Hitchhiker's Guide to Edited Guide – a Celebration
Created | Updated Mar 8, 2019
Hitchhiker's Guide to Edited Guide – a Celebration
In a vague connection with this month's Create Challenge about the inspiration of Douglas Adams and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, we bring you interviews with three Researchers who have helped to build the Earth Edition of the Hitchhiker's Guide here on h2g2.com. We asked the question: 'Out of the Entries you have written, do you have any particular favourites?'
First is SashaQ, who has contributed 90 Solo Entries to the Edited Guide and is working towards the 100 Solo Entries badge.
Four Entries that I would class as favourites, as they captured (in quick succession) what I think of as my defining interests, are: John Deacon - Bass Guitarist of Queen, Count Sandor Vay - A Transgender Icon, Ada Lovelace - Mathematician and Computer Scientist and Christopher Nolan - Author and Disabled Person. I would also like to add The Evolution of the Dandies, because it was a pleasing challenge to research it and write it in a different style from my other Entries, and 'The Road to El Dorado' - the Film, that I dedicated to my partner as it is a film we would have enjoyed watching together.
Second is Dmitri Gheorgheni, who was awarded the 175 Solo Entries badge in 2018.
I have so many fond memories of the research behind most of these. But three stood out when you asked the question:
- Pittsburgh Sub Specie Aeternitatis
- Drinking Your Way Through the Apocalypse: The DIY Fallout Shelter Snack Bar
- Kurt Gerstein: God's Spy in the Devil's Uniform
I'm proud of the Pittsburgh entry because it takes a very long view of the subject. Also because the mayor of Pittsburgh's office has acknowledged its existence on Twitter.
The apocalypse entry is an example of how practical the Guide can be. It even has useful diagrams!
Finally, the Kurt Gerstein entry proves to doubters that my writing is not all about the snark. Some things need to be remembered.
And last but by no means least is Bluebottle, who is the first-ever recipient of the 400 Solo Entries Badge!
I've narrowed it to 11, if that helps…?
- 1. Yaverland, Isle of Wight, UK - (March 14, 2000) – My first solo entry
- 159. Walking Hadrian's Wall - (February 6, 2012) – This marks a personal achievement and time spent with close friends.
- 191. 'Zulu' - the Film - (January 15, 2013) – I think I handled this potentially difficult film review well.
- 222. ORP Blyskawica and the Cowes Blitz - (March 1, 2013) – This subject has family connections as one of my grandfather's help build her and my other grandfather always said she saved his life.
- 236. 'Labyrinth' - The Film - (June 3, 2013) – Just 'cos of the 'Life lessons learnt from Labyrinth' section, which is a creed to live by.
- 269. Class Segregation and the Evolution of the British Railway Carriage - (March 10, 2014) – 'Cos at the end of the day the whole idea of comparing Britain's class system to railway carriages is unbelievably daft, yet somehow it makes sense.
- 273. 'The Island of Doctor Moreau' by HG Wells (May 28, 2014) – You can't beat the classics.
- 303. How Do You Sleep at Night with Copulating Insects - The Lennon/McCartney Lyrics War - (June 1, 2015) – It hopefully goes to show that anyone can interpret anything the way they most want to.
- 357. Brontosaurus! Post-Extinction Burial and Rebirth - (Jun 12, 2017) – I'm reclaiming the Brontosaurus through the medium of science.
- 377. Red Dwarf's Guide to Human History - (March 12, 2018) – Again, 'cos it is daft.
- 381. 'Horrible Histories' - the Television Series - (April 23, 2018) – This personifies time spent with my family and I think the good times shines through in the entry. (We watched 'Horrible Histories: Horrible Christmas' together yesterday).
