Book Description
At last in paperback in one complete volume, here are the five classic novels from Douglas Adams’s beloved Hitchiker series.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Seconds before the Earth is demolished for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is saved by Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised Guide. Together they stick out their thumbs to the stars and begin a wild journey through time and space.
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Facing annihilation at the hands of warmongers is a curious time to crave tea. It could only happen to the cosmically displaced Arthur Dent and his comrades as they hurtle across the galaxy in a desperate search for a place to eat.
Life, the Universe and Everything
The unhappy inhabitants of planet Krikkit are sick of looking at the night sky– so they plan to destroy it. The universe, that is. Now only five individuals can avert Armageddon: mild-mannered Arthur Dent and his stalwart crew.
So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
Back on Earth, Arthur Dent is ready to believe that the past eight years were all just a figment of his stressed-out imagination. But a gift-wrapped fishbowl with a cryptic inscription conspires to thrust him back to reality. So to speak.
Mostly Harmless
Just when Arthur Dent makes the terrible mistake of starting to enjoy life, all hell breaks loose. Can he save the Earth from total obliteration? Can he save the Guide from a hostile alien takeover? Can he save his daughter from herself?
Customer Reviews:
Now this is a deal you CANT afford to miss!.......2007-07-07
Cynical, utterly hilarious, and full of funny, unique, and loveable characters, this is a series you won't want to skip out on, even if your like me and you don't like sci-fi.
That was the thing that kept me from allowing myself to experience the wonders of the first book when I first picked it up. I kept telling myself, this is a sci-fi book, its going to bore me. But it is much more than just a sci-fi book. It is THE most hilarious series I have ever read. Douglas Adams' sense of droll wit and cynicism are astounding, and have allowed me to experience many merry evenings sitting and laughing at these books. (You might also want to check out his excellent Dirk Gently Novels).
The story line may seem simply and boring-which it is definetly not-, but its the happenings, the wonderful narration, and the characters that truly bring this book to life and beyond being just a sci-fi book.
Also included in this selection are some hilarious introductions by the author, and a little biography about him from Neil Gaman, who cowrote Good Omens with one of my other favorite authors Terry Pratchett and wrote American Gods. And while they're probably not totally exclusive to this collection, they are well worth the read, especially the introduction by Douglas Adams.
My favorite summer read of all time.......2007-06-17
One august weekend I hit the back yard armed with this book and a gin and tonic. Over the next few weekends I finished the book, several of the drinks and my neighbors probably came to think I was insane. I've never laughed that loud or that much at any other book. And no I would not chalk it up to the G and T's (I only had a few over the duration of the book) I still think back on that summer with great fondness. Adams is painfully funny, insanely original, and one heck of a fine writer. It's Monty Python meets Doctor Who. Yes there are plenty of people who hate this book or just don't get it. But for those of us who do get it, it's the sort of book that takes on a highly loved place of honor in our library. I would strongly suggest you give it a shot. Grab your towel, a tasty and AGE APPROPRIATE beverage, and head for the back yard or the beach. I guarentee you'll either become one of us, or someone who's deeply confused by one of us.
Summer reading.......2007-06-12
If you are looking for a summer reading book that will not challenge you too much but give you some mindless fun, this is for you. Definitely not highbrow literature, but a fun literary dessert. This includes all 5 books of the "trilogy", so you can keep going for a long time. Recommended for the beach, airport, airplane, train, car.... Witty and fun.
Love or Hate!.......2007-03-13
This is the sort of book you will either love or hate.
I believe there are three sorts of people who could love this book: the cynical, the skeptic, or the novelist.
This book is cynical about absolutely everything from tea to immortality. The way it gripes about everything on such a completely down-to-earth common place level understanding, it is rather uplift.
The skeptic is all through the book, if you can't have you religion mocked a little bit, don't buy it.
There are a mind-numbing number of jokes on actually writing mechanics in this book. You probably won't even notice that they are jokes unless you have actually spent a lot of time trying to write particularly novels.
If you're in these categories you will love this book.
If you aren't, you're probably going to hate it.
That's I warned you.
