Douglas Adams (incorporating The Hitchhiker's Guide) discussion

The first time I read Hitchhiker's Guide, I was blown away by Adam's uncanny ability to write comically. His books are so memorable largely because of Adam's skill with humor and his great one-liners.
What do you think? How does Adams do it? What is it about his writing that tickles our funny bone every time?

Sam wrote: "The first time I read Hitchhiker's Guide, I was blown away by Adam's uncanny ability to write comically. His books are so memorable largely because of Adam's skill with humor and his great one-lin..."

I think it is because he had such a unique way of looking at the world. Lines like 'The ships hung in the air in the same way that bricks don't.' is so unexpected, yet makes perfect sense and clearly conveys what he had in mind.

I agree with Sammie, but would add that DA would poke his stick at just about anything. And the more trivial or mundane the better. What other writer bothered making fun of digital watches? But DA did that in the first two pages of HHG. Encyclopedias, drinks, computers, you name it.

I think that's it; the concept is so off-beat that you can't help but laugh.

I remember seeing a Douglas Adams documentary where either Stephen Fry or producer John Lloyd said something like Douglas has to twist the line more than once".

There seem to be many examples of this in his writing.

I believe that he was one of (if not) the first author who described things with the negative/opposite. The brick is a perfect example. This allows him to end his sentences in the most unusual, amusing and often cruel ways. :-)

Of course it does't hurt to study(/read) English at Cambridge, and to be very smart. He also hung around with very smart and funny people as well. The Python flare for the ridiculous is writ large on his work.

m

So many of his descriptions just stick with you. Perhaps because of the oxymoronic (can one change the noun into an adjective?) nature of those descriptions. I find myself talking about drinks being almost but not quite unlike tea and some of my friends just don't get it.

We really need to be more talkative in this group.

Mark wrote: "We really need to be more talkative in this group."

I agree. Hey did folks see the Google Doodle today (11MAR13)? It celebrates Mr. Adams' 61th Birthday.

Can't believe I missed the Google doodle yesterday! I had to go look it up. Love the incorporation of 42.

Speaking of being more talkative, does anyone have anything planned for Towel Day yet?

It is here if you missed it...
http://www.google.com/doodles/douglas...

No further Dirk news. Still cancelled at BBC3.

M

Mark wrote: "We really need to be more talkative in this group."

We probably would be, but we're all busy re-reading our favorite bits of DA.

I've been listening to the BBC dramatisation of the Dirk Gently books. Good stuff. I recommend them if you get the chance.

What about the 1st series of Dirk Gently (BBC), are they good?

TV show wasn't too shabby. Only vaguely based on the books, but the characters were good. Steve Mangan is very funny.

M

Sam wrote: "The first time I read Hitchhiker's Guide, I was blown away by Adam's uncanny ability to write comically. His books are so memorable largely because of Adam's skill with humor and his great one-lin..."

Hey Sam, I happened to read Hitchhiker's Guide in high school at a time when I was more than a little depressed. What really struck me about Adams' humor was that it was tightly woven with pain--it was a necessary component of coping with the often random and bewildering nature of the universe. Even more useful than a towel--bring your sense of humor and realize that the only way to survive the universe is to not take it too seriously.

What do you think?