Douglas Adams Continuum (DAC)

Penguin group marketing and publicity director Joanna Prior said that Penguin had announced the news to Adams and Colfer fan sites before issuing the press release: "Actor Simon Jones [who played Arthur Dent in the original radio series, and the TV adaptation] recorded a special message. We went to the fan sites first to get them excited and to explain that it’s a sanctioned thing, and that Douglas’ estate and his widow are happy to have it happening. They want to reach out to new readers and younger readers." Prior added that only one sequel by Colfer was planned "for now".

Hmmm... I don't recall this. Dukey? Were you ever approached by these folks?

Hmmm... I don't recall this. Dukey? Were you ever approached by these folks?

That's true, when (can I hope still for if?) it's released you won't be able to get within 10 yards of a bookshop and have a H2G2 poster glaring at you.

Gonz , Penguin released the news on various websites and forums before going to the press. The first post in this thread is by Colbie who is presumably something to do with Penguin.

Spamming bastard!

Quite, penguin released the news at 6pm and by 6.08 Colbie had posted here with the link.

Several people wrote to ask what I thought about Eoin Colfer writing a new Hitchhiker's book -- for example,

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_a ... 773155.ece
In regard to the above, did they ask you to do it, and would you have accepted if they had?

Nobody asked me to do it, but then, when Douglas asked me if I'd like to adapt Life, The Universe and Everything for radio I said no, and that was with Douglas alive and asking. (Dirk Maggs did it, and did an excellent job.) It seemed a thankless task.

I like Eoin very much, and wish him well with the book. He'll probably write a sixth Hitchhiker's book with more enthusiasm, and certainly faster, than Douglas would have done. But it won't be a Douglas Adams Hitchhiker's book.

For the record, if I don't get around to writing a sequel to something while I'm alive, I'd very much rather that nobody else does it once I'm dead. It should exist in your head or in Lucien's library, or in fanfic. But that's me, and not every author feels the same way.

For the record, if I don't get around to writing a sequel to something while I'm alive, I'd very much rather that nobody else does it once I'm dead.

Again, the question of "why" is unresolved. If he's taking Douglas' characters and writing new adventures for them, then why can he not just create his own characters and write a new series?

For the record, if I don't get around to writing a sequel to something while I'm alive, I'd very much rather that nobody else does it once I'm dead.

Maybe I misinterpreted it. But when I read "We went to the fan sites first to get them excited and to explain that it’s a sanctioned thing", I was expecting some sort of outreach to the fan sites. I was thinking something like the movie where Dukey and Simo got images and took tours of the set, etc.

The interview can be heard here.

He evades the questions very well. Again, the question of "why" is unresolved. If he's taking Douglas' characters and writing new adventures for them, then why can he not just create his own characters and write a new series?

I suspect her analysis is essentially sound - come next October I suspect many of the fans will give in to the temptation.

I also think that the article would have been more interesting, had the subject of Salubrinas comment been touched upon.

1.He was ASKED to do a Hitchhikers book so why would he not use Hitchhiker characters.

2.He wants to give the series a happy ending as Douglas wanted.

Fairly easy to answer.

My first reaction was semi-outrage that anyone should be allowed to tamper with this incredible series.

But on reflection I realised that this is a wonderful opportunity to work with characters I have loved since childhood and give them something of my own voice while holding on to the spirit of Douglas Adams.

http://www.thebookseller.com/blogs/67349-new-hitchhiker-is-fowl-fair.html

Your thoughts on her thoughts?

My guess is that come October next year, all but the die-hard purists will find And Another Thing, if not the match of an original Adams novel, still surprisingly hard to resist.

Me, I just want James to come back. I miss his naughty posts.

Heck, is that infamous Gone with the Wind sequel even in print anymore?

How many times have you heard people say that Hitchhikers had changed their lives, or had got them through school/college or had given them a new perspective on life, the universe and everything? How long has hitchhikers been held in such high esteem by radio drama fans, other authors, sci fi fans and people who just like intelligent comedy?


For fuck's sake start seeing some sense here and put an end to this travesty, it's beginning to really annoy me.

Where is Slartibartfast when you need him? We need someone to set up The Campaign for Real Douglas Adams, or CAMDAM as it could be known.
Slogan: As Arthur Dent, didn’t say "Ford, you’re going to be published by Penguin, stop it."

http://www.thebookseller.com/blogs/67349-new-hitchhiker-is-fowl-fair.html

Your thoughts on her thoughts?

It didnt change my life. How could it? it's just a comedy, a fact that Adams forgot when he wrote the last two books.

It didnt change my life. How could it? it's just a comedy, a fact that Adams forgot when he wrote the last two books.

I wonder who will write the Terry Pratchet novels when he's dead?

It didnt change my life. How could it? it's just a comedy, a fact that Adams forgot when he wrote the last two books.

...did my post get deleted?!

J K Rowling

It didnt change my life. How could it? it's just a comedy, a fact that Adams forgot when he wrote the last two books.

I certainly don't consider myself a "die hard purist" but I feel quite
confident I'll be able to resist the temptation when the time comes.
Otherwise, how could I respect myself in the morning? That sounds
like another cheap joke (who, me, make a cheap joke?) but it's
actually not so far from the truth of it. It's an emotional response,
sure, but the bottom line is I think I'd feel sort of dirty reading it,
like I was tainting the memory of something I love rather dearly.

It certainly changed my life. I should be working and instead I'm posting on this forum. How else would I procrastinate if I didn't have this diversion, which wouldn't exist if it weren't for DNA's books?

As to the last two books, I'm sorry, but I find them even funnier that the first three because the humor is darker and more psychologically complicated. The Domain of the King? The Sandwich Maker? The Squirrels with the paper napkins? The Raffle Lady? Obviously, I could go on...