New Hitchhiker's book

Anarchy Rules!

To be called 'And Another Thing...' it is to be penned by Eoin Colfer, writing as Adams, much as Sebastian Folkes did for the new Bond novel. The 6th installment in the trilogy is set to be released October 2009

Here is the BBC article on the story

I enjoyed the Artemis Fowl book by Eoin Colfer, and he seems like a competent author, but I'm not sure I want this, even though I love the series, it feels like this just isn't needed.

Any thoughts?

Trevor

What? No.
This is not what I want.

Post-kneejerk edit:

I don't see why this is needed, it feels like trying to exploit nostalgia for book sales. I haven't checked out this dude's books but if he's a competent writer I don't see why he can't just make up his own damn characters.

Rhesus Positive

My main thought is: why?

Cautious optimism.

Mullitt The Wise

I'd prefer a new Dirk Gently book, but I doubt anyone else could write it.

Thetheroo

No.

Just no.

Dunadan019

is it really that hard to create a story where the plot characters and narrative are full of random moments leaving little to no trail?

i mean... the only thing i thought was special about the books was that they actually became popular....

Rhesus Positive

It's not creating the story, it's creating the feel that is the hard part. Would you think to describe something as "hanging in the air in exactly the way that bricks don't"?

Dunadan019

Rhesus Positive wrote: »

It's not creating the story, it's creating the feel that is the hard part. Would you think to describe something as "hanging in the air in exactly the way that bricks don't"?

i am not a writer....

ive definitly heard some similarly quirky associations though

Argus

Anarchy Rules! wrote: »

To be called 'And Another Thing...' it is to be penned by Eoin Colfer, writing as Adams, much as Sebastian Folkes did for the new Bond novel. The 6th installment in the trilogy is set to be released October 2009

Here is the BBC article on the story

I enjoyed the Artemis Fowl book by Eoin Colfer, and he seems like a competent author, but I'm not sure I want this, even though I love the series, it feels like this just isn't needed.

Any thoughts?

Artemis Fowl is not Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Spoiler:

ARTEMIS FUCKING FOWL IS NOT HITCHHIKER'S.

Daedalus

This is going to go over about as well as the Dune prequels, or the Foundation books written after Asimov's death.

(obligatory: hell, the last couple Foundation books that got written when Asimov was still alive weren't even that good.)

Kagera

Yay new Hitchhiker's books!

Hope the author is up to the task.

EliteBattleman

Kagera wrote: »

Yay new Hitchhiker's books!

Hope the author is up to the task.

The author is dead. People need to move on.

Sure, his books were great, but that doesn't mean we need more of them.

Fencingsax

The only one who I think would be up to that task is Pratchett, actually.

Lackadaisical

Rhesus Positive wrote: »

Cautious optimism.

I...I...I think I shall respond with the standard American response, lawsuit, anyone? This project should be killed early on, as much as I'd like some finality I don't want this.

Burnage

Noooooooo. The books are fine as they are. Hell, if you're unhappy with the fifth book's ending the radio series fixed it. There is no reason for a sixth book.

moniker

DON'T PANIC

deowolf

moniker wrote: »

DON'T PANIC

Oh, but I -

hm.

Ok.

(goddamn you moniker, I was going to post that)

Richy

I don't see anything good coming from this.

darleysam

Why would someone do this? Really, why? What else is there to do or say?

Medopine

This is stupid.

Neaden

No, stop it. I liked the end of the fifth book actually. I just can't see any way for this to end well.

Grey Ghost

WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE

One Thousand Dicks

This is probably going to be horrible. I hope it won't be, but I don't remember the Artemis Fowl books being anywhere near the caliber of the Hitchhiker's books.

MuddBudd

I'm going to turn around now, and pretend I never saw this thread.

This does not exist.

Trevor

I can't help but think of this as Colfer trying to make a few bucks writing fan fiction. I don't think the dedicated fanbase will touch this with a ten foot pole and people who've never heard of it or have only seen the movie won't really get it. Hell, a lot of people I know won't even read the books like I tell them to because they didn't like the movie.

I am perplexed by this decision, from both a business and a respect for the original works perspective.

Kagera

EliteBattleman wrote: »

Kagera wrote: »

Yay new Hitchhiker's books!

Hope the author is up to the task.

The author is dead. People need to move on.

Sure, his books were great, but that doesn't mean we need more of them.

Yes it does. Because I didn't like the ending of the last book.

So you know, I would like to see something to change that ending.

Gorilla Salad

What?

What?

Did they not see the ending of the fifth book? Where the hell can they go with this?

This just has trainwreck written all over it.

moniker

Kagera wrote: »

EliteBattleman wrote: »

Kagera wrote: »

Yay new Hitchhiker's books!

Hope the author is up to the task.

The author is dead. People need to move on.

Sure, his books were great, but that doesn't mean we need more of them.

Yes it does. Because I didn't like the ending of the last book.

So you know, I would like to see something to change that ending.

I didn't either, and I would love a 6th book. Only, it needs to be written by Douglas Adams.

werehippy

On the one hand, this is clearly a shitty idea.

