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Wish You Were Here: The Official Biography of Douglas Adams

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I have read every book published under Douglas Adams' name. I read WISH YOU WERE HERE because Douglas Adams (DNA) is one of my favorite authors and I feel that his death is a tremendous loss to the art of the written word. But unlike most his devoted readers, my favorite DNA novel is THE LONG DARK TEA TIME OF THE SOUL. I have read it more times than I can count. Why?

During my life as student, I was compelled to study systems theory. The systems theory developers have a very long tradition of being terrible writers - making systems theory much more complex than it should be. I struggled though reading Parsons, Pinus and Minihan - among many others. When I became a college professor, I did my best to clarify systems theory to my students. It was at that time; I read THE LONG DARK TEA TIME OF THE SOUL and learned that Dirk Gently employs an ecological systems model in his search for the truth. I had an epiphany. My mind became clear and I was able to explain systems theory in a coherent manner. DNAs' language and application of this theoretical framework enabled me to become a more effective professor. In the early days of email (circa 1987-89), I emailed DNA to explain how I was employing his novel in the classroom. I was absolutely shocked. He replied to me and wanted more information. His email was a real thrill!

Webb does a excellent job of drawing a picture of the creator of Dirk Gently, Ford Prefect, and Zaphod Beeblebrox (among others). I enjoyed and was quite surprised to learn about Adams' approach to writing. As a reader, his writing appears to be an effortless joy, but he struggled to write. The effect of his father on his writing and lifestyle was both intriguing and insightful. The reader will immediately recognize the admiration that Webb has for Adams and become acutely aware of the pain the author feels with Adams' departure. I deeply miss him also.

Lastly, I fear that the publisher is doing a very poor job of marketing it. I only learned about WISH YOU WERE HERE because it was given to me as a gift. I hope that Amazon will use their data base to let SF readers know about this fine biography.

"Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun"; there on a inconsequential rock revolving around this insignificant star, Douglas Adams used humor to place the importance of earthlings in the Einstein Universe. Nick Webb in turn provides insight into the life of Mr. Adams, the brain behind such classic tales as The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; don't panic there is still time if you ignore your digital watch to read the amusing novel and its wacky sequels or catch the TV series. The well-written biography is parts irreverent (Mr. Adams must have provided divine guidance for that inclusion) and parts insightful especially on his subject's prim and proper British education and during the artistic period of starvation, overwork, and fame. Though obviously targeting Ford Prefect fans, Nick Webb does a masterful job giving insight into Adams during the time he wrote the Hitchhiker-Python-Who scripts in the late 1970s.

Harriet Klausner

It's such a shame that Douglas Adams left this world before his time. Perhaps he would have decided that an autobiography on his life would be a good idea. Because while, without one, we can get by on books like "Wish You Were Here" by Nick Webb, nothing quite replaces Adams' own voice.

Webb writes the biography as well as can be under the circumstances. He has obviously gone to a lot of work interviewing and getting information from the people Adams worked with, was friends with, and knew growing up.

Read "Last Chance To See" first, for a first hand account of some of Adams' adventures (plus, it may just be his best book!)... then pick this up to read. The breadth of the information is astonishing.

It's a rare treat to find a book where every paragraph is a delight to read. And that's not counting the ones by Douglas Adams himself. "Wish You Were Here" is a testimony to a giant of a man - outsized in more ways than one. At over 196 centimetres, Adams was an intimidating figure. It's even more intimidating to encounter the breadth of his mentality. As Webb explains, Adams developed an incipient interest in science, became a proficient [if spendthrift] guitarist and learned just how final extinction is. He was a man attracted to new ideas, even to the extent of creating an Internet company that went beyond just being another dot.com. His personal interests were equally wide and intense. Given how soon after Adams' death this book was published, it's remarkably complete and sensitive to the survivors.

If he'd done nothing but HHGG, Adams would be fondly remembered. As Webb notes often, Adams was too inventive and broad-minded to be limited to a single theme. Still, when you start off by considering the universe, you can only scale downward. Webb, who has a fine humorous style of his own, follows the life and tribulations of Adams with careful attention. He understands, as a flexible publisher should, that the craft of writing and production schedules are an uneasy liaison. The legends of Adams ability to procrastinate are common, but Webb points out that Adams' desire for perfection in his craft was at least as strong as his receptivity to diversion. His friends were nearly as important as his writing, and a long, liquidy lunch was both pleasurable and intellectually stimulating. Webb's own discussions with his subject were as often about deep philosophical questions as about the business of publishing.

