I'm Reading "And Another Thing..."

[Typo Lad]

Dear G-d this is bad. Really, really bad. The pacing feels off, the characters are pastiches of themselves, and the story, if you can call it one, is about as interesting as watching milk curdle, and as enjoyable as the smell.

[Charles RB]

I presume you mean the Hitchhiker's book that's not written by Douglas Adams and thereby inherently pointless?

I read a bunch of comics today that included new Astro City, The Boys, and Guardians of the Galaxy. I had a fun reading experience. (Well, okay, the bleak destruction of Mother's Milk's family by Vought-American in The Boys wasn't "fun"... but Guardians has a psychic puppy!)

[Flamebird]

I was really hoping that this book would be good, but not expecting it to quite fit in with the rest.

Still gonna get it, just not as eager now.

[Arrogantcur]

Shit, I was hoping that it would be good because Adams wanted to write another book in the series before his death and because I hated the way "Mostly Harmless" ended. I felt like screaming "No way! You can't leave it THERE!"

[FeminineMystique]

Dear G-d this is bad. Really, really bad. The pacing feels off, the characters are pastiches of themselves, and the story, if you can call it one, is about as interesting as watching milk curdle, and as enjoyable as the smell.

THAT bad?:frown: I was afraid of that to be honest.

[Typo Lad]

Shit, I was hoping that it would be good because Adams wanted to write another book in the series before his death and because I hated the way "Mostly Harmless" ended. I felt like screaming "No way! You can't leave it THERE!"

To be fair, his reasons for WHY he ended it that way were quite good.

You should get the alternate edition they did for the radio. Quite a satisfying ending.


THAT bad?:frown: I was afraid of that to be honest.

It is actually worse than i was expecting. I thought it would at least be enjoyable.

I rarely return books.

[FeminineMystique]

To be fair, his reasons for WHY he ended it that way were quite good.

You should get the alternate edition they did for the radio. Quite a satisfying ending.



It is actually worse than i was expecting. I thought it would at least be enjoyable.

I rarely return books.

Were there ANY good bits in it?

[Night Swordsman]

I have never returned a book unless there was a defect( reprinting/omiting pages).

I have purchased ONE book by the author before. Half Moon Investigations. Good Intentions, but not enjoyable to read overall. A straight C. Never read anything else by him.

And to be honest...i never got Mostly Harmless. I didnt want to read it due to a lot of bad reviews. I am happy with the first four books.

[Typo Lad]

Were there ANY good bits in it?
No, not really.

He starts with almost 24 pages of clumsy exposition explaining how it is the characters didn't die. Except he does it by shifting focus constantly. The narrative feels off, and the "jokes" by the narrator are lame. There are "guide note" interspersed throughout as asides, instead of as genuine parts of the narrative. So instead of "You may think it's a long walk tot he chemist, but that's peanuts compared to space" you get throwaway sections about Sub-etha virtual tv series, with "references" at the end, which could be excised from the book and you would miss nothing.

Ford's character is remixed to Zaphod lite, and is basically there as an afterthought. Random is even more annoying than she was in Mostkly Harmless (she was quite fun in the Radio Finale), Trillian is a simpering, swooning fool, and Arthur is... well, Arthur is spot on in places. I have to give the guy that.

Most of the book, however, focuses on Wowbanger the Infinitely prolonged, with a bit on Thor. The Asgard scene is almost cute, but if fails because it depends on Zaphod suddenly shifting character and being brilliant.

Oh, and worst of all, there is an attempt at a "happy ending". Bleh. Also a typical Arthur Dent ending, but one that is set-up for a sequel to this forgettable work.

And Night, this book is clearly defective.

[Charles RB]

No, not really.

You missed the chance to say "when it ended", y'know.

[FeminineMystique]

No, not really.

He starts with almost 24 pages of clumsy exposition explaining how it is the characters didn't die. Except he does it by shifting focus constantly. The narrative feels off, and the "jokes" by the narrator are lame. There are "guide note" interspersed throughout as asides, instead of as genuine parts of the narrative. So instead of "You may think it's a long walk tot he chemist, but that's peanuts compared to space" you get throwaway sections about Sub-etha virtual tv series, with "references" at the end, which could be excised from the book and you would miss nothing.

Ford's character is remixed to Zaphod lite, and is basically there as an afterthought. Random is even more annoying than she was in Mostkly Harmless (she was quite fun in the Radio Finale), Trillian is a simpering, swooning fool, and Arthur is... well, Arthur is spot on in places. I have to give the guy that.

Most of the book, however, focuses on Wowbanger the Infinitely prolonged, with a bit on Thor. The Asgard scene is almost cute, but if fails because it depends on Zaphod suddenly shifting character and being brilliant.

Oh, and worst of all, there is an attempt at a "happy ending". Bleh. Also a typical Arthur Dent ending, but one that is set-up for a sequel to this forgettable work.

And Night, this book is clearly defective.

Well, at least I'll save some cash not having to buy this now.

[Typo Lad]

One good thing has come out of this... I think I'm going to partake in NaNoWriMo and try to write a book that captures the tone of the original Hg2TG, an average person finding himslf in an extrordinary world, and lots of sardonic wit.

[FeminineMystique]

One good thing has come out of this... I think I'm going to partake in NaNoWriMo and try to write a book that captures the tone of the original Hg2TG, an average person finding himslf in an extrordinary world, and lots of sardonic wit.

Good luck darling. :smile:

[Tobias March]

I presume you mean the Hitchhiker's book that's not written by Douglas Adams and thereby inherently pointless?

I read a bunch of comics today that included new Astro City, The Boys, and Guardians of the Galaxy. I had a fun reading experience. (Well, okay, the bleak destruction of Mother's Milk's family by Vought-American in The Boys wasn't "fun"... but Guardians has a psychic puppy!)

I really enjoy Colfer's Artemis Fowl books, so I'd be unhappy to hear that this is a failure.

Anyway, I would have thought Jasper Fforde a better fit to carry the mantel :confused:

[FeminineMystique]

I really enjoy Colfer's Artemis Fowl books, so I'd be unhappy to hear that this is a failure.

Anyway, I would have thought Jasper Fforde a better fit to carry the mantel :confused:

I honestly doubt there's anyone who can take over from Adams

[Typo Lad]

Anyway, I would have thought Jasper Fforde a better fit to carry the mantel :confused:

I had the same exact thought, actually.

[Charles RB]

I really enjoy Colfer's Artemis Fowl books, so I'd be unhappy to hear that this is a failure.


The thing with the Fowls, of course, is that they're good but they're not much like Douglas Adams' stuff. And there's the big flaw: the selling point of the Guide books is Douglas Adams wrote 'em. Getting an author with a completely different style to do a sequel to them was a dumb idea.

[Tobias March]

The thing with the Fowls, of course, is that they're good but they're not much like Douglas Adams' stuff. And there's the big flaw: the selling point of the Guide books is Douglas Adams wrote 'em. Getting an author with a completely different style to do a sequel to them was a dumb idea.

Straight up difference - Colfer is this hyper-ironised modern day Irish style. The Celtic Tiger as a satire, Leprechauns and Centaurs equiped with spy-tech, billionaire brats traipsing around the world with daddy's money.

Fforde is about the confrontation of quintessential Englishness with fantasy. Much nicer fit.

[Charles RB]

The Celtic Tiger as a satire

As opposed to it just being a joke. (Ho ho!)

[Tobias March]

As opposed to it just being a joke. (Ho ho!)

Celtic Tigger my dear fellow.