h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I enjoyed the film. I was initially surprised by the casting of Ford Prefect, being stuck with a mental image of the tv version - until Mr T pointed out that Fords were only available in black when they started making them. Once I settled into the film, I enjoyed the way that character was played.

I liked Bill Nighey's Slartibartfast - and wondered if they'd intentionally made him look like an Old Testament prophet/god - making the world sort of thing?

I bought the soundtrack before seeing the film - but haven't listened to it yet. So Long and Thanks For All the Fish has been stuck in my head since Saturday.

We went to see the exhibitiuon at the Science Museum, before seeing the film there too. In retrospect - it would have been better to do the film first.

I liked the Ford casting, but couldn't understand the Arthur/Trillion romance?

Surely :

"Oh, yeah," said Ford, "she went off with Zaphod somewhere. They had some kids or something. At least," he added, "I think that's what they were. Zaphod's calmed down a lot you know."

Thank god I found that quote..... Arthur and Trillion?

Arthur and Fenchurch, Zaphod and Trillion, and Ford and...well that lake he met which thought it was a gin and tonic.

It just left me irked.

I liked the dolphin musical bit at the beginning.

Cheers all,
G

Potential spoilers below for the books....

I don't know if DNA intended Arthur to definitively be with Fenchurch. I mean, when he met Fenchurch Douglas Adams devoted an entire chapter to discussing Arthur's love life and why he'd never really mentioned it before (effectively explaining why the majority of the book is more of a fantasy-romantic-comedy than a satirical sci-fi spoof). During that chapter he talks about the possibility of their having been some sort of relationship between Arthur and Trillian (which is somewhat supported by Arthur's daughter in the fifth).

Regardless, I think we're all glad that the movie wasn't based on the Infocom version of HHGTTG. Great game, but it would've been a horrible movie.

Except that in Mostly Harmless it was quite certainly stated that the way that Trillian ended up with a daughter fathered by Arthur was because of his deposits in DNA banks. In fact I believe that it is mentioned that Trillian and Arthur had never hooked up as it were.

Yes, I recall that too. And in the fourth book there is some mention of Arthur having made some money selling his sperm to disreputable institutions.

*clears away the material from the film discussion and drops her completed copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on the table*

So, from what I heard in the other thread, people are taken by the idea of a Room of Requirement. I can't figure out how you get your stuff back, though.

I think Rowling's writing has improved a lot -- do you reckon she could successfully write about another subject than Harry?

Who knows? I think she should probably write her next book under a pseudonym, though, as whatever comes out after Harry Potter 7 will come in for lots of 'well, it's no Harry Potter...' comments. I think she said she wouldn't write fantasy again, anyway.

I did like the latest book, though I do now feel I ought to go back over the previous five on a horcrux hunt. I'm sure we've probably seen most of the objects somewhere already. The end was very sad, but to be expected (the whole mentor/hero dynamic). I loved the scene with the librarian, as well. A terrible stereotype, but I did laugh out loud when she called Harry a 'depraved boy'.

David

Of course Pratchett's Unseen University library is the gold standard in books, architecture AND librarians...

Very true. But it's always nice to see a librarian get 'page time', even a librarian like Irma Pince. Still, on balance, I'd rather be associated with the orangutan!

Rowling is showing some initiative in showing that Potter is going to leave Hogwarts. It would be so safe to keep him there another year and write about more Quidditch matches and classroom events. Mind you, what else can eventually happen but that HP becomes headmaster?

I don't think Harry will survive book 7. I think it'll be a Frodo-esque "the world has been saved, but not for me" ending designed to stop people clamouring for a sequel - and to remove the temptation for JKR herself.

I agree, Amy. I fully expect him to win over Voldemort but perish somehow. Teachers and librarians everywhere will need to prepare to counsel a legion of distraught children...

Am I the only one who smiles every time Luna shows up? She's a great creation, and I hope she survives.

*going for a double posting*

Finally made it to the HHGTTG movie - it opened at long last in Denmark Friday. Liked it Went with towels - quite a few in the audience with bath robes.

I liked Marvin - and have duly greeted our , named after him.

---

HP6 - just finished it. I agree that the writing's good - and I think it was Ormy who said somewhere that it has a darkness to it that it quite effective and 'right'.

I have this feeling that there is more 'main story' and less of the small side stories/funny little acts in this one...?

Re: HP 6, I liked it. However, I don't think I was as emotionally effected by the ending as I should have been.

SPOILERS BELOW!


On the one hand, I truly expected Dumbledore to die in book 4, and a gain in book 5, so I'm a bit jaded to it by now. Furthermore, people kept telling me "Oh, the ending is so sad!" "You'll be so sad when you read it!" "Oh, it's the saddest thing I've ever read" that nothing could have actually been sad enough to satisfy me.

Furthermore, I've realized the one problem I've had with Harry Potter books. I've subconciously known that I didn't care for some aspect of it, even though the books are well written and incredibly enjoyable. I finally know now.

You see, Rowling uses so much folklore and mythology and fairy tale as the backing for he novels that there's absolutely no way that another author could easily use some of the same instances without being seen as imitating her work. I learned of bezoars, for instance, just hours before I bought this book (on opening night). I said, "Hmm. Wouldn't it be fun to use one of those in a story that I write soon?" Little did I know that Rowling had already used it in such a noticeable way that it would be hard to repeat the usage without being seen as "stealing from Harry Potter." Similar things go for Hippogriffs and The Grim.

Altogether, though, I enjoyed reading it immensely. I don't believe that Harry will become headmaster, even if he does survive book seven. McGonnagal would have to die, then Flitwick and Sprout, before Harry could even realistically begin vying for such a position.

Now, Harry as a Defense Against The Dark Arts professor, that wouldn't be too far-fetched. Though as with Tom Riddle, Harry would be a bit young for the job.

I think it'd be interesting if Harry were to turn evil, only to be destroyed by Neville....I wouldn't like it, but it'd be interesting.

*DD treads carefully to avoid an abandoned Banana skin correctly placed according to the Dewey Decimal Classification*

Hmmm I wonder with all these sudden appearances in the Atelier if the rift in L-Space has shifted. You never can those guys from Touchwood when you need them really.

Could be, could be...

Torchwood, though? Wouldn't trust that lot as far as I could throw them, which really isn't very far, since wings are designed for throwing.

Ok then David it's down to you and me.

What's this?

*lifts up a faded pointed hat put there is a less faded area of the hat where the letters W, I and Z can be made out*

*thinks*

*thinks some more*



Someone has put on an illicit production of The Wiz in the library. All that breaking of theatrical rights must have done it.

Or something like that. It's early in the morning.

*looks for some caffeine in his satchel, and ponders some more*

No I don't think so.

The harmonic reverberations left by this item are not of a musical nature, they are more of a magical derivation.

Hmm.

*stares suspiciously at a large trunk he's never noticed before in the library*

That looks out of place as well...