I'm one cool hoopy frood,

[AlexS]

Was loaned the 1st 3 books by a delightful young lady I'd met at a youth hostel. Bought copies, and they were the first 'adult' books we gave to the kids - oldest must have been about 10. I like to think those books shaped their senses of humour permanently.

[bitingmidge]

We have the full radio series on Casette, used to play them endlessly on long car trips.....

Between the Guide and the taped version of The Princess Bride, it's hard to see the need for any other form of in-flight entertainment for kids or their parents for that matter.

Cheers,

P

[Christopha]

Was loaned the 1st 3 books by a delightful young lady I'd met at a youth hostel. Bought copies, and they were the first 'adult' books we gave to the kids - oldest must have been about 10. I like to think those books shaped their senses of humour permanently.

Similar story, my eldest son loves the series, he is 22 in 2 weeks and his baptism of fire with adult(?) books was THHGGTTG and he was queued up in Melbourne to see it. A great way to introduce ones kids to reading which is a real passion/ addiction of mine.

[Driver]

Can't remember precisely when I first read the original book. Very early in the piece for sure because we were still living in England at the time and the original radio series was being broadcast on BBC radio. (Incidentally, the Guide's voice for both the radio and original TV series was, I think, Peter Jones).

I've read all the books several times since then. That's my personal test of literary worth: if I'm inclined to re-read anything it has to ring loud bells for me and Douglas Adams' work certainly does. I reckon he's had a significant influence on a fair number of contributors to this BB. Just read a selection of the posts on any subject and you pick up hints and nuances from the Guide. (... and as for the characters, plot lines and scenarios in the various Woodies' Yarn contributions - distinctly sub-Adams, without a doubt).

Having said all that and on a different subject entirely:

May The Schwartz Be With You!

[bitingmidge]

Just returned from the pitchas.

The audience CLAPPED when it was over!

I almost cried when the first credit rolled, a black screen with a simple white "For Douglas", (but I didn't!).

Hope they don't follow it up.

P

[silentC]

I reckon he's had a significant influence on a fair number of contributors to this BB.

No question about it. Until HHG came along, it was pretty much Monty Python and the Kenny Everett Video Show down my way. All very funny but very, very silly. When we got onto the guide, everyone had their noses in the book (which was a good thing because no-one wanted to read Wuthering Heights or The Glass Menagerie) for weeks, reading and re-reading the best bits.

Ideas like 'Somebody Else's Problem' and the war that started because of something Arthur said at a party being relayed through a worm hole and meaning something insulting in someone else's language - just so many funny ideas that were silly on the surface but twisted your brain in knots trying to work them out. Then when you got into the Dirk Gently books, there was a whole other level of stuff going on. I still don't think I get the ending of the first one.

Yep, definitely a genius. And he wrote episodes for Doctor Who too!! (one of his was on ABC recently). Here's a bit of trivia - his script for a potential Doctor Who movie called "Doctor Who and the Krikkitmen" eventually became the third book "Life, the Universe, and Everything".

[Iain]

Here's a bit of trivia - his script for a potential Doctor Who movie called "Doctor Who and the Krikkitmen"

Here we go, a series on alien underarm bowlers

[AlexS]

Thanks for the revue...I was afraid that it would get the American treatment and all subtlety would be lost, along with the humour. Looking forward to seeing it now in light of the good reports.

I wuz wrong :eek:

Just been to see HHG2G and am still P'ing m'self laughing. They've done an excellent job on this movie, and if you're a fan of the radio play, book etc., you'll enjoy this. Even SWMBO, who must be the last person on this earth who hasn't read the books, enjoyed it.