10th anniversary of the death of Douglas Adams

Betonov · 05-11-11, 08:52 AM

Douglas Adams (11 March 1952 – 11 May 2001), writer and dramatist, master of satire and witty writing.

I'm not going to go into detail about his work and life, here's a link for all interested:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Adams

Adams is my absolute favourite writer. Not because of the stories in his books or the dramatical turn-arounds, but his writing style. His inserts of witty comments into ordinary sentences, his tendency to insert 5 WTF? moments into a chapter only to latter realize how it actually made sense, his razor sharp mind that produced excellent quotes like ''A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools'' or ''He was a dreamer, a thinker, a speculative philosopher... or, as his wife would have it, an idiot'' and his ability to hide real-life issues into his stories that once you figured them out wouldn't know wheter to laugh or cry.
Hard to diggest, easy to love.

Everytime someone asks me what's the point of it all, the reason were here I answer 42, someone says about a certain tool or product that it is the most usefull thing ever, I contradict them with a towel and I actually decided to tattoo the phrase DON'T PANIC on my arm

So, so long and thanks for all the fish

Betonov · 05-11-11, 08:54 AM

For your enjoyement, one of his last lectures: Parrots, the universe and everything

88min and worth everyone of it

Growler · 05-11-11, 09:36 AM

Saw it mentioned this morning in Stephen Fry's Twitter feed.

Still bummed by it; I always thought Douglas Adams to be brilliantly funny, talented, and an astute observer of the human condition. I miss him.

Sailor Steve · 05-11-11, 11:03 AM

Besides his brilliant writing, he also served as script editor for Doctor Who for some of the show's best years.

Our local library has a great Adams quote on one wall: "I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by."

STEED · 05-11-11, 11:09 AM

Arthur Dent on seeing a Vogon destructor ship....WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?

Betonov · 05-11-11, 11:44 AM

And don't forget, towel day on May 25th. Don't worry, I'll remind you on the 24th

http://www.towelday.org/

Penguin · 05-11-11, 05:50 PM

Ay caramba, already 10 years? He went way too early!

So I dedicate my (real!) Budweiser that I'm having atm to him!
Thanks for all the laughter and thoughts you gave us, Douglas! Have a nice travel through the universe!

sharkbit · 05-11-11, 05:55 PM

42

Do you think he knows the question now?

Rockstar · 05-11-11, 06:24 PM

Just finished up watching the latest Hitchhiker movie for the first time. It was ok but his books a far far far better.

Guy was a great writer.

Raptor1 · 05-11-11, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Just finished up watching the latest Hitchhiker movie for the first time. It was ok but his books a far far far better.

Guy was a great writer.

Latest Hitchhiker movie? Wasn't there only one?

I watched the movie before reading the books, and I thought it was fairly good. I then read the books, and now I'm fairly certain that had I watched the movie after reading the books I would've been completely disappointed with it.

This (Along with The Caine Mutiny, though that movie is excellent and almost as good as the book) has led me to the conclusion that one must always watch the movie before reading the book it is based on. That way you can enjoy both of them.

Torplexed · 05-12-11, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raptor1

Latest Hitchhiker movie? Wasn't there only one?

There was the original radio series on the BBC in the late 1970s, followed by a BBC television mini-series in 1980, and then the theatrical movie in 2005.

I recall Adam's last Hitchhiker series book, Mostly Harmless was rather depressing in it's tone. One of the rules of fiction writing is 'Never be afraid to kill off a main character'. Adams went that one better and killed off virtually all of them.

He described Mostly Harmless in an interview as "a very bleak book" and said he "would love to finish Hitchhiker on a slightly more upbeat note".

05-11-11, 08:52 AM	#1
Betonov Navy Seal Join Date: May 2009 Location: Slovenia Posts: 8,647 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	10th anniversary of the death of Douglas Adams Douglas Adams (11 March 1952 – 11 May 2001), writer and dramatist, master of satire and witty writing. I'm not going to go into detail about his work and life, here's a link for all interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Adams Adams is my absolute favourite writer. Not because of the stories in his books or the dramatical turn-arounds, but his writing style. His inserts of witty comments into ordinary sentences, his tendency to insert 5 WTF? moments into a chapter only to latter realize how it actually made sense, his razor sharp mind that produced excellent quotes like ''A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools'' or ''He was a dreamer, a thinker, a speculative philosopher... or, as his wife would have it, an idiot'' and his ability to hide real-life issues into his stories that once you figured them out wouldn't know wheter to laugh or cry. Hard to diggest, easy to love. Everytime someone asks me what's the point of it all, the reason were here I answer 42, someone says about a certain tool or product that it is the most usefull thing ever, I contradict them with a towel and I actually decided to tattoo the phrase DON'T PANIC on my arm So, so long and thanks for all the fish

05-11-11, 09:36 AM	#3
Growler A long way from the sea Join Date: May 2005 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,913 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 0	Saw it mentioned this morning in Stephen Fry's Twitter feed. Still bummed by it; I always thought Douglas Adams to be brilliantly funny, talented, and an astute observer of the human condition. I miss him. __________________ At Fiddler’s Green, where seamen true When here they’ve done their duty The bowl of grog shall still renew And pledge to love and beauty.

05-11-11, 11:03 AM	#4
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Besides his brilliant writing, he also served as script editor for Doctor Who for some of the show's best years. Our local library has a great Adams quote on one wall: "I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by." __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

05-11-11, 11:09 AM	#5
STEED Lucky Jack Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Down Town UK Posts: 27,695 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 48	Arthur Dent on seeing a Vogon destructor ship....WHAT THE HELL IS THAT? __________________ Dr Who rest in peace 1963-2017. To borrow Davros saying...I NAME YOU CHIBNALL THE DESTROYER OF DR WHO YOU KILLED IT!

05-11-11, 05:55 PM	#8
sharkbit The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,529 Downloads: 334 Uploads: 0	42 Do you think he knows the question now? __________________ “Prejudice is blind. There will always be someone who says you aren’t welcome at the table. Stop apologizing for who you are and using all your energy trying to change their minds. Yes, you will lose friends, maybe even family. But you will gain your self-respect. You will know your worth. Once you have that, nothing can stop you.”

05-11-11, 08:54 AM	#2
Betonov Navy Seal Join Date: May 2009 Location: Slovenia Posts: 8,647 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	For your enjoyement, one of his last lectures: Parrots, the universe and everything 88min and worth everyone of it

05-11-11, 11:44 AM	#6
Betonov Navy Seal Join Date: May 2009 Location: Slovenia Posts: 8,647 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	And don't forget, towel day on May 25th. Don't worry, I'll remind you on the 24th http://www.towelday.org/

05-11-11, 05:50 PM	#7
Penguin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Rheinische Republik Posts: 3,322 Downloads: 92 Uploads: 0	Ay caramba, already 10 years? He went way too early! So I dedicate my (real!) Budweiser that I'm having atm to him! Thanks for all the laughter and thoughts you gave us, Douglas! Have a nice travel through the universe!

05-11-11, 06:24 PM	#9
Rockstar In the Brig Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Zendia Bar & Grill Posts: 12,614 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Just finished up watching the latest Hitchhiker movie for the first time. It was ok but his books a far far far better. Guy was a great writer.