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

Just dropped in to say Hi, read your page a couple of weeks ago but have only just got the chance to drop a note to you.
I like what you have done and are glad you have put it in a submitted article.
Was toying with the idea of using JdG as my alias until I spotted you online one day, also toyed with The Bishop for a while but thought it might be subject to smutty comments!
HH is one of my favourite writters along with RAH.
I personally like Star Smashers of the Galaxy Rangers (would love to see a film of it!) and Technicolour Time Machine.
been into The Rat since I was about 8 and read an excert in a SF compendium. Have all bar the new one (didn't even know it was out, thanks!) and Stainless Steel Visions, however did read it in WHSmith when the book first came out!
Interesting to talk to you some more about it. If you fancy...
Maybe hear from you some time.
Jools.

Hi!

Thanks for the comments. I notice that my entry has been edited in the last few days (and improved, I have to admit!).

Yeah, I've been a fan since I first read the comic serialisation in 2000AD about 20 years ago!

'Star Smashers' - I seem to remember reading that a looooong time ago. Is that the one with the Cheddite drive?

The new one (SSR joins the circus) is, frankly, disappointing. There are some good bits in it, but it just feels like, I dunno, flogging a dead horse. Also there's one bit where HH gets the twins mixed up, and can't remember which one he sent away and which one is still with their dad. Only for a die-hard fan I think. But from the ending, I think it'll be the last, and on this form that won't be a bad thing.

However, that's one small blight on my favourite series of books. These are the stories that I can read over and over again. Not too mentally challenging, fun, and they encourage my independent 'I wanna be on my own' tendency (so they're great if I've just split up with someone ).

I love RAH too. I re-read _Time Enough for Love_ recently. I think it's a tie between that and _The Moon is a Harsh Mistress_ for my favourite.

Catch ya l8r, jd

I love the books so much, that I even got my partner hooked on them!

As for RAH, my favourites are 'Friday' (what a woman!), 'Job:A Comedy of Justice' and the first one I ever read;'Glory Road'.

As you said, books that can be read over and over again.
I also like both authors short stories, and have a number of compilations. I probably have about 12 books by each author, but have read many more. The only Heinlein book I had trouble with was 'Stranger In A Strange Land', one of the most famous, I just couldn't get into it. This maybe because of circumstances at the time,
my parents had just split up, I had moved back to Edinburgh with my father and sister, and to cap it all I was waiting for my 'O' Grade results! A very trying time for anyone! But that was many moons ago!
Also I had never read Starship Troopers, until the film came out.
My best mate said I had read it about 20 years ago, because he lent it to me! I would never have thought I could forget reading a book. I have forgotten plots etc in the past, but a whole book? Anyway, he bought it for my birthday just after the film came out, so I vowed not to watch the film until I had read the book. Read it over 2 days and then got the film out on video. Good enough film, but prefer the book!
I also noticed on your site that we have a similar taste in films.
I too put Ferris Buellers as one of my all time faves, along with The Sure Thing, and also Better Off Dead. Predominantly i enjoy s-f, especially early s-f, but I watch most films.
Anyway, enough rambling for now.
catch you later.
Jools

Hiya Babel-17!

I meant to reply to this earlier, but .

Funnily enough, I had trouble with one of RAH's books, but it wasn't SIASL; it was _Glory Road_. For some reason, I just can't get past the first quarter of the book. I still have my copy, and I've had about 5 aborted attempts now. Weird!

Yeah, _Friday_ is great! As you say, what a woman!

I too read _Starship Troopers_ about 20 years ago. Haven't got round to watching the film yet tho'.

Are you on ICQ? There's a bunch of h2g2ers on the ICQ Researchers page. I'm gathering quite a collection now! If you haven't seen it before, there's a link to it on my homepage.

l8rs, jd

Actually, I'm not on ICQ! *gasp, shock horror*
However one of my friends has been trying to get me to join up for ages. May do yet. The only problem is my partner has been going on at me for spending so much time online already! What can you do?
As for ST get it out on video, if only to say you have seen it.
I need to find some more humerous SF writers to read. Know any more?
I need to go through my bookshelfs again and see what is there.
With over 500 assorted books and genre its sometimes difficult to remember what I do have!
Anyway catch up with you soon.
B-17

Looking for humourous Sci Fi? I must have between 500 & 1000 Sci Fi books and I've read many others (look I've got three children including an 18 year old daughter that you can't have, so I've been around a while now) but I can't think of many really humourous writers in the genre. I must admit that at present I read Terry Pratchett, Robert Rankin and Tom Holt more than anything else now. In fact I seem to have one or more of their books on the go almost constantly.

My favorite Sci Fi writers are Clifford D Simak, Ben Bova, E E Doc Smith(very SSR like, but considerably more serious. And dated), Philip Jose Farmer, Alan Dean Foster(if you haven't found it yet try his Spellsinger series) as well as your favorites, and an awful lot of others.

I'm trying to get rid of some books to make space. A lifetimes task.