So Long and Thanks For All the Fish

[LadyHitchhiker]

The fifth elephant and another one... I guess I just am too far in the series to know who the characters are or what's going on... What's a good one to start with? See my brother said I didn't have to read them in order and now I'm not sure I believe him.

[Darkthoughts]

It depends - if you're going to read the stories about Rincewind then its best to start with The Colour of Magic, which is the first discworld book.
However, I reckon you'd like Granny weatherwax and Nanny Ogg better, so you could try Wyrd Sisters which is awesome

If you like that Witches Abroad and Lords and Ladies and Carpe Jugulum are stories predominantly about them too - as are (in a roundabout way) the Tiffany Aching books - The Wee Free Men, A Hatful of Sky and The Wintersmith.

Terry Pratchett also wrote Good Omens with Neil Gaiman, which is a fantastic book - and one where you don't need any previous Discworld knowledge.

[LadyHitchhiker]

Ooooooooh I love Neil Gaiman...

[Brainslinger]

I like Douglas Adams's books. Particularly the Hitchiker's Guide books

Spoiler:

although I wasn't that keen on the ending to the last. I read somewhere he was feeling a bit depressed when he wrote that though, and he planned to write another at some point... but then he died.

As for the Dirk Gently stories, I liked those too.

Spoiler:

They have an unfinished feel to them though, particularly the second.

I like Terry Pratchett's books a lot, but I've never felt that keen on buying them. All my exposure has been via the library, and for something fun and light to grab, they work well. Very funny in places too, they make me laugh out loud.

If you like Douglas Adams (possibly even if you don't) you might like Rob Grant and Doug Naylor's books too. They're the creators of the British Sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf (one of my favourite shows.) They co-wrote a couple of books based on Red Dwarf together (Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers and Better than Life) and then they split and wrote a sequel novel each (Last Human Doug Naylor and Backwards Rob Grant. )

Rob Grant has written other non Dwarf novels too. Again mostly sci-fi, although Fat is mostly present day. Sort of.

[LadyHitchhiker]

As for the Dirk Gently stories, I liked those too.

Spoiler:

They have an unfinished feel to them though, particularly the second.

I agree with you about your observations on his final books...

Spoiler:

I like how you said the second book of the dirk gently's had an unfinished feeling to it when it says to be continued at the end....

I wish Douglas would have lived for 120 years...

but I will try your book suggestions and am very grateful and excited to try new authors!!!!!!

[bluelph24]

I, in fact, just bought from ebay the ultimate hitchikers guide for 5 bucks. you know, the edition with the five novels of the trilogy and a short story, can't remember what it was called. i'm very pleased with myself.

[jayson]

I, in fact, just bought from ebay the ultimate hitchikers guide for 5 bucks. you know, the edition with the five novels of the trilogy and a short story, can't remember what it was called. i'm very pleased with myself.

good purchase, but it's not a trilogy, since, as you pointed out, it's five novels.

[bluelph24]

I, in fact, just bought from ebay the ultimate hitchikers guide for 5 bucks. you know, the edition with the five novels of the trilogy and a short story, can't remember what it was called. i'm very pleased with myself.

good purchase, but it's not a trilogy, since, as you pointed out, it's five novels.

but, as i understand it, adams always jokingly referred to the 5 books as a trilogy.

[jayson]

but, as i understand it, adams always jokingly referred to the 5 books as a trilogy.

well than that's funny

[LadyHitchhiker]

My brother got me a leatherbound ultimate hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy with gold-tipped pages from the bookstore I work at and gave it to me as a VERY early birthday present. (My birthday's in October; he gave it to me in June).

It's soooo pretty.

But yes, I refer to it as the trilogy to because that's how Mr. Adams would still be referring to it...

[LadyHitchhiker]

DNA loved being wholly inaccurate.

[LadyHitchhiker]

I just wrote this today...