Thanks For The Fish.......2007-02-14
The HitchHiker is 20th century satire, probably at its best, which is an implicit condemnation of all other competitors to that title. Adams has a few quotes in these books that rank right up there with the best of them. I particularly liked his description of humankind as - ape descended life forms (who) are so amazingly primitive that they still think digital watches are a pretty neat idea. We humans are prone to be so distracted by novel and neat ideas that we never quite get around to assigning them a value that really reflects their place in the wider scheme of things. This is Adams at his best.
The problem with the Hitchiker is that its message is delivered through farce and farce wears extremely thin after about an hour. After two hours all hope of entertainment is lost and all that remains is gold-mining, sifting through endless grains of sand, in the hopes of finding another nugget that makes the whole enterprise worth while.
Adam's primary message is that the universe is absurd, having no sense or purpose to it at all. He cannot quite break away from his humanist roots and there is within his writing, a certain nostalgic longing for the days when truth and virtue actually meant something to people. But Adams is way too far gone to ever grant his characters any real contact with virtue and truth. The one character who comes closest is probably Trillian, the woman who left earth before it was destroyed in search of ... something. Even here, we see Adams lampooning the idea of virtue as a guide to wisdom. Virtue is too easily mislead to be a strength. It's not a bad point. But it is tiresome to have it endlessly repeated through pie-in-the-face slapstick, even if it is imaginatively done.
There is power in the argument that the world is absurd. But it is the power that lives in the world of impressions, not the world of realism. A fellow called "The Preacher" wrote about that 3500 years ago in a book called Ecclesiastes. He makes the same point a lot more clearly and, quite frankly, with far more zeal.
Live life, enjoy what you get out of it, take pleasure in doing the work God has given you to do and contentment is possible.
But thanks for all the fish anyway
Customer Reviews:
The first and best!.......2007-07-12
Of all the incarnations this story has gone through, I still believe that this original BBC radiophonic production is the best!
The Original BBC series. Must have for any Hitch-Hiker Fan.......2005-11-09
This is the original BBC radio series (I know I have an old cassette copy from the early 1908's). The radio series was first, then the book, then the TV series, and now the movie. In my opinion the radio series was the best. It has all of the great lines my friend love to quote. The actors are wonderful. The sound effects make you feel like you are right there with Arthur and Ford exploring the universe. Highly recommend it. Great way to pass the time while you are driving to work.
Book Description
Miss Nothing. Learn Everything.
This comprehensive guide is packed full of extreme detail about every inch of the game. We went a little nuts.
• Complete maps of every planet
• Detailed walkthrough for all chapters
• Every weapon identified
• Lists of every enemy's stats
• Plans for creating the best items via the Factory
• How to master the Insectron mini-game
• Where to find all the blueprints
• Every secret revealed
• Exclusive interviews
• Too much to list here!
Customer Reviews:
Rogue galaxy.......2007-06-13
This guide is full of tips and hints on the gameplay. Most of the information is quite detailed and very useful. However, the Factory diagrams are a bit confusing and the Frog Log is a bit overwhelming. But overall, the guide does a good job of leading you through the game for a thorough gaming experience.
Solidly Helpful, But Occasionally Misleading.......2007-05-22
This being about the eight millionth Strategy Guide I've used, it suddenly occured to me that I should be a bit more methodical about reviewing them. After all, no one reads a Strategy Guide from cover to cover. Instead, they glance at it a bit and then start playing. It's not until you run into a tricky situation that you will grab for the guide. At that point organization and access to information are critical.
Take this guide. The walkthrough is actually only about a third of the book. It is terse, but sufficient. The maps are a bit crude but adequate for the most part. The weakness is in access to information. Don't get me wrong, the information is there, and mostly accurate. But it is arranged so that you may have to visit several different charts to piece together the answer to a question. This is irritating when what you are trying to do is accumulate enough kills to meet a particular monster quota or create a better weapon from those currently available.
Another key question is whether the guide actually enhances the game. This can be important, especially in this day and age where sidequests and special contests are squirrelled away so that the average player armed with the usual skinny game manual will miss them, even after several plays. This quide comes through here, providing information that will nearly double play time. Rogue Galaxy is a game with a wealth of extras in it and the guide will get you to them.
Oddly enough the big extra in this Strategy Guide is that it actually devotes some time to strategy. Rogue Galaxy can be played several ways, everything from hack and slash, run for the conclusion to my style that compulsively seeks to work through every nook of the game code. The guide takes the time to cover these options in a game where overall goals will effect game play.
