I don’t do much science fiction. I have Asimov’s Foundation books, and the first several Dune books (though The White Plague is my favorite Frank Herbert). And there are a few other assorted books from folks like Robert Heinlen, Philip K. Dick, and Arthur C. Clarke.

But man, I LOVE Douglas Adams, and The Hithchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I revisit Hitchhiker’s periodically, and the most recent dive down the rabbit hole led to me adding three more books to my bookshelf.

I’ve got a collection with Adams’ five Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy novels, as well as the lone Hitchhiker’s short story. With Adams, it all starts here, of course. I mean, how else are you gonna learn how to see the universe on less than 30 Altairian dollars a day?

There’s also Eoin Colfer’s good-enough official continuation novel, And Another Thing…

I’ve re-read the Hitchhiker’s series several times. I also listen to the audiobooks. They used to be available read by Adams himself, though those seem to be pretty much phased out. The current ‘in’ series has Stephen Fry doing book one, and Martin Freeman the other four.

Hitchhiker’s is ALWAYS fun. This series has never grown stale, or aged poorly, for me. I’ve been revisiting it for decades.

Colfer’s book was okay, but seemed too long and kinda dragged along. I found listening to the audiobook easier than reading it.

I think everyone should read at least the original Hitchhiker’s trilogy; and they might as well go on and add the remaining two. Adams was brilliant.

 

The Original Hitchhiker Radio Scripts: Tenth Anniversary Edition (1985) is a great read. Hitchhiker’s started as a BBC radio show, and Adams expanded and revised them into novel form while the radio series was still going on. His ‘challenge’ to meet deadlines is alone worth reading his biographies. This book has the scripts for the Primary and Secondary Phases, which more or less equate to what makes up the first two novels. These are fun reads.

I thought the collection of original radio scripts was a VERY cool read. Definitely a worthwhile book for fans of the novels.

I only recently discovered that in 2012 there was The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Further Radio Scripts. This covers the Tertiary, Quandary, and Quintessential Phases. Which are essentially the third through fifth novels. Physical copies are pricey, though it’s not too bad as an ebook. I don’t have this one yet.

 

Starship Titanic is briefly mentioned in Life, the Universe, and Everything. It was the subject of a video game (which I still own, of course), and there was also a lightweight book based on the game, written by Monty Python’s Terry Jones. It’s okay. Jones himself reads the audiobook, which is in the Python/Adams vein. I think of it as Hitchhiker’s Lite. Adams has recounted that the whole Starship Titanic project was a mess – dare I say, a disaster? Hmm…that might be worth a short Black Gate post.

 

I revisited Neil Gaiman’s Don’t Panic – this time as an audiobook. However you may feel about Gaiman these days, this is a must-read for Adams fans. It’s a treasure trove of information on Adams and the Hitchhiker’s saga. It’s an outstanding book.

 

The Frood (2014) is ‘the authorised and very official history’ of Adams and Hitchhiker’s, by Jem Roberts, is a long read, with a lot of info on his life. Probably the first Adams bio I would read – but after Don’t Panic.

 

The first third of M. J. Simpson’s Hitchhiker (2003) covers the pre-Hitchhiker years, so it’s a good source for Douglas’ early life. I’m actually not too interested in him pre-Hitchhiker’s, but it’s still good reading for an Adams fan.

 

Wish You Were Here (2005) from Nick Webb is the official Adams biography. Which I assume is why Roberts’ book used its quite distinctive description. I bought this after Don’t Panic got me into Adams again, and I haven’t read it yet. Webb was the editor who brought Adams to Pan Books (where he then worked), to turn the radio series into books. He left before the first novel came out, but he hit a grand slam with that acquisition.

 

42: The Wildly Improbably Ideas of Douglas Adams (2023) is a pretty neat book for the Adams fan. It contains facsimiles of all kinds of Adams’ personal miscellanea. While there are notes and such from other people, there’s a plethora of Adams’ own writings. Like, the actual writing – and typing. It’s a fascinating look into the man, arranged in chronological order. You’ll learn more from the biographies, and Don’t Panic. But this book gives you a warm feeling as you leaf through it. Different from any other Adams book I’ve seen.

