The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
I liked The
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy so much that it inspired me to write my
first book, Clash of the Figments,
which was supposed to usher me into my own Douglas Adams prime-time era. It didn’t work out that way, but not because
of anything the Guide did wrong.
What makes HHGTTG so odd is that it’s a truly funny novel,
and that’s no small feat. The problem
with comedy is that when it’s done well it looks effortless, so people tend to
think that it is effortless and don’t
give it the credit it’s due. I would
suggest that it’s a whole lot easier writing good drama than good comedy, which
makes what Douglas Adams did that much more remarkable.
If Ford Prefect’s conversation with the bulldozer driver at
the beginning of the book seems totally logical to you, keep going. If not, walk away. My guess is you’ll keep going. Most people do. Just stay away from the movie; it was terrible.
And when you finish it, Don’t Panic! – there are three sequels that are almost as good.
(also: the rest of
the 4-book trilogy; Tobacco Road; God’s Little Acre,
Catch-22)
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