So this guide could have been better, but is good enough to significantly improve the game experience. There are a couple of errors, as another reviewer has noted, but nothing fatal. In other words, if you follow the Guide you will win the game and enjoy doing so.
Sweet!.......2007-05-13
This guide had an incredible amount of detailed information on every page. It proved useful countless times. I would definitely recommend this guide to any one having trouble with the game, "Rogue Galaxy."
It's a great guide, very informitive.......2007-05-07
This guide is great, but it has a couple of errors in the information.
Another losing effort from Prima.......2007-03-18
Don't let the DoubleJump logo on the cover confuse you as it did me... this is another Prima guide, from the company famous for turning out some of the most incomplete and inaccurate strategy guides. T. Ma is, in my opinion, very wrong in referring to the botched weapon fusion guide as a "minor detail." Not only are many of these mistakes repeated in the other weapon sythesis chart, but they are so numerous that this mistake is unforgivable. In Jaster's section alone there are 40 errors. Just imagine you take all your time building up and combining weapons to finally get the 2 you want to fuse together, only to find out you have to start all over again because the guide was wrong.
Furthermore, with how often certain information is repeated in the guide, you'd think they would have found time to include important information like breaking down where you can buy each item. Sure you can look up each individual merchant and see what he / she / it sells, but if I want Chameleon Particulate, I should be able to open up to an item section, look up "Chameleon Particulate" and see a list of its potential uses and all the shops it can be purchased at.
As usual when Prima releases a guide, you're better off going to GameFAQS and using their strategy guide. In addition, there is a fully correct synthesis guide in the Rogue Galaxy section at GameFAQS.
Average customer rating:
- Grab Your Towel and Blast Off!
- Great read
- A must read for every human on earth
- A Very Fast Read
- Enduringly Hilarious
|
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Douglas Adams
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
 Comic
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Adams, Douglas
| ( A )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Adventure
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Comic
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
( A )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
| Anthony, Piers
| Asprin, Robert
| Asprin, Robert Lynn
Adventure
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
-
Life, the Universe and Everything (Hitchhiker's Trilogy)
-
So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
-
Mostly Harmless
-
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Widescreen Edition)
ASIN: 0345391802
Release Date: 1995-09-27 |
Amazon.com
Join Douglas Adams's hapless hero Arthur Dent as he travels the galaxy with his intrepid pal Ford Prefect, getting into horrible messes and generally wreaking hilarious havoc. Dent is grabbed from Earth moments before a cosmic construction team obliterates the planet to build a freeway. You'll never read funnier science fiction; Adams is a master of intelligent satire, barbed wit, and comedic dialogue. The Hitchhiker's Guide is rich in comedic detail and thought-provoking situations and stands up to multiple reads. Required reading for science fiction fans, this book (and its follow-ups) is also sure to please fans of Monty Python, Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, and British sitcoms.
Book Description
"IRRESISTIBLE!"
--The Boston Globe
Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.
Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker's Guide ("A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have") and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox--the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod's girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years.
Where are these pens? Why are we born? Why do we die? Why do we spend so much time between wearing digital watches? For all the answers stick your thumb to the stars. And don't forget to bring a towel!
"[A] WHIMSICAL ODYSSEY...Characters frolic through the galaxy with infectious joy."
--Publishers Weekly
Customer Reviews:
Grab Your Towel and Blast Off!.......2007-08-21
So, let's see if I have this straight. For interstellar travel, the single most important thing for anyone to remember to pack is ... a towel?
Yes, it's that kind of book. The amazing thing is, Douglas Adams can really make a case for the Towel Argument, and he does. THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY is the funniest thing he--or most anyone else this past 100 years--ever wrote. It's highbrow, lowbrow, and ever-so-intellectual silliness that makes the book so entertaining. I'll never forget the dolphins evacuating Earth before its destruction (via a preconceived plan) and leaving behind the message to all the doomed humans: "So long, and thanks for all the fish!"
GUIDE is also a textbook example of books that completely lose all of their power when adapted by high-budget, vacuous Hollywood movie churners. If you want the HITCHHIKER experience, I'm afraid you'll just have to (gulp!) read it ...
(This review has been posted by Marcus Damanda, author of the vampire novel "Teeth: A Horror Fantasy.")