 

Clearly, I love the Hitchhiker’s saga. But hands down, my favorite Adams book is Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. I like the sequel, The Long Dark Tea-Tme of the Soul. But I LOVE the first one. It’s a brilliant private eye novel. I’ve read or listened to the audiobook several times. It may well be in my Top Five novels list. It’s definitely Top Ten. Adams’ brilliance is on full display. Any Hitchhiker’s fan who hasn’t yet read this one, is missing out on Adams’ full brilliance.

 

The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul is one of my favorite-ever book titles. The story, which involves Thor and the Norse gods, is good, but a definite step down from the superb first novel. Nonetheless, it’s full of more Dirk Gently, and that’s more than good enough. I recommend reading both.

The BBC did radio plays of each novel. The first is my favorite radio play of them all, and I’ve easily listened to it a hundred times. They took some story liberties with the sequel, but it’s still a fun listen. I have both as one Audible title, and I listen weekly– often as I fall asleep. Great stories, cast, special effects: it all works.

There’s an unfinished third Gently novel included in The Salmon of Doubt. Simply put, it’s not very good, and I don’t know that finishing it would have made it any better. It’s not really a Gently story, and I’ve read that Adams had decided to finish it without Gently in it. Salmon was the first posthumous collection of Adams material, and it’s full of essays, interviews, and columns – many related to technology – as well as his life experiences. It’s worth a read once.

I think Adams and Terry Pratchett were brilliant societal commentators and satirists. And terrific storytellers. I love my Adams library and it gets re-use.

If you’ve never read Dirk Gently, or the Hitchhiker’s series, you’re really missing out on some fun!

And all our Adams coverage here at Black Gate:

All Our Douglas Adams in One Place
The Public Life of Sherlock Holmes: Don’t Panic!
The Public Life of Sherlock Holmes: Dirk Gently, Holistic Detective
The Public Life of Sherlock Holmes: Stephen Mangan’s Dirk Gently
The Public Life of Sherlock Holmes: The crappy new BBC Dirk Gently Show
Bob’s Books – Douglas Adams Shelfie
What I’ve Been Watching: A (Britbox) December, 2021
What I’ve Been Listening To: September, 2022
What I’ve Been Reading: September, 2022
What I’ve Been Listening To: November, 2025

FROM OTHERS:
The Golden Age of Science Fiction: Douglas Adams by Steven H Silver
The Golden Age of Science Fiction: The Hitchhiker’s Guide (1) by Steven H Silver
The Golden Age of Science Fiction: The Hitchhiker’s Guide (2) by Steven H Silver
Hitchhiker’s Guide to Edmond Hamilton by M. Harold Page
Don’t Panic! – Douglas Adams Read Past Page 10! by M. Harold Page

---

Bob Byrne’s ‘A (Black) Gat in the Hand’ made its Black Gate debut in 2018 and has returned every summer since.

His ‘The Public Life of Sherlock Holmes’ column ran every Monday morning at Black Gate from March, 2014 through March, 2017. And he irregularly posts on Rex Stout’s gargantuan detective in ‘Nero Wolfe’s Brownstone.’ He is a member of the Praed Street Irregulars, and founded www.SolarPons.com (the only website dedicated to the ‘Sherlock Holmes of Praed Street’).

He organized Black Gate’s award-nominated ‘Discovering Robert E. Howard’ series, as well as the award-winning ‘Hither Came Conan’ series. Which is now part of THE Definitive guide to Conan. He also organized 2023’s ‘Talking Tolkien.’

He has contributed stories to The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories — Parts III, IV, V, VI, XXI, and XXXIII.

He has written introductions for Steeger Books, and appeared in several magazines, including Black Mask, Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine, The Strand Magazine, and Sherlock Magazine.

You can definitely ‘experience the Bobness’ at Jason Waltz’s ’24? in 42′ podcast.