful old theme song (an Eagles tune, isn't it?) and, my God, the same BBC announcer from 25 years ago! Okay, so I first heard the original shows fifteen years ago, but still, did I expect to ever hear another series?

Ultimately I've loved this Tertiary Phase. Adams wrote the first episode (before getting distracted by Hollywood again) and the entire series is well done. The music and sound effects are all you could hope for. The original cast is again brilliant and sound almost exactly as they did 25 years ago. The new cast members are excellent as well, with Richard Griffiths (Mr. Dursley from the Harry Potter movies and Swelter from Gormenghast) taking over the role of Slartibartfast. I've listened to the whole thing four times now, and like it better with each listening.

The worst I could say critically is that the pace is the tiniest bit sluggish, the performances the slightest bit geriatric, the energy just a little less than the original shows, and the humour, well, a tad bit less. Not enough to affect my rating however. I've been dying to know if the BBC was going to do adaptions of the final two Hitchhiker's books...

...and they have! The Quandary and Quintessential Phases have already been broadcast, with the same cast and producers as the Tertiary Phase. They should both be available commercially within the next six months or so. Just enough time for me to have another bath.

This BBC radio performance is fantastic. A disasterously incomprehensible last act does little to diminish the return of Hitchhikers in pure form. The return of the "real" Arthur Dent and friends (Simon Jones et al) is a welcome and amazing experience, and the soundscape is a perfect match to the original Hitchhikers' series from so many moons ago -- which is really amazing when you consider that the old series was put together on old fashioned magnetic tape. The sonic environment of the Hitchhikers universe is as curious as you may remember it - and even a bit improved upon, as more advanced stereo means you can even hear characters circling one another, or running about through the swishy tall grass of a field trying to catch a fast-moving couch, or engaging in repartee with their other head (for those who have more than one).

Not as funny as the original series? Perhaps, but Douglas Adams' books evolved through the years, becoming more philosophically searching (his fascination with the possible comedic implications of quantum mechanics on mere mortals) and less slapstick. And frankly I am pleased that this evolution in tone is carried through to this radio rendition. Though make no mistake, this series is still a comedic romp.

I've just listened to this Teriary Phase and am immediately ordering up the next two Phases courtesy of Amazon.co.uk. It saddens me that author Douglas Adams is no longer with us, but his cast and crew have made the best possible gift of his talents to the rest of the world through this performance. Bravo.

Anyone who has read the last three Hitchhiker books can instantly see how cleverly this new series has managed to stay both faithful to the source and as close as a 27 year gap will allow to the style of the original radio series. These shows pack in to their running length as much Douglas Adams brilliance as humanly possible (to the extent of the series on CD running nearly a whole episode longer than the broadcast version). They mix the actors who created the leading characters, state-of-the-art sound effects and cinematic music (some would say a far more appropriate score than that of the recent Hitchhiker movie).

Where these episodes differ from the style or substance of the original radio series is either unavoidable (because people get older, it doesn't mean they suddenly lose their acting ability), or deliberate (Douglas Adams apparently insisted that any inconsistencies between books and original radio episodes should be kept).

The new casting has works magnificently, blending the enduringly brilliant actors who originally created the characters with equally well-picked "new" voices, adding new flavors to the Hitchhikers landscape. Finally the music adds exactly the 'cinematic rock album' feel that Adams always said he wanted for Hitchhikers.

There are some "old series" Hitchhiker listeners who cannot deal with any Adams universe that is not of their memory's creation. But these new series are most emphatically of Douglas Adams's creation. They are for forward-looking, open-minded Hitchhiker fans, and are a more-than-worthy successor to their forbears.

Now available in the U.S. for the first time, The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy: The Tertiary Phase is the audiobook radio dramatization of the third volume of Douglas Adams' "trilogy in five parts". Originally published in print as "Life, the Universe, and Everything", and adapted to a full-cast radio play featuring the late Douglas Adams himself in the role of Agrajag, The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy: The Tertiary Phase follows unlikely protagonists Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect in a bizarre quest to find their way home, towel themselves off and save the Universe, not necessarily in that order. Side-splittingly funny, featuring 6 complete radio episodes specially extended for CD, The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy: The Tertiary Phase is an absolute "must" for true fans of Adams' classic comedy series. 3 CDs, 3 hours 10 minutes.

Can't beleve how good Hitchhiker's Guide is on CD, (given first impressions of the film)!

Somehow it taps into precisely that opposite sphere of the brain to the one used while driving and gives it loads of interesting titbits to mull over. The production is superb and only The Mighty Boosh is really comparible for sheer imaginative vividness.

This particular episode includes the 'Cricketer' robots (who attack everything in sight), the starship Bistromath (runs on the mathematical principles of a restaurant) and that famous bit where the villain sugests that the, should the universe be explained, it will be replaced by something even more bizarely inexplicable (some say this has happened already).

Furthermore, it stars the inimitable Richard Griffiths and a man who knows the question to the meaning of life, the universe and everything.

Definitely recommended listening!