Archive for the ‘The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy’ Category

The Meaning of Liff

3, Nov 2009

The question of the ultimate answer to life, the Universe and everything is the hallmark of the first book, I think, and it is such great fun to first discover the cleverness of the answer being 42. It was fun the first few times I read it, fun the first time I saw it portrayed [...]

Hey Earthman, You Hungry, Kid?

3, Nov 2009

Time went by in a blur. Faster than light.
One moment we were standing there, gazing at the ruin of not a particularly nice home perched upon its expanse of West Country farmland. The next, there was a Vogon reading poetry. Then, with a thump from Improbability Drive and the Heart of Gold, we were wrapped [...]

One Down, Four to Go

2, Nov 2009

I can’t believe how quickly this is going. I also can’t believe how much trouble I’m having keeping up with the reading. “This will be no sweat,” I thought, mere weeks ago. “Fifty pages per week, and from a series of books I already love and enjoy? Easy!”
My only explanation is that I had some [...]

The Mostly Harmless Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster (a Recipe)

23, Oct 2009

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy says the best drink in existence is the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster. That may be so, but the ingredients are a bit exotic these days, since the crash and all. I mean a reasonable substitute for Ol’ Janx Spirit is no problem: George Dickel. Naturally. But just try to [...]

Arthur Dent on the Radio

22, Oct 2009

I had completely forgotten that Arthur Dent works in radio. It’s revealed in the very first few pages, right after it’s revealed that he is about thirty years old. This makes me realize two slightly startling things.
First: I am now Arthur Dent’s age. I remember reading this book for the first time when I was [...]

Beware of Leopards

21, Oct 2009

On this particular Wednesday…
The remarkable aspect about the sign – “Beware of Leopards” – is that if I saw it, I have no doubt that I couldn’t stop myself from opening it. At the very least, peering in for a quick look-see. Of course, venue would loom over my decision. If I were at the [...]

I feel like I’m in college again.

18, Oct 2009

I truly feel as though I’m in college again. Regardless, I didn’t finish my homework; I’ve a few pages left to read. However, as it’s late on Sunday, I’m getting this in under the wire. Also, as I was thinking of what I was going to write, I was drinking beer out of a Solo [...]

A Sensory Guide to the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

16, Oct 2009

As is the case with most books, my copy of the Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which conveniently contains all the books in the series along with a bonus short story, has glowing endorsements printed on the back cover. Mine has two, and only one of them really explicitly deals with the book itself.  “With [...]

…and Away We Go!

12, Oct 2009

Here we are: October 12, 2009. 30 years ago, the people of Earth first got their hands on a novel called The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Now, three decades later, the Hitchhiker Marathon begins, our small tribute to it and its four sequels by Douglas Adams.
So, open your books to the first chapter, and let’s [...]