Comments on: Book Review: “And Another Thing…The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy part Six” http://popdose.com/book-review-and-another-thing-the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-part-six/ your daily dose of pop culture Thu, 24 May 2012 18:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: davidpirtlehttp://popdose.com/book-review-and-another-thing-the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-part-six/comment-page-1/#comment-58207 davidpirtle Thu, 08 Apr 2010 01:52:51 +0000 http://popdose.com/?p=38120#comment-58207 I wonder if I'm the only person who loved Mostly Harmless..I thought it was the most interesting, if not the funniest book of the series, and i thought that the ending was perfect...sort of the hitchhiker equivalent to Seinfeld's series finale when everyone ends up incarcerated together. <br><br>The new book tries really hard, but that's what makes it difficult to enjoy, in my opinion. It was more enjoyable once Colfer stopped trying to convince everyone that he respected Adams's characters and stories and started writing his own. There were genuinely good parts, in my opinion...the God interviews was my favorite..but the meat of the book was, while not exactly bad, just sort of bland...<br><br>The only unforgivable part of the book was what he did with Wowbagger, my favorite bit player of the series, turning him into some sort of handsome (if bitter) love interest rather than the decidedly alien, abjectly depressed wanderer lost in the 'long dark tea time of the soul.' I wonder if I'm the only person who loved Mostly Harmless..I thought it was the most interesting, if not the funniest book of the series, and i thought that the ending was perfect…sort of the hitchhiker equivalent to Seinfeld's series finale when everyone ends up incarcerated together.

The new book tries really hard, but that's what makes it difficult to enjoy, in my opinion. It was more enjoyable once Colfer stopped trying to convince everyone that he respected Adams's characters and stories and started writing his own. There were genuinely good parts, in my opinion…the God interviews was my favorite..but the meat of the book was, while not exactly bad, just sort of bland…

The only unforgivable part of the book was what he did with Wowbagger, my favorite bit player of the series, turning him into some sort of handsome (if bitter) love interest rather than the decidedly alien, abjectly depressed wanderer lost in the 'long dark tea time of the soul.'

]]> By: Hannah GChttp://popdose.com/book-review-and-another-thing-the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-part-six/comment-page-1/#comment-50504 Hannah GC Thu, 07 Jan 2010 02:00:20 +0000 http://popdose.com/?p=38120#comment-50504 I've watched the clip, I've read the reviews and still I'm left with one major unanswered question; why???? Why carry on with the series? <br>Why take someone else's story so far, someone else's characters, someone else's jokes and essentially someone else's idea, (after that someone else has, indeed, been dead a good few years) and say; 'You know what? I'll write my own new book to continue that long-since well concluded, and much beloved series'? Why?<br><br>The point is no one needed to write this. Douglas Adams wrote Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It's already been done. It's finished. And very funny it was too, thank you very much indeed Mr Adams. As a great work Adams's originals in all their forms have a longevity of their own without the need for re-introducing it. No one, not even younger audiences(!?), need to read some regurgitated idea. If they want to read Hitch Hiker's, then they will read Douglas Adams's Hitch Hiker's series; written, funnily enough by Douglas Adams.<br><br>What a dreadful idea it is to continue combing in the cash from a concluded, modern classic work.<br><br>I can only 'argh' in an impotent irritation - aaarrrrgggggghhhhhhh! I've watched the clip, I've read the reviews and still I'm left with one major unanswered question; why???? Why carry on with the series?
Why take someone else's story so far, someone else's characters, someone else's jokes and essentially someone else's idea, (after that someone else has, indeed, been dead a good few years) and say; 'You know what? I'll write my own new book to continue that long-since well concluded, and much beloved series'? Why?

The point is no one needed to write this. Douglas Adams wrote Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It's already been done. It's finished. And very funny it was too, thank you very much indeed Mr Adams. As a great work Adams's originals in all their forms have a longevity of their own without the need for re-introducing it. No one, not even younger audiences(!?), need to read some regurgitated idea. If they want to read Hitch Hiker's, then they will read Douglas Adams's Hitch Hiker's series; written, funnily enough by Douglas Adams.

What a dreadful idea it is to continue combing in the cash from a concluded, modern classic work.

I can only 'argh' in an impotent irritation – aaarrrrgggggghhhhhhh!

