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

There are just a few people, among the billions alive or once alive, who produced something that touched me in a way that made me think that maybe the world isn't such a lonely place after all. When one of these folks die, I feel as if a part of me dies with them.

I remember when I experienced this for the first time, when I was still a kid and Isaac Asimov, my favourite writer then, passed away. It was kind of weird - he was a complete stranger to me, but yet if it wasn't for him and his books I would be a very different person.

I'm feeling the same now about Douglas Adams. I read his five-books trilogy at a critical stage in my life (and then re-read them many times afterwards, of course), and I simply wouldn't be the same guy that I am today if it weren't for that experience.

To know that Douglas Adams is gone, even if we still have his legacy (this site, for instance), makes the world feel rather sad and lonely, as if a guiding light of sorts I had is suddenly missing, a comforting presence (yes, for to know that an artist you admire may be about to present you with some new marvel at any time is very comforting) gone forever.

That's all very sad.

Marino

My feelings exactly. Its terrible. I couldn't believe how upsetting it was that a person i'd never met was gone. No one i know really understands so when i found out i knew that i had to come on h2g2 where everybody would feel the same way and say something. I did know exactly what i wanted to say but it's all gone blank, so i'll just say, he was one of the good guys.

My one consolation is the thought that right now he is probably sitting in Milliways bugging God with loads of challenging questions and enjoying many much-deserved Pan Galactics.

Thanx for all
B

My first reactions were of shock & sadness that such a great mind should be lost so young.
I then took the first book of the trilogy from its place on the bookshelf & read the first few chapters to my sons in the garden.
The result was tears they were a mixture of ones of laughter & sadness,
Laughter from my sons of 10,9,7 & 4 & sadness from myself that there will be no new words of wisdom & wit from the man who gave me so much to look forward to when I first listened to the radio 4 series all those years ago in my late teens when I had very little else to smile about.
Douglas is now one of those immortals of the written word who will bring joy & laughter to many millions more for decades to come.
We will miss what may have followed but will continue to love what has been done.
Kevin Cooke (Stevenage UK)

My introduction to Mr. Adam's work was one of the few things I left a horrible relationship with several years ago. Sure, I left with some fond memories and happy times, but they were balanced out by unexplainable arguments and odd behavior (hers, not mine for a change).

In the end though, I still have to thank Tiffany for forcing me to read The Guide. We were sitting around one day, and while we were chatting I was poking through her books. I picked up The Guide and made a passing comment, something like "Hey, I've seen this before. Is it any good?". A few moments later I found myself outside her apartment, book in hand (well, in backpack) on my way home, with the instruction to read the book... or else.

After a day's worth of righteous indignation I started flipping through the pages and happened across the phrase "The ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don't". Hmmm....

A few hours later I had read the book, cover to cover, without having moved.

The next day I went out and bought everything I could find that Mr. Adams had written.

I will forever be indebted to Tiffany for gently coaxing me into reading the Guide, and to Douglas Adams for his having written it.

We should all look on the bright side though, as Douglas now knows what the question is.