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

So can the BBC make a good fist of Dirk Gently's Holistic Agency or will it fail?

It was not a set of books I could get into, although I know, to some, it was better than H2G2. It was a bit like the Silmarillion to the LOTR, a little too complicated for my tiny mind, but I am hoping that the television series may open my eyes and make me more tolerant of it.

Anyway, here is the link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/10_october/05/gently.shtml



MMF

Thanks for the heads up. I for one will have to wait until it gets over here in the States, but I'll be keeping an eye out for it.

- JD

You are welcome JD.

It'll probably be an excessmas special!

MMF

The Dirk Gently books were very odd: when I reached the end of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency I suddenly realised that there actually was a plot. I had to read the book again to work out what the plot actually was.

TRiG.

It was a fiendishly clever plot, and I'm not sure if even Douglas Adams understood it fully.

TRiG - I can never really decide if that was Adams' plan: that you only really finally worked it out once you had closed the book and ruminated a while.

It's a fantastically brilliant piece of writing. Way better than the hitchhiker books

I think of the plot as a cross between two Doctor Who stories - Shada and City of Death.

Shada was never actually screened, but could be bought of VHS at one point. Don't know if it's been put onto DVD yet.


Geggs

When my daughter read Dirk Gently, she wasn't at all surprised by the big surprise, because she'd seen it already in City of Death.

I can't even remember the big surprise and I've read both books at least twice. Time for a reread, methinks.

And I'll be watching this thread in the hope someone in the know will tell us if they discover exactly when it's to be aired.

Deb

16th December
at 9pm I think
on BBC4

I don't have BBC4, but I presume it will get to "Dave" eventually.

I don't have Dave (love that name) but I have BBC4
so I'm quite

I was not a fan of the radio series the other year. Maybe the TV version will be better.

Thanks Sho! Will stick a post-it on the telly.

Deb

make sure to check the time though, because I'm not sure about that.

According to Stephen Mangan on the Twitter it is not a direct lift from the books, more a development of the scenario. Which, if you know DNA and enjoyed the film, won't be a terrible disaster.

There was a film?

I think Chris meant the hitchhiker movie.

I quite enjoyed the radio version. It's the best medium for Douglas' stories with the illogical twists and surreal plots and changes of scene. I'd love to see all those Gods walking across Victoria station and disappearing.

Sho, I have one of those digi-box recorder thingies and tomorrow the schedule for next Monday should show up so I'll be setting it to record. Couldn't live without it as I never remember what I want to watch and when it's on.

But thanks

Deb