]]> By: Hannah GChttp://popdose.com/book-review-and-another-thing-the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-part-six/comment-page-1/#comment-48009 Hannah GC Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:00:20 +0000 http://popdose.com/?p=38120#comment-48009 I've watched the clip, I've read the reviews and still I'm left with one major unanswered question; why???? Why carry on with the series? <br>Why take someone else's story so far, someone else's characters, someone else's jokes and essentially someone else's idea, (after that someone else has, indeed, been dead a good few years) and say; 'You know what? I'll write my own new book to continue that long-since well concluded, and much beloved series'? Why?<br><br>The point is no one needed to write this. Douglas Adams wrote Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It's already been done. It's finished. And very funny it was too, thank you very much indeed Mr Adams. As a great work Adams's originals in all their forms have a longevity of their own without the need for re-introducing it. No one, not even younger audiences(!?), need to read some regurgitated idea. If they want to read Hitch Hiker's, then they will read Douglas Adams's Hitch Hiker's series; written, funnily enough by Douglas Adams.<br><br>What a dreadful idea it is to continue combing in the cash from a concluded, modern classic work.<br><br>I can only 'argh' in an impotent irritation - aaarrrrgggggghhhhhhh! I've watched the clip, I've read the reviews and still I'm left with one major unanswered question; why???? Why carry on with the series?
Why take someone else's story so far, someone else's characters, someone else's jokes and essentially someone else's idea, (after that someone else has, indeed, been dead a good few years) and say; 'You know what? I'll write my own new book to continue that long-since well concluded, and much beloved series'? Why?

The point is no one needed to write this. Douglas Adams wrote Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It's already been done. It's finished. And very funny it was too, thank you very much indeed Mr Adams. As a great work Adams's originals in all their forms have a longevity of their own without the need for re-introducing it. No one, not even younger audiences(!?), need to read some regurgitated idea. If they want to read Hitch Hiker's, then they will read Douglas Adams's Hitch Hiker's series; written, funnily enough by Douglas Adams.

What a dreadful idea it is to continue combing in the cash from a concluded, modern classic work.

I can only 'argh' in an impotent irritation – aaarrrrgggggghhhhhhh!

]]> By: DwDunphyhttp://popdose.com/book-review-and-another-thing-the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-part-six/comment-page-1/#comment-47945 DwDunphy Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:44:43 +0000 http://popdose.com/?p=38120#comment-47945 True. Colfer's idea of funny seemed to go no farther than how rude his wild names could get. There can be only one Slartibartfast. <br><br>Pratchett could have done it. Even Neil Gaiman, who wrote Adams' biography <i>Don't Panic</i>, could have mustered enough lopsided intrigue to have made the proposition interesting. I still have to believe Adams destroyed all the Earths in <i>Mostly Harmless</i> for a reason, as if to say, "After this, no one could possibly be stupid enough to ask when the next book is coming out."<br><br>D'oh! True. Colfer's idea of funny seemed to go no farther than how rude his wild names could get. There can be only one Slartibartfast.

Pratchett could have done it. Even Neil Gaiman, who wrote Adams' biography Don't Panic, could have mustered enough lopsided intrigue to have made the proposition interesting. I still have to believe Adams destroyed all the Earths in Mostly Harmless for a reason, as if to say, “After this, no one could possibly be stupid enough to ask when the next book is coming out.”

D'oh!

]]> By: breadalbanehttp://popdose.com/book-review-and-another-thing-the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-part-six/comment-page-1/#comment-47942 breadalbane Wed, 06 Jan 2010 01:06:40 +0000 http://popdose.com/?p=38120#comment-47942 I agree with all the points you made, Dw. One additional point that you didn't make, though, was this: All the attempted jokes in this book fall flat. All of them. Some with a damp squeak, others with a resounding thud, but every single one of them fails to deliver. It's actually kind of an impressive achievement in a singularly bloody-minded sort of way. <br><br>For me, if a sequel had to be written, the obvious author to have done it would have been Terry Pratchett. Of course, Pratchett doesn't need the money, or the bother, and probably rightly figures that there's not much point to the exercise. <br><br>By the way, if you watch the interview with Colfer, I entirely agree with his initial reaction to the proposed project. I agree with all the points you made, Dw. One additional point that you didn't make, though, was this: All the attempted jokes in this book fall flat. All of them. Some with a damp squeak, others with a resounding thud, but every single one of them fails to deliver. It's actually kind of an impressive achievement in a singularly bloody-minded sort of way.

For me, if a sequel had to be written, the obvious author to have done it would have been Terry Pratchett. Of course, Pratchett doesn't need the money, or the bother, and probably rightly figures that there's not much point to the exercise.

By the way, if you watch the interview with Colfer, I entirely agree with his initial reaction to the proposed project.

]]> By: hagenhttp://popdose.com/book-review-and-another-thing-the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-part-six/comment-page-1/#comment-47859 hagen Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:04:06 +0000 http://popdose.com/?p=38120#comment-47859 Hm... maybe. I meant by 'gets Adams' that an author ought to at least try to be witty, random, and somewhat British. Also, true to the characters. Sure, Random was a little shrew in "Mostly Harmless," but she wasn't shrill like Coifer's version. It'll be quite a task to produce another Douglas Adams, but I'd be happy to read another adventure that was, as you say, "funny and entertaining," Mr. Plant. The chances of that happening are probably better if the author can somehow get into the mindset of Douglas N. Adams. Hm… maybe. I meant by 'gets Adams' that an author ought to at least try to be witty, random, and somewhat British. Also, true to the characters. Sure, Random was a little shrew in “Mostly Harmless,” but she wasn't shrill like Coifer's version. It'll be quite a task to produce another Douglas Adams, but I'd be happy to read another adventure that was, as you say, “funny and entertaining,” Mr. Plant. The chances of that happening are probably better if the author can somehow get into the mindset of Douglas N. Adams.

