Poor old Arthur Dent had been resting all of these years. Now he’s being resurrected for our amusement. He’s not pleased. Click the link below to listen to Arthur’s opinion.
And Another Thing (MP3 File)
Actor Simon Jones (Arthur Dent in the H2G2 tv and radio series. File courtesy of Penguin Books.
A big resounding oh my tiddywinkles!
it cannot be – No No i wont have it, or will i – im confused – i love Arthur Dent – I love the Hitchhikers – how can anybody but Douglas Adams write our books, how??! Eoin answer me that!
I was horrified with a tinge of exitement and odd relief when i saw the title Hitchhikers returns with new novel. I gave a double take of joy thinking that Douglas was back and that i still had time to hug him for his sheer genius and just general existance, for being such a hoopy frood.
So i realised – i love Arthur, I love Douglas for Arthur and Ford.
And then i heard it was you Eoin, and i realised i love your works also. And we love you. Im still sceptical. And worried. probably no where near as much as you. but i realised i would jump at this chance too. And as long as you do it justice in the end, that is alright with me.
Tom. – TinRibs
No offense, Mr. Colfer, but I can’t imagine anyone else adding to such a beloved series. It was Douglas’ voice and unique vision of the world that made the books so incredible and unlike anything else. You could have given the entire plot, detail by detail, to another author and I doubt that it be even close to what Douglas turned out.
I LOVE these books. Its sad that they ended with his death but since those books were so much a reflection of who he was, then I’m happy to let the story end as his did. Though they will surely be enjoyed by generations after. And that’s enough for me. Short of resurrecting Douglas Adams himself, I don’t want another book.
Dear Mr Colfer,
I read and enjoyed Artemis Fowl. I have read and enjoyed various other of your works, so please note that I have the utmost respect for you creatively.
Please, please, please PLEASE do not write another Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy book.
We do not need another, and if we did need one, the person we need it from is no longer with us.
Remember how blisteringly awful all Dune books not written by Frank Herbert have been.
Remember how dreadful and unwanted all Foundation books not written by Isaac Asimov have been.
Remember every half-baked dreadful sequel to Pride And Prejudice written by people who don’t have the creativity or vision to understand the original and write their own book with their own characters.
Remember these things, and give pause.
Douglas Adams was one of the best writers in the English language in the twentieth century. He was a visionary who produced books and radio shows that have been loved for three decades now. I have no doubt that your efforts in trying to continue his story would be sincere, would be respectful and would be both creative and funny. However they would also be supremely and entirely unwelcome.
Please leave us with the Douglas we know. Please leave us with the Douglas we have.
Write your own satirical space opera. I’m sure it will be great.
But please do not tarnish our memory of Douglas.
Yours, an Artemis Fowl fan and an Arthur Dent fan who hopes that never the twain shall meet
Ian Rennie
Hi Eoin,
First congrats on the gig, its great to see that once again Arthur and Co will be travelling through the Galaxy, hopefully all remembering to keep their towels with them
I am curious, was Arthur’s response above written by you, by someone at Penguin or indeed something Simon Jones wrote?
I enjoyed it alot and seemed very Arthur’y (esp having recently gone through all the radio shows) and if you did it, then it gives me hope for the book.
Regards
Rob
Well, what can I say… if you can convince Arthur then you will convince me! I’m not saying it won’t be a hard job to do… convince Arthur that is not write the book… but I think it could be worth a try. After all we don’t want him hanging in the air now do we… or maybe we do? I mean what would life be like for Arthur without a few… well lots of really… near misses, scrapes and general hassles. Just don’t tell him what will happen until he says yes! Sounds like a good plan… then throw him off a cliff. That could be fun, then we could see… well read about… his whole life as it flashes before his eyes. You know what, you have me convinced already. Now its just a matter of writing the thing… come on Eoin get on with it, time is relative you know.
Since my uncle first said to me thusly: ‘The answer to the great question is 42′, I searched everywhere for the source of the quote. When I found ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’, I couldn’t help but laugh my butt off at all the nonsensical goings on within its pages. I quickly jumped from book to book, reading and re-reading each and every one of them (especially ‘Restaurant at the End of the Universe), until the last one… Mostly Harmless. I thought that was it. And I was shocked by the ending. Every other book in the series was funny. All of them made me laugh. Even ‘Mostly Harmless’ was funny. Right up until the last chapter. I read it once, then put it down and haven’t picked it up since. But since there’s going to be a new ‘Hitchhiker’ novel, I might just pick it up again. Especially if it’s as funny as the others, and most importantly because it’ll be written by one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait
Mr. Colfer,
Although I agree with the others, that this new Hitchhiker’s book can not be nearly as good as the originals, I’m still glad you will be the one writing it.
