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

I'm surprised there's no convo yet about the new h2g2 radio series - airs Thurs eve on Radio 4 at 6:30 pm.

What radio series not seen that

The Hexagonal phase based on Eoin Colfer's authorized wrap-up 6th book in the HHGttG series, _And Another Thing_.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09vm093

Thank you for that

I knew it was coming, but hadn't spotted the announcement.

I thought "And another thing" was bleaker than I expected.

I spite of the Agrajag material, I still wanted Arthur Dent to find some redemptive place to live out his life. He never did, not even in this last book.

Okay, I know that the mark of a great author is a willingness to do awful things to good characters. By that standard alone, Douglas Adams was as great an author as anyone could be (he was already at the top of my list by other measures anyway).

But sometimes enough is enough. A good ending allows for things to turn out all right. The reader can glean enough golden threads to make up a satisfactory outcome, which is what I wanted to do.....

It comes really soon after James Goss has novelised Douglas Adams' script proposal 'Doctor Who and the Krikkitmen'.

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Now isn't that special?

Speaking of anniversaries, h2g2 is nearing its 20th.

I'm really hoping there's a 20th anniversary MeetUp I can plan another UK vacation around. I haven't had a real vacation since my 2014 trip to Manchester and Edinburgh. I'd love to do that again.

Why hasn't someone nicked Douglas' original idea, The Ends of the World?


I'm saddened that they didn't renew the recent Dirk Gently TV series. It had very little to do with the story DNA wrote other than the title and the concept of an holistic detective, but it was quite entertaining and intriguing. The writers took the original Dirk Gently stories and used them as inspiration for a whole new universe of characters and events. Sadly we'll never find out where it was all going, unless someone like Netflix decides to un-ass a boat load of money to continue the series.

I would think someone could take that original idea of a series of possible ways the world ends as a comedy and run with it.


Maybe now that BBC Radio has finished with the "Trilogy" someone will give The Ends of the World a try.

That sounds interesting. Where did he write about the Ends of the World idea?

It was his original idea that later became Hitchhikers. The concept was that each week's episode would be a stand alone SciFi comedy sketch about some odd but humourous apocalypse, hence the Hyperspace Bypass.

"Maybe now that BBC Radio has finished with the "Trilogy" someone will give The Ends of the World a try" [Baron Grim]

Let's not ask for too much. Chances are, this will get ready for its premier, only to be upstaged by the actual end of the wold.

I kinda liked the first episode... but... something niggling in the back of my head... a tad off with the tone of it... that is somewhat not quite the original radio series tone... in the narration I think, maybe... but its early, perhaps it will settle down a little in the second episode

I completely forgot to listen.

Hoorah for being able to listen online.

PP.

'And Another Thing' didn't have the same tone, but actual Douglas Adams' material is being added to provide veritas.

I still don't know why John Lloyd isn't involved more considering he co-wrote the original 2 radio series...

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I haven't listened yet (I'll probably download them all and listen to them in tandem), but it can't be easy kicking off again after the final episode of the Quintessential Phase, which was clearly designed to be the last ever. Not because everyone died - they didn't - but because it was a return to Milliways party and retrospective. For that reason, I'll be happy if the tone is different this time, but it's never going to be an integral part of the trilogy.

I felt it was one of those introductory episodes to set the scene for new & returning listeners. Promising - good to hear some familiar as well as new voices.

I listened to it earlier, mixed feelings about it, as Teasswill said very much an introductory episode. I felt they were shuffling the plot around to get out of the hole we were left in.
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Yes, I agree with comments so far - a couple of moments that I felt were 'off' but overall it was helpful to set the scene.

Great to hear that theme music again, and the familiar voices were most comforting! I enjoyed Prof Hawking's voice, too - perfectly cast!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09vm093