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

I remember the first time I picked yp the books. I worked on the night shift, (at a mental ward of all places,) and wanted something to pass the time. Having always wanted to read "The Guide" I started. I don't think that I was ever the same after the first chapter. And for days after I had finished it, the book was stil playing actively in my mind. The images, the scenes that played out in my head. . . and the deeper meanings of it all. To this day I sometimes use the words "DON'T PANIC" as a mantra when I think that maybe life has handed me too much. I reminds me that the outcome of whatever it is that's happening doesn't matter. What matters is how I live my life. The books helped me realize that there are things that are not in my control and like it or not, I must accept them for what they are. And it is how I "deal", (for lack of a better word,) with it that makes me who I am. I would like to thank the Adams family for their kind words and wish them all of the best. And to Douglas, a heartfelt thank you, for the deep thoughts, for the imagry, for the laughter. I hope to meet you someday at the resteraunt at the end od the universe. To borrow a line from you. . ."So long, and thanks for all the fish."

To Douglas' family: He made me laugh, now he has had made me cry. What a powerful man, he will be sadly missed.
His works will go on; I know that when I start to read his books to my kids they will be as enchanted as I was.
Goodbye Douglas

No one leaves you when they live in your heart and mind, no one dies, they just move to the other side

I'm a relative newcomer to Adam's work, but i have friends who have loved everything he has done from day one. Until I read the books myself I never understood all these things they were talking about. It was like joining an elite club of people, with a different way of looking at things.
I couldnt believe what I heard while half listening to the television 3 nights ago. Douglas Adams, dead? That can't be so. And at 49? But then, i'd always thought he was far older. It just seemed to me that he'd being entertaining us all for so long. How sad that someone with such a great insight into life should be taken away so soon. Now we'll never know what else he had to share, that is of course until we get a chance to chat, maybe in a restaraunt somewhere...

Thanks for sharing Douglas.

Regards,
Shane
Adelaide, Australia

I wouldn't be the zany gal I am today had I not found The More Than Complete Hitchhiker's Guide in a used bookstore when I was 13. Thanks to Mr. Adams for showing me just how NOT seriously life, the universe, and everything should be taken.

Thank you very much for telling us. We would all like to be able to send some very bright rays into your grief. I'm sure Douglas was a strong sun of his own and you must miss him tremendously. What's inside of you of his warmth and strength and brightness will allways stay with you.

There are religions/societies that consider the human body a temporary vessel, one step on a much longer or even endless path.

And there's the physical law that no energy is ever lost - only tranformed.

All my very very best wishes to you

I can't help but feel what a lot we have missed out on losing Douglas Adams so young. There don't seem to be many creative people around, we can't afford to lose one. He was always so ecent and such fun; his family must miss him terribly. The thoughts of many are with you.

I can't help but feel what a lot we have missed out on losing Douglas Adams so young. There don't seem to be many creative people around, we can't afford to lose one. He was always so decent and such fun; his family must miss him terribly. The thoughts of many are with you.

I've been away from news for a week. Returning, I asked friends if anything had happened, and this was the first thing they mentioned. The mailing lists I'm on forgot their topics, and remembered Douglas.

I was hurt in a crash last year, and am deeply moved when friends and family recount their memories of the times it looked like I wouldn't recover. When I think of Douglas' family having to endure those feelings and more, it simply makes me cry.

Life seems so arbitrary, life-changing events so random, and inappropriately quick. A minute is appropriate to decide which t-shirt to wear in the morning - you should have a lot longer than that to get used to a loved one being taken from you forever.

Douglas entered my life in the early 80s through radio, TV and books. Everything he wrote seemed to be so funny, and so clever. The h2g2 books fit together so well that I assumed there was some grand plan, and was astonished to read (in the intro to the radio scripts book) that during the first series he was often finishing writing an episode while the beginning was being recorded!

I think word was out that I was a Douglas Adams fan (strange to think there might be someone who isn't), Christmas '83 I must've got half a dozen "Meaning of Liff"s

I met Douglas when he came to my college around '86 to read from h2g2, and he was exactly as I expected him to be - very, very, very nice. Later I 'met' him on alt.fan.douglas-adams, and was very impressed that he joined in conversations with his fans.

There was one particular bit in h2g2 which made me wet myself laughing. I can't remember it though, so I think I'll just have to read it all again. And the Meaning of Liff. And Last Chance to See. And Dirk Gently.

Sorry I've rambled on for so long. The thing which made Douglas' life so treasured should not be his work, it should be himself. I will be sadder knowing he's not still out there, somewhere.

There was a documentary a while back that showed DNA agonising about every word he wrote, showing how he considered that changing a word here, or a phrase there, would have a dramatic effect on the message he wanted to tell.

