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

Because it starts today at 14:30 and I am super excited.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01r522y

It is probably my favourite book of the last 20 years. I think the TV show is grossly underrated and the comic versions are amazing.

For the uninitiated it is basically like a dark modern fairy tale for grownups. Fantastical but not conventional fantasy.

It has a *stellar* cast, Benedict Cumbernath, James McAvoy, Christopher Lee, Bernard Cribbens and loads of other good people.

Really be there, or be square!

FB

Yes! But thanks for the reminder FB.

I listen to Radio4 almost constantly, and thanks to the iPlayer there's no need to stay at home to hear things live.

They've had some other really good stuff on lately too. Radio4Extra has loads of interesting drama.

I'm a massive fan of Gaiman, and really like Neverwhere, so I'll definitely listen. On the other hand, I heard the last Gaiman radio adaptation on R4 a few years ago - Mister Punch - and wasn't that keen on the conversion.

I thought it was great.

Listening though reminded me just how cinematic the source material is. Can't believe there has not been a film adaptation.

FB

Do you know if its available in America? I don't get BBC radio here.

Yes, BBC radio is available worldwide via the internet. Here's a direct link to the programme.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01r527b/Neil_Gaiman_Neverwhere_London_Below/

Thank you, I've got it bookmarked now.

You're most welcome!

I thought the first episode was great - although I had a lot of the images from the TV drama in my head while listening. Looking forward to the rest of it!

It's good, and it really is a stellar cast, but I'm afraid I remain unconvinced by the whole concept of fiction on the radio. And I suppose there is an irony in making this statement on a website based on the 'Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy', which began life as fiction on the radio.

Why are you unconvinced, out of interest?

It just never seems to fully flesh out the picture, for me. I feel like I'm only getting half the information I need to follow the events.

I used to feel that way when I was a kid. But as I got older that gradually began to change. I love radio drama now.

Funnily enough I never had that issue with books. I guess it just took me longer to get my imagination to fill out spaces when I am hearing something spoken than reading the words.

I am super excited about episode 2 tomorrow

FB

I must admit I prefer reading a book to an audio production, although I do listen to radio 4 a lot. I enjoy a good play while doing something else like needlework or a jigsaw but would usually have music. TV or film versions of books sometimes good, sometimes poor.

Warning: Neverwhere was aired daily! Repeat, DAILY! The series has already finished, and will only be available in its entirety from the BBC website until the end of this week. I totally expected the second episode to be last weekend, and ended up marathoning the whole lot (after the first) last Saturday.

Yes I fell into the same "assumption"! I'll try to catch another episode or 2 tonight.

Is it available as a podcast?

Very odd - all the episodes say "available to listen till next year", apart form the last one, which is only available for 4 days.

And what does "Neverwhere begins with an hour-long episode at 2:30pm on Saturday 16 March on Radio 4 and continues with five 30-minute installments stripped across the week on Radio 4 Extra from Monday 18 March." mean?

It means that it starts with an hour long episode at 2:30 on 16/03 on Radio 4, and then continues for five days (Mon-Fri) at 6pm on Radio 4 Extra, which is another station.

It's not really ambiguous, is it?

I was very sliglty disappointed, and I think it's because radio drama lives and dies by characterisation and the spoken word. I just didn't find the characterisation compelling. I listened to the last two episodes last night, and enjoyed them more than the earlier ones, though.

Question - does Robert Rankin do something similar? I remember the idea of the Angel Islington being an actual angel, but thought it was from one of the Sprouts of Wrath series. I don't remember reading Neverwhere, though I must have done so at some time.

I do remember American Gods, though. Awesome book.