]]> By: DwDunphyhttp://popdose.com/book-review-and-another-thing-the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-part-six/comment-page-1/#comment-47852 DwDunphy Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:46:03 +0000 http://popdose.com/?p=38120#comment-47852 I don't even need it to be an author who gets Adams, as heretical as that sounds. If there's an author who can take these characters and roll them into a story both funny and entertaining, the rest will supply itself. Otherwise, I have no desire for yet another stone-cold drag of a novel such as this was. Does anybody remember laughter? I don't even need it to be an author who gets Adams, as heretical as that sounds. If there's an author who can take these characters and roll them into a story both funny and entertaining, the rest will supply itself. Otherwise, I have no desire for yet another stone-cold drag of a novel such as this was. Does anybody remember laughter?

]]> By: hagenhttp://popdose.com/book-review-and-another-thing-the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-part-six/comment-page-1/#comment-47837 hagen Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:37:09 +0000 http://popdose.com/?p=38120#comment-47837 Oh, what a stinker of a book. And I had the displeasure of hearing Simon Jones (THE Simon Jones) read it, and he sounded like a stern disciplinarian throughout the book... not that I think it's entirely Jones' fault. Eoin Coifer, whose other work I've never read, robs the characters of their character and the series of its humor. Granted, "Mostly Harmless" wasn't the funnest book in the series, either, but it didn't feel like a homework assignment that was neglected until the last minute and then worked on all night until the first bell of class. By Coifer's tale, Random is now a horrid little twerp with no redeeming values, Trillian is a sucker mom who has no link to the strong, smart Trillian of the other books, Zaphod is stupid, stupid, stupid (and only sly when it's obvious), Ford is like that uncle you never really want to call because he won't say anything worth hearing and you don't really care much about him, and Arthur is ineffectual and impotent, except for the times when he's not, which make me wonder if Coifer wrote certain chapters in different seasons and forgot to check them against each other for continuity. The plot, which was never one of Adams' strongest points, is tepid, which somehow makes the book all the worse. Coifer doesn't quite get the idea of the asides (Guide Notes, or whatever it was he called them in this book) and how to use them for comedic effect instead of obvious blitherings. "And Another Thing..." came across like a network sitcom from the past ten years, and it was agony. I tried reading some of it to see if it was somehow all Simon Jones' fault, but when I finally found a bookstore that would stock it, Simon Jones was redeemed, and Eoin Coifer was not.<br><br>If it is decided that a seventh book of the trilogy is necessary (and I really hope it is), hopefully it will be written by somebody who gets Adams. Oh, what a stinker of a book. And I had the displeasure of hearing Simon Jones (THE Simon Jones) read it, and he sounded like a stern disciplinarian throughout the book… not that I think it's entirely Jones' fault. Eoin Coifer, whose other work I've never read, robs the characters of their character and the series of its humor. Granted, “Mostly Harmless” wasn't the funnest book in the series, either, but it didn't feel like a homework assignment that was neglected until the last minute and then worked on all night until the first bell of class. By Coifer's tale, Random is now a horrid little twerp with no redeeming values, Trillian is a sucker mom who has no link to the strong, smart Trillian of the other books, Zaphod is stupid, stupid, stupid (and only sly when it's obvious), Ford is like that uncle you never really want to call because he won't say anything worth hearing and you don't really care much about him, and Arthur is ineffectual and impotent, except for the times when he's not, which make me wonder if Coifer wrote certain chapters in different seasons and forgot to check them against each other for continuity. The plot, which was never one of Adams' strongest points, is tepid, which somehow makes the book all the worse. Coifer doesn't quite get the idea of the asides (Guide Notes, or whatever it was he called them in this book) and how to use them for comedic effect instead of obvious blitherings. “And Another Thing…” came across like a network sitcom from the past ten years, and it was agony. I tried reading some of it to see if it was somehow all Simon Jones' fault, but when I finally found a bookstore that would stock it, Simon Jones was redeemed, and Eoin Coifer was not.

If it is decided that a seventh book of the trilogy is necessary (and I really hope it is), hopefully it will be written by somebody who gets Adams.

]]> By: hemisphirehttp://popdose.com/book-review-and-another-thing-the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-part-six/comment-page-1/#comment-47807 hemisphire Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:41:06 +0000 http://popdose.com/?p=38120#comment-47807 I thought it was still better than "Mostly Harmless". I thought it was still better than “Mostly Harmless”.

]]> By: jackhttp://popdose.com/book-review-and-another-thing-the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-part-six/comment-page-1/#comment-47794 jack Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:32:47 +0000 http://popdose.com/?p=38120#comment-47794 I'll stick to my leather bound copy of the original Adams novels. I'll stick to my leather bound copy of the original Adams novels.

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