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

I love the book of Terry Pratchett and always like them as gifts for good friends ...
mostly they like them to
One thing I would like to read is a book of T.Pratchett AND D.Adams ....

A reveiw of a Discworld book I read some time ago Read something like this:

If Pratchett had put pen to paper several years ago, Ford prefect would still be marooned out in space with his thumb sticking out."

I always thought that was a little harsh. But the germ of an idea formed and I confess to long having wondered what a collaboration between my two favourite authors would produce. Possibly something like " Good Omens", I suspect. If Ford where ever to arrive on the Disc to put in a write up for the Mended Drum in the Guide, he would have to change his name to something like: Hoorsdrewn Karidge.

I wonder if they have ever met in RL? ( El Tel and DNA, I mean.)

Clive

I know that both Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams have contributed short stories to the book "The Wizards of Odd" by Peter Haining - but that's not quite close enough, is it?

I know who you mean with El Tel and DNA, but I don't understand, what it really mean??? especialy DNA

I also have heard people comparing both in there sense of humor, but I never could say witchone is "better".
I think also it would be nice to have DEATH (one of my favourit characters) in a space ship or Rincewind ...

Met over tea and crumpets. Exchanged witty conversation under a brightly coloured parasol on some sunny beach lined with palm trees somewhere. Discussed future projects together over a pint. You know...met....each other. In Real Life.

Clive

Love TP, Love DNA,
Both are good in different ways
When I am reading, with a cup of tea
why am I writing poetry?,

What is the wizards of odd like?.

"The Wizards Of Odd" is a collection of amusing short stories, and I found it very enjoyable. All the stories were written by good writers - one or two I found less enjoyable, but the overall standard was very high and I was very impressde. One of the best anthologies I've seen in a long time!

I understand why Douglas Adams is often referred to as "DNA" (Douglas N. Adams, I'm assuming), but why in the name of whichever deity gets invoked when this sort of thing happens is Pratchett "El Tel"? I all I see is the "Te" from "Terry", but the "l" doesn't seem to come from anywhere in particular. What's it's derivation?

Um...actually , I've no idea either. I just read the books of the Discworld, I guess I must have just read the El Tel thing somewhere in the periphery of stuff that gets written about the Discworld. A bit irresponsible of me I suppose. Hereby see that last sentence ammended to:

"Mr Terry Pratchett and Mr Douglas Adams, I wonder if they've ever met in real life?."

Clive

'Tel' is a common shortened (dimunitive, if you like) form of the name 'Terry'.

Tim

Beat me to it. El Tel was also the name given to Terry Venables later England Football manager by the English Tabloid press during his stint in charge of Barcelona. Somehow the name suits TP better with his large hat, he has a bit of Southern American chic about him.

I've always seen TP referred to as PTerry after the naming conventions in Pyramids, but there you go.
I don't think a PT/DNA book would ever work as Terry churns out stuff faster than you can say "anthropomorphic personification", whilst Douglas is famous for being the laziest writer on the planet. I think they'd just get frustrated at one another.

They may be able to do a series of connecting stories set in the same fictional universe/planet. That way how long it takes them to write won't matter if they each write, say, 5 short stories each.
But the chances of it happening are very, very small.

Maybe we should start an entry to collect all reasons why they should work together etc.
and with a list for all researchers to sign (if they like the idea).
Finally we could send those list to both, and see what will happen.

Knowing DNA - sadly, not a lot.

I'm not too sure I would want them to collaberate. And I (honestly) can't give a reason why not. Just a feeling.

I think I understand, what you mean. If they work together it could be absolutly great OR terrible bad, or something inbetween
But if they never try, we will never know ...

The thing that made Good Omens great was the fact that Mr. Pratchett and Mr. Gaiman have such drasticaly different writing styles. It's the yin-yang theory hard at work. I'm afraid that if two great wits such as DNA's and Pratchett's collide...well, It might be dangerous.

I don't believe in any of that Yin Yang stuff, and even if people have similar styles it doesn't mean they'll conflict. I don't think that their styles are all that similar, anyway. They both have a different sense of humour and pick up on different things.

I would also like to see PT and DNA write together but I don't think it'll happen as DNA appears to have retired from novels and now focusses mainly on computer games.
As for them meeting in real life, they must have often at sci-fi conventions and literary do's. I also think I saw them competing against each other in some sort of gameshow on BBC 2(British TV).
It was some sort of Celebraty Sci-Fi University Challange type thingy. I hope they repeat it so I can be sure.