Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Turns 42
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My initial exposure was maybe tow/thirds (or maybe an episode and a half) of the original radio series when it reached NPR here in the US. I had read about a quirky British sci-fi radio series within the pages of StarLog and how it was coming to America to NPR. I recall the short column article described it as "Star Trek meets Monty Python". (Yes, I'm aware that comparison is a gross disservice to Adams' wit, but the columnist was obviously trying to provide a simple "hook".)
Why just so short a sampling? Well, I could not find the local NPR affiliate on the radio for the longest time, WFSU. When I finally did, it was well into the episodes. Arthur and a companion (unique to the original radio narrative) were exploring an underground tunnel when they discovered the strata of material was not rock, but instead, compressed layers of shoes. The problem was that the station was in Tallahassee, Florida, roughly 40 miles away and the reception was absolutely wretched! The signal continually faded in and out, drowned by static. I tried following weeks to no avail. What I got that one (or maybe two) time(s) was apparently a fluke of weather conditions.
My first proper introduction came when a community college professor gave me a hardback copy of "The Restaurant at the End of the Universe". He caught an American Lt class and he had us turn in short "creative writing" segments for each class. For "shiggles" (with is approval) I started "novelizing" the movie "Forbidden Planet". (At the time I was not aware there existed an official novelization.) Each class I submitted a few paragraphs that opened the story. (I particularly had fun with the bit when Cookie wonders if Robbie is male or female.) Anyway, those scribbling must have impressed the prof' because he gave me the second novel of the series.
I think I obtained the first book before I saw the 6 part BBC live action mini-series.
For the longest time I could not understand how Adams "supposedly" made such a fundamental mathematical error, and that it got repeated between the second novel and the BBC show. I speak , of course, about the "Scrabble bag" incident while on primitive Earth. I guess I was just too literal minded to comprehend the joke, that their untimely arrival so borked up the computations that "the program" tried to claim "6 times 9 equals 42". Naïve me.
Why just so short a sampling? Well, I could not find the local NPR affiliate on the radio for the longest time, WFSU. When I finally did, it was well into the episodes. Arthur and a companion (unique to the original radio narrative) were exploring an underground tunnel when they discovered the strata of material was not rock, but instead, compressed layers of shoes. The problem was that the station was in Tallahassee, Florida, roughly 40 miles away and the reception was absolutely wretched! The signal continually faded in and out, drowned by static. I tried following weeks to no avail. What I got that one (or maybe two) time(s) was apparently a fluke of weather conditions.
My first proper introduction came when a community college professor gave me a hardback copy of "The Restaurant at the End of the Universe". He caught an American Lt class and he had us turn in short "creative writing" segments for each class. For "shiggles" (with is approval) I started "novelizing" the movie "Forbidden Planet". (At the time I was not aware there existed an official novelization.) Each class I submitted a few paragraphs that opened the story. (I particularly had fun with the bit when Cookie wonders if Robbie is male or female.) Anyway, those scribbling must have impressed the prof' because he gave me the second novel of the series.
I think I obtained the first book before I saw the 6 part BBC live action mini-series.
For the longest time I could not understand how Adams "supposedly" made such a fundamental mathematical error, and that it got repeated between the second novel and the BBC show. I speak , of course, about the "Scrabble bag" incident while on primitive Earth. I guess I was just too literal minded to comprehend the joke, that their untimely arrival so borked up the computations that "the program" tried to claim "6 times 9 equals 42". Naïve me.
For what it's worth, if you consider the equation as not being in Base 10, but rather in Base 13, 6 times 9 does equal 42.
Dude, I had no idea that (a) there had been a radio series and then, obviously (b) that it had preceded the books. That's why I love this place.
I think my favorite moments are evenly split between (1) the outrageously loud concert in the desert for which the crowd has to be miles away and the artists have to radio in their performance and (2) the flower pot and "Oh, no—not again." But then there are literally all of the Marvin moments, so it gets quite difficult.
Going on the hunt for the radio bits now!
I think my favorite moments are evenly split between (1) the outrageously loud concert in the desert for which the crowd has to be miles away and the artists have to radio in their performance and (2) the flower pot and "Oh, no—not again." But then there are literally all of the Marvin moments, so it gets quite difficult.
Going on the hunt for the radio bits now!
I just realized I've read the book, seen the TV series, listened to the radio play, seen the movie and played the computer game but I've never gone beyond Hitchhiker's itself.
There is also the LP version. It's being reissued on CD later this year. The radio versions are my favourites and I have them on CD. I never managed to get around to seeing the stage version.
And a halfway decent compilation from a halfway decent film:
The radio show was first (and was good!), but the original novelization had me in hysterics. The TV and film versions were decent as well, but the books just had more meat to them.
The radio show was first (and was good!), but the original novelization had me in hysterics. The TV and film versions were decent as well, but the books just had more meat to them.
I always loved the design of the infographics.
A Hitchhiker's Guide inspired Doctor Who bit, complete with a Peter Jonesy style narration.
Yeah, the radio series stretched the whole Shoe Event Horizon bit (which took a paragraph in the original book) to like an episode and a half. IIRC, the scene with Arthur's statue was part of that.
That bit actually confused me, to be honest. Zaphod and the others are in one of the statue's ears and he says he can't see the ground. How the hell?
No matter how high up they were, they should be able to see it.Oh well, maybe there was fog or something...
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That's brilliant! How have I never seen that before?!
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