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

It's here...at last...

....the long-awaited h2g2 fiction and essay anthology!

'Twice-42: Wit and Wisdom from a Mostly Harmless Planet'
Price: $20 (see your local listings for euros and pounds)
Available on Amazon

US link:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1986069141/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1526231422&sr=1-1&keywords=twice-42

What's Twice-42? 84, of course. Double the number of the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything. This eclectic anthology contains 84 essays, short stories, and other forms of casual writing from the Researchers at h2g2.com, founded in 1999 by science fiction writer Douglas Adams, author of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

From the Foreword to this tome:

'The online venture known as the Earth Edition, or Edited Guide, began as a response to this dissing of our planet in a work of science fiction. The h2g2 Edited Guide, which was launched in 1999 and is still being added to daily, contains a lot of really interesting information that got left out of the Hitchhiker's Guide by that ignoramus Zarniwoop. You really owe it to yourself to visit this amazing website at h2g2.com. You'll learn a lot. It's entertaining and factual.

What follows here, while fully intending to be entertaining, is not, strictly speaking, completely factual. We Researchers get a little bored from time to time, and we doodle around the edges of reality. This book is the result of more than 18 years of that doodling. When what's in here really happened, we've changed names to protect the innocent. We've likely embellished a detail or two. And let's face it, some of this stuff is pure, unadulterated, outrageous fiction.
We're having fun, and we want you to, too.

We hope this volume will be one you'll keep on a bedside table. Or pop into a travel bag. We want you to use this anthology as a companion for those times when you have a half-hour to fill and don't want to muck about with the internet. Not one of these stories will take you more than ten minutes to read. But they will take you around the planet at warp speed. You may find yourself on a galactic cruise from your office, park bench, or seat on the 9.35 local. '

And now, to the $20 question, 'Am I in this? Meaning, do I want to buy it?'

If you've contributed a poem, essay, 42-word story, or piece of fiction to h2g2, you stand a good chance. Almost sixty Researchers, give or take, are represented here. Some have passed on, but their words are remembered. We're pretty sure you're going to like this collection.

Also on the 'Do I want to buy this?' front:

The Core Team wish to point out that Father's Day is coming up. Also Towel Day. This would be an amazing h2g2 gift, particularly wrapped in a 'Don't Panic!' towel. You would be so cool your nieces and nephews would believe they could keep a side of beef in you for a month.

Thanks,

DG

Yay! My mum will love this book as she enjoys short stories and h2g2's depths contain a great mix of humour and poignancy so I've ordered a copy already (and one for myself too )

I've ordered a copy!

Any danger of telling us what's in it?

I've fathered numerous poems and 42-word stories. I hope at least some of them made the cut.

Yes, Paul, you're in it. So is Icy North.

As to the full contents, the advertising copy gives an overview of the type of things you'll find inside. We're hoping the Table of Contents will be included in a 'Look Inside' feature when it shows up, but for some reason it didn't turn up yesterday. Inquiries will be made later this week.

I do write a lot of junk - I hope you haven't chosen something that I might regret.

I think you'll enjoy it - it's the Hampshire and IoW UFO book review and quiz.

I hope you're not giving the impression that Caulkheads are a bunch of crazy nutters. (Hampshire Hogs are, obviously. )

<BB<

I think the impression a reader comes away with is that Planet Earth has plenty of nutters... The stories kind of spread the madness around the globe.

I can hardly wait to see it, then.

I got an out of print, limited availability message! All it wanted to do was put it on my wish list I need to read about those drunken Florida Sailors and all the flotsam and jetsam

F S

Are you aware of Flotsam & Jetsam Wine?

http://flotsamandjetsam.co.za/

Do you know the real meaning of the words http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/flotsam-jetsam.html I don't think I would really want to drink a wine made from either one

F S

I see that, FS. Try again tomorrow - it may be a technical glitch. If it's still there, we'll alert our business people.

Added it to my wish list just now with no problems

There goes my credibility with the local paranormal research community...

It's a technical glitch, but we're working on it...

I'm sure our glitches can be improved.