Introductions

[Cynthiaj]

Welcome Leady. We all had to find DA at some point. We are just glad you have had your chance to do so. I read the Guide over 30years ago and still keep one on my bookshelf.

[Brandon]

Douglas Adams was a major revelation to my younger self and as I revisit them (his books) now, (twenty some-odd years later) I'm so happy they stand the test of time. The lesson? You can be silly and smart simultaneously. I would never have attempted to pen my own novel without this key lesson (Aware, An Inquiry Into Consciousness.) Cracking wise is still the best way to address our society.

Pleased to meet you all, Brandon

[Daniel]

Brandon wrote: "Douglas Adams was a major revelation to my younger self and as I revisit them (his books) now, (twenty some-odd years later) I'm so happy they stand the test of time. The lesson? You can be silly a..."

Hey Brandon, it's great to meet you. I remember my first experience with Hitchhiker's Guide very well. I was a junior in high school and terribly depressed about a series of tragedies that hit me. Then I met Arthur Dent and saw his struggles and it inspired me not to panic (Don't Panic) and to make good use of towel.

[Brandon]

Yes! "Don't Panic" indeed. A hilarious book with real world implications. I was a wee 9th grader when a friend put the book in my face and said "you have to read this" he was right. Nerd friends are good friends and they are onto the good things faster than the rest of the cattle. The micro point I'm not quite making is that... right away I could tell that this author...(an adult with a career a house a car and such) was poking fun at all the things I was busy despising about society... BUT, he was doing it calm & cool, sly and witty...with that dry British "Monty Python" angle of attack that gets right past the anger/rebellion part of a kids brain and introduces another path. How to live (and possibly thrive) in a ridiculous world. A lesson on how to maintain when our whole universe goes poof. The rare book that achieves "friend" status on my shelf and I'm glad I'm not the only one.

[CaptKirk42 Classic Whovian]

since everyone seems to be telling their "how I got hooked on Hitchhikers" stories...

I was in High School my junior year and a couple of my egghead friends were talking about this book in the History Class we were in together. I think they were discussing the ultimate answer or some other big plot of the book. It peaked my curiosity I got a copy (or borrowed it at first maybe) and was hooked.

Mr. Adams' writing style is a big influence on me. That oddball sense of humor that makes a quick left-turn when you are expecting it to just lie flat and play dead.

[Daniel]

Brandon wrote: "Yes! "Don't Panic" indeed. A hilarious book with real world implications. I was a wee 9th grader when a friend put the book in my face and said "you have to read this" he was right. Nerd friends ar..."

You're right. When I'm down, Hitchhiker's Guide is like a dependable friend.

[Cynthiaj]

So I still sometimes refer to money (even when using my debit card) as "small green pieces of paper" and am always careful at crosswalks. Although I am not sure digital watches aren't a great idea. And as I posted earlier my first experience with DA was as a junior in high school some 30 odd years ago.

[[deleted user]]

I was first introduced to DNA whilst playing in a band at school (y'know, the usual teenager thing). We were relegated to playing in the shed at the bottom of the garden but would come into the house to listen to the original radio series of HHG when it was first broadcast on Radio 4. It was a relevation, I can't ever remember being moved by anything on the radio (and in following years, in all humour) so much. I miss his humour as much as I know I would miss him if ever I had known him.

[Stefania]

Hi everyone! I'm reading for the first time the "hitchhiker guide to the galaxy". It's also my first approach tu Adams' books, but I think I found my new god!
Looking forward to read everything in this group, I'm just a bit worried about spoilers... so I'd better wait until I've read more...

[Ben Fiore]

Welcome, Stefania! Don't panic about spoilers. We all remember a time when we didn't know where our 'towel' was and no one here is going to bemoan a newbie by saying "Oh no, not again." You are in good company and most of us look forward to your thoughts.

And yes - Adams was a god among men. It's a shame we didn't get more from him. But enjoy the trilogy and, if you're still thirsty for more, I do recommend his Dirk Gently series - it's only 2 books and decidedly a different and weirder genre, but I greatly enjoy them and am now a fan of the BBC America show whose second season is only weeks away.

SLATFALF

[Stefania]

I Saw the Dirk Gently series and it was nice. I liked the idea so much... I definitely want to read the books!