New Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy novel: for God's sake why?
- 18 September 2008
- John Howell
Just when you thought it was safe to visit your local bookstore, a sixth book from Douglas Adam’s The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series is being released. Titled “And another thing…” the new book will be published by Penguin in October 2009.
Before you get too exited though, there are a couple of things you need to know: Douglas Adams hasn't miraculously come back to life after dying from a heart attack in 2001 and decided to continue the series;
Penguin haven't found an unfinished work on his old Macintosh computer they've decided to publish; and, as far as I know, there have been no ghostly visitations dictating manuscripts to friends or relatives. Instead, the new book will be written by Eoin Colfer, a fantasy author best known for his Artemis Fowl children's books, which have sold 18 million copies worldwide.
According to Yahoo Canada, Colfer was "terrified" when publisher Penguin called him about the new novel, referring to Douglas Adams’s original books as a "slice of satirical genius."
"My first reaction was semi-outrage that anyone should be allowed to tamper with this incredible series," said Colfer. "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."
The Penguin book plans have been approved by Adams’s widow, Jane Belson.
The original science fiction comedy series includes The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, Life, the Universe and Everything, So Long And Thanks for all the Fish, and Mostly Harmless. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy started out as a BBC radio series, became a TV series, and was turned into a movie in 2004.
Many of you may be thrilled to hear that another Hitchhikers novel is on its way, but for me the idea of someone trying to mimic Douglas Adams's style will only dilute the power of the original series - even more so considering Douglas's unique brand of humour. I haven’t read any of Eoin Colfer’s books, and I’m sure he’s a great writer, but apart from the possibility of making a large sum of money there’s no real justification.
Just like the continuation of Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series by Gregory Benford, or the endless regurgitation of the Dune series by Brian Herbert, Frank Herbert’s son, leave the original works alone.The new additions, as they did in these cases, usually turn out to be pale imitations of their predecessors, written in vastly different styles with half the impact. Why not come up with something new and original instead?
I think Colfer’s original reaction was the right one, a feeling of outrage that anyone should be allowed to tamper with this incredible series is pretty much spot on.
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