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

Weirdly enough, at around the time that Douglas was leaving us we were discussing him at work. Someone brought up the Zen concept of time being an illusion, to which I replied "Time is an illusion; lunchtime doubly so." That led us off on a discussion of Douglas' books, our favorite parts in them, when we discovered them and so forth. Such a shock later to find that he had died.

My deepest condolences to Jane, Polly and Douglas' mom. I wish I could say something comforting and profound, but I know from first-hand experience that mere words don't touch what you're feeling right now. I would like for you to know though, that as a young widow struggling to raise two small children, Douglas' books brought light and laughter into some otherwise bleak times in my life. My heart goes out to you.

To Douglas, I really hope that in some dimension out there you're able to read all these tributes to you and know how valued and appreciated you were. I met you at the booksigning you did at the Tattered Cover in Denver to promote the Starship Titanic game, and you were amazingly gracious about the huge stack of books I'd brought for you to sign, as well as about my then 8 y-o daughter who was bored and kept doing splits during your talk. You'd be pleased to know she's since become a major fan of yours and even dressed as Arthur Dent for her school's literary festival. Someday, I hope to chug Pan-Galactic Gargle Blasters with you at Milliways. But until then, thank you for everything. You're a hoopy frood who really knew where his towel was.

Judy