The author demonstrates how fervently Adams sought to have HHGG transposed into film. It's almost disappointing to note that no British firm was even approached to undertake the task. Given that the BBC-TV production was such a success, even though Adams himself felt disappointed in it, filming it there might have boosted the industry in the UK. Hollywood's special effects seemed to hold sway, even though BBC-TV's production was done with "old-fashioned" transparencies. That the film was made, even to mixed reviews, is one of the deep and tragic ironies of this account. Adams was unwilling or unable to perceive the vagaries of dealing with the Hollywood moguls. He wasn't a screenwriter - his first draft proved far too lengthy - and making the transition proved endlessly difficult.

Adams' legacy is enduring, as Webb notes in his conclusion. Answer any question with "42" and you will almost certainly be granted a smile of recognition. The conversation will turn to favourite scenes or characters. Hitchhiker's [and the placement of the inverted comma remains a subject of discussion] was a phenomenon. Such things don't easily fade away. Webb is to be congratulated for helping perpetrate the marvel of Adams, even if the image is a bit smudged. The author makes a sincere effort to trace the origins of his subject's thinking, but much of that remains anonymous. That Richard Dawkins was a strong influence is now a given, but other sources likely lie in Adams own reading regimen. It wasn't Dawkins who put Adams on to astrophysics, one assumes. Little shortcomings of this sort don't detract from the immense value of this work. Webb's skills as an author, and one with such affinity for his subject more than overcome whatever might be lacking. It's a tribute to Adams, his circle of friends and to all us readers alike. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

This book really made me want to put it down and reread THE SALMON OF DOUBT by Douglas Adams instead. Since I still have THE SALMON OF DOUBT, I will reread it. That's why I still have it.

WISH YOU WERE HERE. The Prologue was so boring that I didn't feel like reading any further. But I love Douglas Adams and the book is roughly 350 pages, so I decided I'd read at least 35 of them before I quit. Not the best way to read a book, is it? The information about Adams is good, but there was something I just wasn't liking. At page 75, I felt ready to describe what it was.

1) Nick Webb, obviously a fan who "gets it" regarding Douglas Adams, tries to be irreverently humorous in the Douglas Adams style, with footnotes worthy of Terry Pratchett. One reviewer, quoted on the back cover, feels it's an effort worthy of Adams. I just find it tedious. Long-winded, pointless, and distracting, because Douglas Adams he ain't. 350 pages could be 250 pages if he'd just get on with it.

2) Webb rightly concludes that some biographies, such as this one, can be told better if strict chronology is abandoned. But then he doesn't tell it better because he knows so much more about his subject than we do. He needed a good solid edit by someone barely familiar with Douglas Adams who would only see what's on the paper, not what's in Webb's head. Without such an editor, I don't always know what Webb's talking about. I can figure it out later, but I don't want to work that hard. I want to enjoy reading about Douglas Adams. Yes, they were in a hurry to get this published as soon after the great man's death as possible -- so long and thanks for all the money -- but editing matters. This book cries out for it.

3) Webb drops names of every British celebrity he can and just assumes we'll all know who these people are. We don't. Some of us are too young, some of us are too old, and some of us aren't British. So unless they contribute something to the story, why confuse us? When I read, I don't want laundry lists. We're all buying this book to read about the man on the cover, Douglas Adams. The only shopping list I'll read is my own. Write, dammit!

With those two reflections formed in my mind, I felt ready to persevere to the end. Again, it's about Douglas Adams. And so are quite a few wonderful Wikipedia entries, I'm sure. I wish the author, the publisher, and the friends and family of Douglas Adams had worked a little harder to raise a book about the man above that level.

After I wrote the above paragraphs, I resumed my reading and positively fell in love. I kept finding spots where I wanted to grab Jan and repeat stuff to her. The style started clicking and it was everything I wanted it to be. I felt Douglas Adams coming through loud and clear on every page, as he damn well should. Congrats to the biographer for a job well done. So what the hell happened before? Padding added later to reach an arbitrary word count? Is this the price I pay for pre-ordering it before publication? (Yeah, it's been on my shelf a long time.)

So I guess my advice is to buy a later printing, maybe a paperback, at which point one hopes it's been edited another time or two. It's a great book about a great man, written well and a pleasure to read. Oh, and get A SALMON OF DOUBT too. It may Douglas Adams' finest work, even though it was assembled from his notes after his death. I wish I was that editor.

