The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

[Blue_Chill]

I've never seen a discussion of Douglas Adams great series here on DU. So I made this thread.

42.

Thoughts?

[Screaming Lord Byron]

1. Hear about the new Radio Broadcasts?

I posted about them the other week. That died a death.

[Wonk]

2. Oh freddled gruntbuggly thy micturations are to me

As plurdled gabbleblochits on a lurgid bee.
Groop I implore thee my foonting turlindromes.
And hooptiously drangle me with crinkly bindlewurdles,
or I will rend thee in the gobberwarts with my blurglecruncheon,
see if I don't!

[alphafemale]

3. Love those books. Some of the greatest comic writing ever.

What's this about a radio series?

[Screaming Lord Byron]

4. This - Hitchhiker's Guide Returns to Radio.

It's not Doctor Who, specifically, but this is one of those wonderful times where we don't care because the news is so good. Production has begun on the "tertiary phase" of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, radio adaptations of the third, fourth and fifth books in the late Douglas Adams' landmark series of novels chronicling the adventures of everyday Earthman Arthur Dent and his intergalactic pals. Adams, who passed away in 2001, had spent time as Doctor Who's script editor back in the 1970's; the third novel, "Life the Universe and Everything" was an adaptation of his aborted film script "Doctor Who and the Krikkitmen". According to the BBC Cult site, episodes are being taped and will begin airing on Radio 4 in the spring of 2004. The independent company Above The Title gained the rights to adapt Adams' novels; the six-part adapation of "Life" will be aired in the spring, and an eight-part combined adaptation of "So Long and Thanks for All the Fish" and "Mostly Harmless" follows late in 2004. Says Adams biographer M.J. Simpson, "People have been talking for years about a feature film or a new radio series, but for both to be announced within a month of each other is, to coin a phrase, infinitely improbable," referring to recent plans for a film adaptation as well. The series is written by Dirk Maggs (who's written previous radio serials featuring Batman, Superman, Spider-Man and Judge Dredd, plus several Agatha Christie serials via Above the Title). The five main cast members have reunited for the radio drama: Simon Jones (Arthur Dent), Geoffrey McGivern (Ford Prefect), Mark Wing-Davey (Zaphod Beeblebrox), Susan Sheridan (Trillian) and Stephen Moore (Marvin), joined by the original radio series' announcer John Marsh. Also cast are William Franklyn (the Book), replacing the late Peter Jones, and Richard Griffiths (Slartibartfast). Adams himself will appear as Agrajag (a cameo he favoured playing) thanks to recordings made for Dove Audio's unabridged book readings. No word on how Maggs will dovetail the new drama into the previous series (it ended in a very different place than the second book, "The Restaurant at the End of the Universe," did)... but of course, with Hitchhikers, anything is possible. One downside: Paddy Kingsland apparently mentioned at Panopticon that he wouldn't be a part of the new radio series. "Every sci-fi fan wants their old show to be reborn," says Simpson. "Fans of Doctor Who have a new series to look forward to, and Thunderbirds fans have a feature film – but Hitchhiker’s Guide fans have both."

[PAMod]

5. Sorry, I can't participate until I've had a "pan galactic gargle blaster"

or three.

Or at least a couple of jynnan tonnyx.

[dolo amber]

6. I've posted this before

but it looks like it may be time for another round...;)

Which Hitchhiker's character are you?

http://www.geocities.com/Nashville/Opry/9992/quiz/quiz.html

Mine is right on! :D

You have demonstrated a strong affinity for the character Ford Prefect.

This implies, among other things, that you have a great love of alcohol (if not, a matching tolerance for its affects), a creative mind (although your research skills may be a little lacking) and the extraordinary ability to travel the galaxy on only thirty altarian dollars per day (slightly more if you actually go to Ursa Minor Beta). Loyal to - and protective of - your friends (if not the universe) and extremely generous to those you admire (even if you have no taste in cars), you are well liked by all (even if you are almost immediately annoying). You are the froodiest.

Some words of advice: Your towel. Don't Leave Home Without It.

[Kenneth ken]

7. ~