I must say that I’m sure Douglas would have picked you to write the next one as well.
-Connor
Dear Mr Colfer,
As a “Hitchhiker’s freak” as my friends call me, I believe that it is not possible to continue the series. As much of a fan of your works, as I am, I’m asking you please do not write another Hitchhiker’s novel. It is meant to be a triology in five parts not six.
However, I know I shouldn’t bother asking, because you probaly will anyway. If you must write the book do it in loving memory of Douglas Adams, and do his wonderful characters, Ford, Arthur, Zaphod and Trillian (RIP Marvin) justice. That’s all a diehard Hitchhiker’s Guide fan can ask for
Nikki
P.S. to anyone wanting closure on the matter of the ending of ‘Mostly Harmless’ find yourself a copy of the Radio Adaption of the novel. Dirk Maggs, managed to find a way to complete the story without having to write a whole new novel about it.
Dear mr Colfer,
When i heard that a 6th hitch-hiker’s book was being written i groaned heavily and feared the worst. When i heard that you were writing it a smile came to me immediately. I have enjoyed the jokes in the artemis fowl series, as well as the creative storylines and believe no-one more suitable for the job.
I do have my doubts about the way you’lle write the book but then i’ll feel even worse if no-one does anything.
Good luck!
p.s. If i had to write the sicth book i would have written the book in 5 minutes and ran away with the money by know, somewhere warm (probably hawaii).
Dear Eoin,
You probably don’t remember me but I remember you. I was at your book signing in Murder By The Book Houston, TX, in America. I remember your story about YOUR YOUNGER TWIN BROTHERS when they stole your life savings and bought more green Popsicles to threaten you with big drips (That’s what we call them), however I can’t recall the gummy bear story. This signing was for the first day they were selling your fourth Artemis book, The Opal Deception. If you remember me I was about 10 or 11, with red hair, and I asked what the thing was under your John Hancock(to my eternal shame I had not recognized the Shamrock).
I myself had just heard about the fact that you were going to write the next Hitchhikers book so I reread the entire series. The first thing that went through my mind when I heard though was that if anyone could do it it’s you.
P.S. I read some of the more recent articles and I also have thought of continuations (They generally include Zaphod using a matter converter on Arthur’s link of sausage because he needed Ford who was also in the same link. Also I think bringing Marvin back could be plausible since he died 3 times older than the universe ever becomes. To top it all off their poetry writing enemies the Vogon from the constructor fleet in possession of the evil guide that Zaphod needs to destroy to become the most important man in the universe, but to do this he must get Ford the only person who knows how and it is very complicated and requires the rain god to do and this eventually causes the end of the universe not to happen at all (it was caused by the evil guide in the first place) and Arthur and his daughter and Trillian are inevitably tied up in it all along with the power Arthur has for flight and in the midst of it all Arthur’s girlfriend who disappeared shows up causing mayhem with his daughter and Trillian when she turns out to be pregnant.)
P.S.S. Sorry I got carried away but anyway I know you won’t let us down and even though people deny it will be good they won’t resist reading it anyway.
Mr. Colfer,
I love your books and I love the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. When I saw you were writing the next book, I was delighted, then realized it was not Douglas Adams. I was disappointed, but my spirits are kept up by the hope that you will do just as good a job writing this book and keep Mr. Adams voice alive. Please don’t let me down.
P.S. I will still love your books no matter what!
Mr. Colfer,
Yay! You get to continue one of the greatest series ever created! As has been shown from above reviews, it seems the pressure’s on! I, of course, have no doubt in you, having read many of your books and fallen irrevocably in love with them. Good luck and please know there are those of us out here who are rooting for you all the way!
~GP
Mr Colfer
as i have read Artemis Fowl and Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and they are my favourite books on and below the earth and in the universe. i am absolutlety that they now have a connecting factor. I am really looking forward to the next one coming out
-Xmaster
Love it, can’t wait to rejoin Zaphod. If it’s good for our Mr. Dent (more persecution please!), it’s good for me.
Hitchhiker’s needs a huge humor boost and I’m all for someone else taking the reins.
Good luck to you sir, may no one give you a Pangalactic Gargleblaster instead of ordering your preferred Beverage. I’ll snag a copy for sure