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

Oh, Douglas, Douglas, Douglas .... there you are, brain the size of a planet, and you had to die in
Santa Barbara, California.

Douglas Adams was just this kind of guy, ya know? Only Douglas Adams could write the 26th
most important book of the 20th Century, but the funniest and TRUEST book of the 20th Century.
To anyone who read him, the 6 Book Trilogy of "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" is a
guidebook to self-understanding, and to surfing the Galaxy in grand style - our wit intact, our
sardonic outlook breezy, and a smile on our face.

Only Douglas Adams could mock that which needed mocking, and yet do so in such a manner as
to cause us severe sideaches from laughter. The Final Existentialist has gone (Dirk) Gently into
that Good Night. I just hope it is not to the Frogstar. Tears drip Gently down my face as I type into a
machine that Douglas thought amusing, a computer. Fear not! I have my towel, as Douglas has
taught us all. I have his Books. I have Douglas in my heart forever. When my kids are old enough,
they shall be introduced to the works of Douglas Adams, whose genius will not fade with time - or
at least until the End of the Universe at Milliways comes!

Now we shall all have to listen to the Vogon Poetry of the politicians, bureaucrats, pretentious, and
self-righteous without the sweetly cynical Bard of the BBC reminding us what cowflop it all really is.

A genius has passed from us, Earthlings, the likes of which we will not see again for a long time.
And this sucks so badly because thet 21st Century, even more than the 20th, is going to be just
*made* for Douglas Adams. When the centuries get tough, the tough get weird, and this new 21st
Century is going to qualify.

So long, Douglas, and from the bottom of my heart and soul and brain - thanks for *all* the fish.

Deeply Sorrowed,

Alan R. Weiss
Austin/Texas/USA/North America/Hyperspace Bypass