One of my goals in 2020 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.
I’ve had Don’t Panic, The Official Hitchhikker’s Guide to the Galaxy Companion for many many years. When I picked it up again, I had forgotten that this was one of Neil Gaiman’s first book. I couldn’t remember if I had read it (I had), so I started it again.
The Hitchhikker’s Guide to the Galaxy was a surprise hit when it was written (and performed, and recorded, and filmed) in the 80s. A comedy, a sci fi, a comentarty, a travelog, it’s not surprising that so many people loved it. A radio play, a record, a book, a computer game, a tv series, it’s not surprising so many people were confused about it’s origins. Don’t Panic! Neal Gaiman is here to unentagle it’s miraculour and drunken beginnings for us.
I was surprised at hoe soon after H2G2 this companion book was written. I started reading H2G2 when I was very little bc a friend recommended it to me and I’ve never stopped reading it. I knew I loved it but I had no idea how beloved and hyped it was by the world (or mostly England?) at the time of it’s inception. This companion explains all the twists and turns that the series took, how it was made, what iterations it became and how Douglas Adams continually said he was not making more books and then did. Even in the eighties, as the books were still being written, people needed a companion to untangle the convoluted path of H2G2. This book was written as guide to the guide, includes interviews and thoughts from the author. It uses a silly and comedic style so that it can be read as a book in it’s own, as well. I feel like this is a must read for anyone who loves The Hitchhikker books or Douglas Adams. It also has some insights into the publishing world and how writers write. I would also recommend this book to anyone who likes to learn about the history of how books, and especially phenom books, were created.
Have you read the Hitchhikkers “ Trilogy? What is a favorite book you’ve read would you like to see/read the history of it’s inception?