On the other hand, Mostly Harmless was a horrible way to end the series, and if this guy can convince Adams' estate he's got something worth writing I'm willing to let it ride just for the chance it might be good and bring a bit of closure to Adams' work. And if it sucks, I'll just do the same thing I do with Mostly Harmless and ignore its existence.

Kagera

moniker wrote: »

Kagera wrote: »

EliteBattleman wrote: »

Kagera wrote: »

Yay new Hitchhiker's books!

Hope the author is up to the task.

The author is dead. People need to move on.

Sure, his books were great, but that doesn't mean we need more of them.

Yes it does. Because I didn't like the ending of the last book.

So you know, I would like to see something to change that ending.

I didn't either, and I would love a 6th book. Only, it needs to be written by Douglas Adams.

We could clone him, make his clone live the exact same life as he did, then show him the books and tell him to write more...

Yes.....

Kagera

Gorilla Salad wrote: »

What?

What?

Did they not see the ending of the fifth book? Where the hell can they go with this?

This just has trainwreck written all over it.

I hear there's this ship...and it has an "Infinite Improbability Drive"....

Gorilla Salad

Kagera wrote: »

Gorilla Salad wrote: »

What?

What?

Did they not see the ending of the fifth book? Where the hell can they go with this?

This just has trainwreck written all over it.

I hear there's this ship...and it has an "Infinite Improbability Drive"....

Well, yes, but,

Spoiler:

that universe and everyone in it was erased from existence, which included Arthur, Ford, Zaphod, and everyone except for Fenny. Now, yes, there are other universes, and the infinite improbability drive, but still, seems fucked up to try and continue it.

APZonerunner

The Bond novel wasn't a very good imitation of Fleming's style, borrowing metaphors and descriptive techniques but otherwise entirely un-Fleming and very 2000s in style, and I doubt this will be a very good imitation either. That doesn't mean the book won't be good, though - it probably just won't imitate very well.

Kagera

Gorilla Salad wrote: »

Kagera wrote: »

Gorilla Salad wrote: »

What?

What?

Did they not see the ending of the fifth book? Where the hell can they go with this?

This just has trainwreck written all over it.

I hear there's this ship...and it has an "Infinite Improbability Drive"....

Well, yes, but,

Spoiler:

that universe and everyone in it was erased from existence, which included Arthur, Ford, Zaphod, and everyone except for Fenny. Now, yes, there are other universes, and the infinite improbability drive, but still, seems fucked up to try and continue it.

Well if it's a horrible mess of a book then I'll just hate it and move on.

But it could be good even if it's not Adams' writing so why be all melancholy about it right now?

Quid

A bloo bloo bloo someone besides Adams is writing about the Hitchiker's Universe.

Douglas's books were pretty good and he was a pretty cool guy, but the two aren't inseparable. Yes, it'd be wonderful if Adams was brought back to life to write more, but that is not an option. Worst case scenario is there's a book I don't bother reading. Best case scenario is that I read a good book by some guy that isn't Adams. He wouldn't be the first person to take someone's universe and write something decent with it.

Richy

Gorilla Salad wrote: »

Kagera wrote: »

Gorilla Salad wrote: »

What?

What?

Did they not see the ending of the fifth book? Where the hell can they go with this?

This just has trainwreck written all over it.

I hear there's this ship...and it has an "Infinite Improbability Drive"....

Well, yes, but,

Spoiler:

that universe and everyone in it was erased from existence, which included Arthur, Ford, Zaphod, and everyone except for Fenny. Now, yes, there are other universes, and the infinite improbability drive, but still, seems fucked up to try and continue it.

Spoiler:

The entire universe was erased from existence? Well it's been a while since I read the book, but I thought only Earth had been erased...

MikeMan

Grey Ghost wrote: »

WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE

dude spoiler that shit or something lolz

juice for jesus

Have these projects ever turned out anything worthwhile?

The Gone With the Wind sequel(s)?

Dune prequels?

Even the Rendezvous with Rama sequels "co-written" with Clarke were awful (from what I could stand to read).

durandal4532

That's a silly thing to do. Especially after Salmon of Doubt made it clear to me that Adams was a pretty outstanding dude all around. Writing "as Adams" would require you live his life.

This is so silly.

Dalboz

I think it depends if Adams had left notes around and they are being used for this book. He had supposedly starting to mull over ideas for a sixth book (and a third Dirk Gently book) when he died because he said that he felt the series didn't end that well with the fifth book, and he wrote it while going through a very difficult time in his life, hence the dark tone. Of course, it could end up like the Dune sequels, which were supposedly based on notes Herbert left, but who knows. I'll stay on the middle of the fence until I hear more.

SageinaRage

Jesus, Adams himself tried to end the series 3 times, I think that's a good sign that it's done.

Considering how extremely different in tone and feel all the books are, and the lack of an overarching narrative, this comes off as a completely unnecessary money grab.


Now, the 12th wheel of time book, THAT I can get behind.