Pajiba

Hooray! One of my favorite book series, though the last three books are just nowhere as good as the first two, but have their moments of hilarity and sometimes, beauty.

I think the film was wretched in many ways, but it did a few things pretty well. The casting was awesome, for one, and the visuals were splendid. But the dialogue was stupid as hell in a lot of places (mostly the ones that didn't correspond to the book) and John Malkovich's character and his storyline made no sense at all. Otherwise, I didn't hate the film, I'm just so annoyed at how Hollywoodized it became. /fanboy rant over.

SO yeah, awesome book.

One of the few books I found hilarious at 16 and came back to years later to find it still funny - very, very rare. Also, extra points for the Red Dwarf affection. I'm working my way through the first season of David Tennant Dr Who and could swear I've seen a slight Rimmer homage once or twice.

You also need to read the two Dirk Gently books - Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency and The Long, Dark Tea-Time of the Soul. I wish that Adams had kept up with that series.

There's a bit of a sting here, what with the Pajiba golden calf Whedon once again being used to bash SW and Trek, and I'm left wondering whether to defend this piece when more people arrive to say "THAT MOVIE SUCKED!" when I'm also a big fan.

Lots of "enemy of my enemy" confusion going on here.

But I will say, at least, that will I had no science fiction aversion, I did have an aversion to this book as the most vocal fans that I'd encountered did not paint an appealing picture. Giggling crustache Magic players. One thinks II don't think there's anything there for me". However, when the movie was on its way I went ahead and read the new anniversary edition since I planned to see it and felt I should at least give it a look. And yeah, "OH! Nobody fucking told me this is 'Monty Python science fiction'!! This is genuinely FUNNY!" Finished that, grabbed the omnibus and tore through the rest.

People always suck at knowing how to pitch things to me!

"while", not "will".

I didn't catch "Hans" but for now I'll give Local Courtney the benefit of the doubt that she wasn't appropriating Dustin's baiting for her own. That'd just be too mean-spirited.

The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy (HHGG)was originally a RADIO programme. I listened to it in college (damn, I'm old) and then it became a TV show (which is vastly superior to the movie version, rent it now). Somewhere in there the radio script was turned into a couple of novels, and then just recently turned into a movie. The movie completely left out the BOOK. The TV show covers the BOOK much better. The star is the BOOK after all, called The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy.

Douglas Adams also wrote for Dr. Who during Tom Baker's reign as the Doctor. Check out The Pirate Planet story arc.

You also get to see nekkid Douglas Adams in the TV version. He's the guy walking into the sea.

On a related Dr. Who note, Peter Davison (the 5th Doctor) plays The Dish of the Day in the TV version of HHGG, and his wife plays Trillian.

And the guy who played Darth Vader (not the voice, the body) plays a gangster in the Restaurant at the End of the Universe.

Oh, and Monty Python did do Sci Fi stuff with aliens and spaceships, but it's right in the middle of "Life of Brian."

The book is barely in the movie. Not compared to the way it's treated in the TV version. Besides, I can't get the TV theme music out of my head. DAH de de DAH, dum dum de de duh duh duh DUH, dum dum de de DUH, dum dum de de duh duh duh DUH, dum dum de de DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

branded, I read Enders Game not to long ago for the fourth time. It's still good and still a bit of a trip to consider that kids might save the world in such a fashion.

Most recently I read Speaker for The Dead, which is interesting in its own right, if a bit heavy on the social commentary.

Courtney, best answer ever.

Watch it, farmer man. If you can tell me who Ewan's uncle is I won't hurt you.

Is it the Smith's Olde Bar trivia?

BWeaves, you're not old just because you listened to it in college. You are, however, exceedingly British for spelling it "programme", although that is really quite appropriate.

Julie, ARARHAjahfhekafgyYYAGYRGEYFBC and Yargh. Are you trying to kill me? That is some of the worst poetry I've ever heard. Except, of course, for that of Paula Nancy Millstone Jennings of Greenbridge, Essex.

Denis Lawson, better known as Wedge Antilles or Red 2 if you will.

I have professed my love for Star Wars before, so please don't hurt me. I hear librarians have wicked awesome book-fu. Is there special training you people have to take, because the few I've rumbled with have kicked may ass. I literally got spanked with War and Peace.

If you've seen the movie, and never read the book, you need to change that. READ IT. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard as when I read Hitchhiker's.

And who other than Ford could convince a possible relative of Ghengis Khan's to lay down in the mud in front of a bulldozer? I heart Ford.

There's a reason I have 42 in my user name and a towel in my car.

Douglas Adams - brilliant Mac geek, witty science wonk, and sorely missed - could turn a phrase like nobody's business. And if you want to spend a really entertaining afternoon, listen to Stephen Fry read this book. He has the perfect voice for it.

...dining at the end of the universe rocks.

This series NEVER leaves my Pod.