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

This is the discussion thread for our first group read. May we have many more.

Feel free to raise any issues or questions related to the content, the style, the author... anything relevant.

So far in Zaire and it is very good. A good travelogue, never mind the environmental message. Anyhoo, best not say anything else in case I spoil it for folks.

I refuse to post anything in this thread until the US Postal Service delivers my book.


Um, Lil, can you pull a little weight and get my book delivered faster?

Amazon are not the speedy response place they once were, d'E. Have you tracked the order?

I'm in Zaire, too, Munchers.

Maybe d'Elephant's copy is in customs there. Shall we look around the Visitors' lounge?

Just finished the book this morning. I enjoyed the DNA wit, but hated the message. Too depressing.

Still, it was worth reading for the LOL moments.

I won't say any more until people have had a chance to read it.

In excellent news, I can report that this has been the best breeeding season for the Kakapo (a large flightless NZ parrot that is mentioned in the book) in living memory. The successful hatching of 22 chicks takes the world population up to 84 birds. Hopefully, all the chicks will survive into adulthood.

GL, sounds like a good idea to have people report here that they've finished reading or re-reading the book; then we can carry on with discussion.

Good news, indeed, Looney.

Lil, whatever post office magic you used worked. I suspect the local mail delivery is still somewhat affected by the anthrax scare, due to my proximity to Ewing, NJ. Everything seems to take a day or two longer than it used to.

So far I've read the cover and looked at the pictures. I'll start on it in earnest tonight.

Started the book last night, got to page 11 and thought of Amy when two words leapt off the page at me: fire ants


I am enjoying the humour, haven't read enough yet to form an opinion to the message of the book.

That's good to hear, Loony. I think at the time DNA was there (1988 or 1989), there were roughly 40, and the first chick that had been seen since 1981 was born after he had left. To have 22 chicks born this year is a huge improvement.

GL, alas in breaking news this morning, two of the chicks are in intensive care. I sent an article about the successful breeding season - it includes a neat picture - to the OTD mailing list.

Do you have a link for that article, Loony? I am subscribed to OTD, but I have it set for web reading only, which means that I can't see any attachements.

I would like to point out that I am not a fire ant... but some of my best friends are.

gl, here's a link

http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/index/0,1008,1137140a1861,FF.html

Mmmm. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.stuff.co.nz and click on "Features".

It's just ants in general, Amy, not particularly the fire ants that bring you to mind. You may like to know that I'm going to try to look more kindly on them this summer when they decide that they really want to live in my kitchen!

If Mark Carwadine is quoted accurately in the books, he has a fine sense of humour too and I suspect the two of them got on famously. Perhaps not quite a laugh a minute, given the circumstances, but there must have been more humour on their trips together than most.

Have finished the book. I think I agree with the DNA is funny but the message ain't idea. Will look at Looney's link over lunch I think.

I'm between the gorillas and the rhinos. It seems as much a travel book as a book about endangered species. It's a great read - the description of the Zaire officials sounds like it came right out of HHGG.

The "message" part of the book builds in intensity as you go along. The last chapter is pretty heavy.

Read the article, Looney. Very encouraging. I've printed it off and will leave it in the back of the book when I return it to the library. I always enjoy finding hidden treasures in library or second-hand books.