I just concluded reading “And another thing..” the 6th installment in the mind-ticklingly awesome Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series. Those who haven’t read it or worse have not even heard of it or worst,have heard about it and not read it(!) should die of or be killed by Shame. (Though Shame was last seen visiting the Thackeray household and might I add had a rollicking good time, what being so much in vogue there.) If it were possible, I would set the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Trall on all their trails right now.
And all you froody people who have read the first five parts of this awesome trilogy, lets share a Jynnan Tonnyx in fond remembrance of the super-genius that was Douglas Adams. ‘Clink. Gulp. Burp. Ah!’ And welcome in to our midst, Eoin Colfer (“pronounced ‘Owen’ by the way”) who has taken the baton of continuing the tradition of mind-tickling, out-of-this-world humour on the 30th anniversary of the Hitchhiker’s Guide.
A lot of you may not know Eoin Colfer, but he is famous as the author of the Artemis Fowl series which is meant for younger audience. (Doesn’t mean adults can’t read it. I Love the Artemis Fowl series!) In terms of the witty writing style, inventive storyline and that snazzy sense of humour, Colfer comes closest to Douglas Adams than anyone else. I was very pleasantly surprised when I read that Colfer has been chosen to write the 6th Hitchhikers book.
Though I am familiar with Colfer’s writing style, I did not want to have high hopes about the 6th book. I mean, we are talking about Douglas Adams here and continuing his legacy. For me, Hitchhikers is the bestest book ever written on the planet and nothing Ever can come close to it. So I approached “And another thing..” with an open mind and a nonetheless excited heart. I knew it would be good. That much was a given.
But what I did not know is how “fecking” awesome it will be! Was it Good? Yessir. Was it better than my expectations? You said it! Was it super-fantastically awesomated? Badabingo!
Colfer resurrects the lovable characters of Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox, Trillian and the not lovable at all Vogons in this new journey through hyperspace and multiple dimensions that hits your brain like a glassful of that mind-smashing Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster . It is funny (Duh!), smart, pacy, inventive, endearing, confusing, enlightening and ..and … Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
I approached this book as one would approach a lake in the middle of winter for a dip. First you put one foot in to get a feel. “Coldie cold!” Then you put in the foot again and swirl it around. “Nice. Getting accustomed. Liking it” and then you close your eyes and jump right in. The jarring cold awakening your senses and refreshing them at the same time. I was pleasantly shocked.
The book is way better than what I expected it to be. I was willing to settle for good and good enough. But Eoin Colfer just shattered my expectations like a bolt of lightning from Thor. When you just start reading it, the inevitable comparisons keep popping up - ‘Will he be able to do justice to the huge responsibility and honour bestowed up on him?’;‘How would Douglas Adams have written it?’; ‘He doesn’t sound that funny yet.’ But as you turn the pages and get involved in the book, you forget all the anxieties and the comparisons as Colfer takes you on the improbable, hyperspace, dark matter journey of a lifetime. This book may not be better than Douglas Adams’ trilogy of 5 but it sure as hell is As Good As Them! Which is saying a lot! The lines of distinction blur between the two as you continue reading.
So don’t panic in excitement and go out there and get a copy of “And another thing..” before you read another word of this post.
Glossary of a few terms (i.e. Dummies guide to the Hitchhiker’s Guide from the Hitchhiker’s Guide):
Frood – really amazingly together guy
Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster - the best drink in existence
Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Trall - daft as a bush, but a very ravenous beast