Arthur Dent's song, I can't wait to go home again
(to the tune of I can't wait to see you again by Miley Cyrus)

I got my sights set on you and I'm ready to blame
My ship's the heart of gold; that is it's name
I knew you were something special
When you spoke my name
Now I can't wait to go home again

I've got a way of knowing when something's not right
I feel like I must have known you in another life
Cause I felt this deep depression when you looked in my eyes
Now I can't wait to go home again

[Chorus:]
vogons came; I freaked out
I just kept looking down
I st-st-stuttered when you asked me what I'm thinking about
Felt like I couldn't breathe
You asked what's wrong with me
My best friend Ford said "Oh he never liked the Thursdays"
The next time we hang out
I will retain myself
My heart can't rest till then
Woh woh I
I can't wait to go home again

I got this crazy feeling, deep inside
When you came and asked to get some drinks now right
I'm not a mind reader but I'm reading the signs
That you can't wait to see me again

[Chorus]

I got my sights set on you and I'm ready to blame

[Chorus]

Woh woh I
I can't wait to go home again

[theBeamisHome]

that just made my day

[LadyHitchhiker]

To the tune of I wear my sunglasses at night by LadyHitchhiker and Raron, I bring my towel out at night

I bring my towel out at night
so I can
so I can
Watch you weep then read the guide's lines.
And I bring my towel out at night
so I can
so I can
Keep track of the fish inside my ear
While she's receiving me
I cut cross the galaxy
Has she got control of me? - I turn to her and say:
Don't mess with the guy who's making tea
oh no.
Don't mess with the guy with tea
oh no
I can't believe it!
You gonna mess with the guy with tea
oh no.
And I bring my towel out at night
so I can
Forget my name while you walk through walls
so I can
And I bring my towel out at night
so I can
See you turn into a penguin's thighs
so I can
While she's receiving me I cut cross the galaxy
. . .
Don't mess with the guy who's making tea
oh no.
Don't mess with the guy who's making tea
oh no
I can't believe it!
Don't be afraid of the guy with tea
oh no
it can't escape you

'cus you got it made with the guy with tea
oh no.
I said: I bring my towel out at night
I bring my towel out at night
I bring my towel out at night
I said to you now: I bring my towel out at night

I bring my towel out at night
I bring my towel out at night
I cry to you: I bring my towel out at night
I bring my towel out at night

[LadyHitchhiker]

There apparently was an old mac sold to some guy and he found a bunch of douglas adams' old files on it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Of course this is hearsay from a guy that I went to school with but the idea is mindbogglingly amazing.

[SigTauGimp]

HOW did I NOT see this thread??????

I LOVE Douglas Adams!

And "I bring my towel out at night" may just be my new anthem.

[LadyHitchhiker]

Why SigTauGimp you sure know how to make a girl blush!

:worships at the shrine of DNA:

[SigTauGimp]

*sigh*..I just finished reading The Salmon Of Doubt...and I almost wish I wouldn't have...all I could think was that it would have made a great story, from what little there was to read. All of the little interviews and quirky comments just made me all the sadder, too.

I think another reason that it depressed me is the fact that now I'm officially out of DNA stuff to read...unless I decide to re-re-re-re-read the Hitchhiker series.

[LadyHitchhiker]

Or his dirk gently stuff....

But it's so sad... So little of his stuff to read....

[The Old Fella]

I loved THHGTTG series, both the books and the radio series. Except for Mostly Harmless which felt somewhat forced to me... almost as if Douglas Adams just wanted to get the series out of the way and done with. The BBC in recent years actually did more radio episodes to wrap up the series and include the later books.

As much as I enjoyed the series, I found myself far more drawn to the Dirk Gently books, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency and The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul.

Douglas Adams spent time as a script editor for the long running British sci-fi series Doctor Who (during the Tom Baker years) and those who enjoy reading about Dirk Gently might just enjoy the Tom Baker Doctor Who serial City of Death. This Doctor Who story was the original inspiration for Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency and one can see Douglas Adam's humour throughout the story and the similarity in the storylines.

[LadyHitchhiker]

:sighs: I love Douglas Adams in all his incarnations...

Let's hope he gets reincarnated

[SigTauGimp]

That would make me a very, very happy panda.

[LadyHitchhiker]

My brother would say something ridiculous now about that, like "There can be only one!" about DNA being reincarnated... but it would fill me with such joy.....

Too bad I'm not in charge of the reincarnation department... allocating souls for future endeavours...

Next time I am coming back as a pampered house cat, just to take a break, a vacation. I will be fed, and adored, and played with (if I feel like it). Oh yeah...

Of course, I wouldn't mind adopting DNA as a housecat, either... or finding out how to channel him... *sighs* I could write for him from the grave!!!!! Or not...

And I must admit to being rather excited picturing you, Sigtaugimp, running around singing parodies I made up of THGTTG...

[SigTauGimp]

I've been humming "I Bring My Towel Out At Night" all week-end.
People have even tried to correct the lyrics once or twice...but I just say, "No, I like this version better."

[LadyHitchhiker]

That's awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!