Biographies are written every day, but not everyone deserves one (i.e. Hollywood talentless starlets, hairy 80s rock stars etc. etc.). Douglas Adams , on the other hand, is a right person in this case - he had it all - wit, talent and lust for discovery. While purely British slang and references will most likely be lost on European and American readers, there's still a lot of interesting facts about Mr. Adams in Nick Webb book. He's presenting Adams as an intelligent and very tactful man, not without his faults, but very interesting person nonetheless. I'm sure that Mr. Adams would've been proud of this biography.

A worthy addition to any library containing the rest of Douglas's books. Since his untimely passing, I'm afraid this is as close as we'll come to reading any work even remotely reminiscent of Douglas. Nick Webb does a great job, manifests prodigious levels of research and has a similar sense of humour to Douglas. It's a sad read, despite being funny, but I'm loathe to finish it - I've been stuck on the last few dozen pages for months now - because when I do, it's over.

Cheers Mr. Adams and thanks for the effect you've had on my life.

Length:: 0:35 Mins

In 1965, at the age of twelve, he was so taken with the boys' comic, 'Eagle,' and Dan Dare, an intrepid space pilot whose origins lay in the fighter aces of WWII; week by week, he would fight to save the universe from evil. His major work published in 1979, THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY, grew out of that fascination.

First, it started as a radio series in March, 1978, in England which evolved into a stage production by the Science Fiction Theatre of Liverpool. It was published in October, 1979, with an initial run of 60,000 copies, which sold instantly. Pan Publishers "reprinted and reprinted again, then again. Within three months the book had sold a quarter of a million units, the first hundred thousand in only four weeks, and it had been number one in the 'Sunday Times' paperback bestseller list since publication. It was reviewed everywhere. Philip Oakes interviewed Douglas at length in the all-important 'Sunday Times' and it was an instant success."

It became a cult phenomenon read around the world. It "proves mathematically that there is nothing in the universe. If the universe is, as many cosmologists believe, infinite then any quantity; no matter how chunky, divided by infinity tends to zero. Confusingly there are many different varieties of infinity recognized by mathematicians, and many physicists believe that the univrese is finite but unbounded, a counter-intuitive notion" which demands further pondering. This is just the thing Douglas enjoyed discussing.

Written by the former editor of Pan Books, a good long-time friend of Douglas Adams who received his first Golden Pan for one million copies sold of the book in 1984, the same year he created a computer game of "Hitchhiker's Universe." A series of "universe" books followed, the trilogy being THE RESTAURANT AT THE END OF THE UNIVERSE (1980), LIFE, THE UNIVERSE AND EVERYTHING (1982), and SO LONG, AND THANKS FOR ALL THE FISH (1984). In 1994, an unabridged (6-hour) Talking Books version of all the "Hitchhiker's" novels was issued by Isis. "Douglas reads them himself with great panache." He also created another computer game, 'Starship Titanic.'

"Of life, the universe and everything, it's life such as extraordinary predicament of matter. As far as we can tell, it's hugely outnumbered by inanimate material. Einstein said that the greatest mystery of the universe is that we can comprehend it." He was a fan of the rock music groups of the 60s. In the photo section, he is shown with his collection of twenty-four left-handed guitars and playing one of them with Pink Floyd's group on his 42nd birthday.

He especially liked Procol Harum's "Grand Hotel" and "A Whiter Shade of Pale" (one of my favorites which dominated the singles charts in 1967). In 1996, he declared, "I have loved Gary Brooker and Procol Harum ever since nearly thirty years ago when they suddenly surprised the world by leaping absolutely out of nowhere with one of the biggest hit records ever done by anybody at all ever under any circumstances. They then surprised the world even more by suddenly turning out to be from Southend (England) and not from Detroit as everybody thought."

Douglas died in May, 2001, in California where the movie was in the works. "It is an irony too obvious to labor that the film is once again on the stocks and looking more probable than at any moment in the last twenty years." Finally, in 2003, even after a quarter of a century, a fine tribute was paid to THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY when it was "selected by the British public as one of its all-time top one hundred reads in BBC TV's 'The Big Read; indeed it was in the top ten. This book is as fresh today as when he wrote it so painfully all those years ago."

Kevin Davies was more than a fan. Not only did his timely intrusion help Pearce Studios with the graphics contract, he produced the props for the ill-fated Rainbow Theatre show and was closely involved in the creation of THE ILLUSTRATED HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY. He also produced and directed THE MAKING OF THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY. The movie was filmed by Disney/Spyglass Entertainment productions with the Jim Henson Workshop designing the robot; released in 2005 starring Martin Freeman (Adams had wanted Hugh Grant) and a large cast -- a fitting tribute to the author. He was listed in the credits as a producer.