I discovered Douglas Adams and the Hitchhiker's Guide (Hitch Hiker's Guide for those who prefer it in it's original English) when I was in high school. I devoured each book as I could afford it, always eager for more. I was thrilled when the trilogy expanded. When the PBS station out of Washington DC started playing the BBC TV show, I was in heaven. And when the NPR station I listened to at college started playing the original radio show, I rigged up a way to record the shows on audio cassette so I wouldn't miss an episode.
So you can understand my embarrassment when I admit that I have yet to see the movie. But I've done the next best thing—I've read the book about making the movie. And I want to see the movie even more now.
This book is incredible. The pictures include not only final set designs, but the various stages that the designs went through. The Guide itself is pictured in every incarnation it went through. The Heart of Gold is shown in all its splendor. The costuming for Marvin, everyone's favorite paranoid android, is shown in enough detail to make me feel very sorry for the actor who had to wear it. Concept sketches abound. Any book that shows the actual bypass plans for both the Cottington bypass (inside front) and the Hyperspace bypass that requires the demolition of the Earth (inside back) has to be on every fan's must-read list.
The justification for changing parts of the "original" story are made in the book as well. True Hitchhiker's fans need no justification, though—we know that none of the various forms that the story has taken agrees with any other version. It should come as no surprise that the movie is different from the books, which were different from the TV series, which was different from the radio show, which is different from the lunchbox...
Anyone who watches movies and wonders "How did they DO that?" needs this book. Any Douglas Adams fan needs this book. Anyone who has ever written Vogon poetry needs this book.
The movie came out on DVD on Tuesday of this week. It's been out two whole days, and I haven't bought it yet. This book will get me through until I can get my copy—I might even be able to hold out for the collector's edition that will surely come out soon.
Edited: PC
Article comments
1 - Scott Butki
That is probably my favorite humorous set of books I have ever read.
Just as Vonnegut taught me it was ok to stop mid-stream in writing to talk to the audience (like this!) Adams proved you can be funny and absurd and get away with it.
I've heard the movie is painfully bad so I've avoided watching it.
2 - Pat Cummings
This book review has been selected for Advance.net. You’ll be able to find this and other Blog Critics reviews at such places as Cleveland.com’s Book Reviews column.
3 - Warren
I've heard mixed reviews of the movie. I owe it to myself to watch it, and after reading the book I'm encouraged. It seems that they really attempted to do something Adams would have wanted.
4 - Scott Butki
Congrats.
i'm worried seeing the movie will tarnish my memory of the books.
5 - Matt Schafer
It reminds me of that episode of Mad About You where Paul films the making of the making of Titanic.
6 - Scott Butki
I'm listening to the book now on audiotape. I still have avoided seeing the movie cause I heard it was crap.
7 - Warren
Scott -- the movie isn't the greatest. I almost wish I'd bought a movie ticket rather than the DVD -- I'd have been out less money.
I wish I could find the radio show on CD -- THAT was a great version of H2G2.