For Douglas Adams neophytes (like Jeff Ventura of Graceful Flavor)
Seriously speaking, try to start by finding the radio show tapes of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy from 1978-79 by the BBC. They’re on sale somewhere or the other, takes a bit of finding. That includes 12 episodes. And 14 more were broadcast in 2004-2005. All of which are findable I’m told.
Then the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy [HHGG] Omnibus edition (5 novels + 1 short story) in hardcover. I bought paper back to save about 25% on cost, and I actually regret it more than not studying for 15 or 16 exams.
Next on the menu will be his Dirk Gently books. They redefine surreal. Richard Dawkins says that it was the first book he read cover to cover, and after finishing it, went right back to the first page (Dirk Gently’s Holistic Agency).
Now you should pick up Salmon of Doubt. This is a collection of some of his rarer published work (his column for The Independent, some short stories) and lots of his notes on his Mac. He was one of the biggest Mac fans yet and rumoured to be the first person in the UK to purchase an Apple computer. It was compiled after his death, and if you’ve read the HHGG and DG books, it feels like a tragedy to lose someone of such stature.
After which, you’ll go right ahead to pick up Last Chance to See, where he and Mark Carwardine go to see nearly extinct animals in their natural habitats. Such as the recently-featured-on-digg Aye-Aye lemur. He said it was the work that sold the least, but gave him the most satisfaction.
By this time, you’ve spent 4 months exclusively reading, your income is down to zero and you suddenly realise you’re extremely hungry. But you go back to page one anyway.
So you should go ahead, and spend your savings and get the audiobooks, where Douglas Adams reads out his books, and sometimes his friends do [Simon Jones mainly].
I know that sounds like me, but I didn’t have any money to start with. The joys of college life.
Of course, you could go the student route and find local libraries, but I keep buying Douglas Adams books (I have the omnibus H2G2 and Salmon of Doubt, I’ll buy more soon).
I remember once I had the chance to pick up the radio show [I kid you not] way back in 97 I think for literally $3 [printed price was between Rs 120-150 ]. But I didn’t know Douglas Adams then.
Daaaamn.