After much thought, I give you...

Bugger.

(After a bit more thought, I give you:

this is intended as a UK northern expression of deep regret...not anything mucky that you might find in a dictionary.)

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It is a great tribute to DNAs fans that you think of us at a time of loss. I feel like I have lost an old friend.
I can't imagine how you feel....I lost my husband at 30 but everyone feels loss differently.
I hope that you find some comfort in the fact that so many people feel your grief.
I read the books to my daughter and bought a video of the TV series ....I saw it first time around but it's magic hasn't dimished with time.Now a new generation are taking up the Guide.
My daughter insisted we bury a towel with our old cat when she died ..just in case.
.

I lost my partner 3 years ago, this was read at the funeral, it halped me i hope it will help you. My thoughts are with you.

All is Well (anon)

Death is nothing at all
I have only slipped into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other we still are.
Call me by my old familiar name
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used
Put no difference in your tone
Wear no false air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effort
without the ghost of a shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant
It is the same as it ever was
There is absolute unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind - because I am out of sight
I am waiting for you for an interval
Somewhere very near, just around the corner.
All is well.

I have just returned from a period of enlightenment in the Misty Mountains, only to find out that one of my all-time favorite authors has passed away almost a week ago. And for the first time in my life, I am completely speechless. What does one say when the creator of an entire galaxy passes in the blink of an eye? Reading many other condolences, though, I see that he was much, much more.

I am merely but one of Mr. Adams' many fans, but I sincerely hope that his family and friends are getting through this unfortunate loss as well as possible. The creative genius of Mr. Adams will remain unmatched for generations to come.

Mr. Adams was my sole inspiration for writing, and the world will not be the same without him.

-Yossarian

As I sit and stare at a blinking cursur on a screen.... I realise That I am more tahn a person sitting at a comp,,, alll allone in a college computer lab,,,, I am the Ravenmaster,,, Reasearcher for one of the greatest guides ever to be concieved.....It is an intangible existance, but an existance none the less.. and one that fills my heart in times of sadness....

In the same way,,, Douglas Adams was more than a mere writer... He was a mentor of a generation... He made us laugh yes,,, but more importantly he made us think... about the world,,, about ourselves... and I know (For I write myself) That there is no way he could have done any of this..without his friends and family... When u've got ur head in the clouds... U need those closest tp u to keep ur feet on the ground... I could go on for days... there is no limit to my praises of DNA... I would follow Mcduff's example and print dots to show my thoughtful silence...But there's not enough memory on the net. to hold all the dots I'd need...

Douglas Adams was A father, a husband, and a friend to many,,, and none can truly know thier losss... he Was also a ray of light.. to a lonely little boy,,, all alone in the world,,, with nothing to keep him sane but his books...
I thank Douglas Adams For changing my life... and the lives of so many others.... and I thank his family,,, for nuturing this genius,,, and helping him send his message out into the world....
Words cannot express how sorry I am at his passing,,, we will not see his like again.....

The Ravenmaster

That's beautiful, thank you Gutted.
So true for anyones loss.

I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Douglas. Like many of the post-ers here, I grew up with HHGTTG since I was around 10. How much of an impact did he have on my life? Well, put it this way: I'm an incredibly lazy reader; I've probably not finished more than 20 books. But I've finshed every one of Douglas's, and read them all more than once. His was a unique talent, and will be sadly missed.

My love and condolences to his family
Phil
Bournemouth, UK

It is a bit weird for me to send my regards to people who I don't know about a person I've never met. But I felt I had to say thankyou.

Thankyou DNA for making me laugh, the best gift anyone can give.

SallyM

I'd never thought I'd cry over an author, who died.

I mean, I've greatly enjoyed his books. Like others have mentioned, each time I read them again, I found something new, that I hadn't discovered before. And I could just open his books, at any page, and find something interesting.

He had a great insight into human nature.

Like science fiction often is, even if it happens in some far-out place in the Universe, it's really about us, about life, the universe, and everything.

I got the news, by reading Dr. Dobb's Journal, which had a link to this place: "Asteroid 18610: Arthurdent" (URL at my Personal Space - not allowed here). About that an asteroid was named, in his honour.

Well, he lives on in the stars, anyway. A place where he was already familiar.

It's only after I got the news, that I found this website (and other things about him), and it gives me comfort to know that others are grieving the loss, as well.

I thought I was taking it well. I mean, it's a few years since I read his books. But... when I read about how this had affected others, as well,... I... broke down and cried. It helped.

Thanks, Douglas Adams, for everything.

He truly wrote about Life, the Universe, and Everything.

My condolances to his family.

A guy from Norway

Thank you. What a wonderful thing it is, which he left us. My general and abiding cynicism has gone all quiet, and I'm left with wonder.