Great read.......2007-07-29
This book made me laugh so much. It was great but the only bad thing was it was such a quick read.
A must read for every human on earth.......2007-07-27
If you have a sense of humor, this book is for you. The perfect mix of science fiction and humor, it cannot fail to throw you into pangs of laughter.
A Very Fast Read.......2007-06-30
As I was reading this, I said, "Man, this book is almost over already. How in the world is it going to be wrapped up in the last 3 pages?" Well, it doesn't get wrapped up. Its one of those deals where you have to read the whole series for stuff to get wrapped up. I usually hate those kinds of books, and I'm also not a big fan of Sci-Fi books in general, but this book was quite funny in certain places and I got a kick out of reading it. I particularly liked the part where the police officers discussed how they were really sensitive literary people during their big shoot out.
I wouldn't be surprised if I finished the entire Hitchhiker series because the first book is pretty funny as far as written works go, and I would imagine the whole series would move as fast as this book does. I was kind of hoping it would be more surreal and less funny like the Neverending Story, but I still found it to be quite enjoyable.
Enduringly Hilarious.......2007-06-12
One of the few books I find laugh-out-loud funny. Each time I read it, it still makes me chuckle. Sure, it's a little lacking in the plot department, but Adams can show us the humour in things we've taken for granted like no other author I know. An eternal favourite.
Book Description
Fascinating and engaging, STARS AND GALAXIES guides you to answer these fundamental questions: "What are we?" and "How do we know?" In discussing the interplay between evidence and hypothesis, this textbook provides a conceptual framework for understanding the logic of science. Crafting a story about astronomy, Seeds shows you how to ask questions to gradually puzzle out the beautiful secrets of the physical world.
Customer Reviews:
Pure entertainment.......2007-01-14
These BBC Radio Plays are great. I first heard them about 20 years ago on our local public radio station. If you enjoy British humor at all, these HHG discs are a must
Book Description
Galaxies are perhaps the most popular of all visual targets that are sought after by visual observers. At present the only way to get up-to-date information, is to query various (often highly technical) speciality books or digging deeply into the Internet. This can be a time consuming and often frustrating task, as the data aren’t often compatible. This book satisfies the need for a modern, comprehensive review in combining the three major aspects: the physical background on the nature and data of galaxies, the relevant instrumentation and viewing techniques, and finally the targets and their individual appearance in telescopes of various apertures. To illustrate the latter, a comprehensive sample of galaxies, including quasars, groups and clusters of galaxies is presented. This combination of theoretical knowledge and practical information guarantees successful observing sessions. The book could become a standard source on galaxy observing for all kinds of amateur observers, from the beginner to the experienced.
Customer Reviews:
A very good book.......2007-10-04
It is excellent writting, comprehensive, analytical and all subjects well presented and in the appropriate order.
most up-to-date, clearly structured reference book on galaxy observing.......2007-08-13
Wolfgang Steinicke was the leading author of the german "Praxishandbuch Deep Sky"(Kosmos 2004), which I like very much. So I started reading his new book on Galaxies with high expectations...and I was not disappointed :
I believe this is the most up-to-date, clearly structured reference book on galaxy observing - satisfying a very broad range of interests.
In three major sections, the authors not only address the needs of the most ambitious observers, but frequently add encouraging hints for beginners as well.
I recommend it A) as a reading book to gain a broader knowledge
and B) as an excellent planning guide when you want to observe MUCH MORE than the most commonly known galaxies.
SECTION I (70 pages) provides a basic understanding of the different types of galaxies and clusters, plus all those data that are important for visually observing them.
Chapter 1 explains different galaxy classification schemes, special cases and pecularities - then chapter 2 introduces pairs, groups and clusters of galaxies and shows their place within the hierarchy of the universe.
Chapter 3 presents a well structured overview for many different types of galaxy catalogs, containing galaxy data and nomenclatures. Advantages/disadvantages of these catalogs are discussed and their data quality is critically judged.
I strongly recommend to study this chapter 3 on catalogs first, because the same presentation structure is followed in the later SECTION III on observing programs.
SECTION II (33 pages) covers the Technical Aspects on observing galaxies.
Key technical instrumentation aspects are only summarized briefly (chap.4), but the Theory of Visual Observation (chap.5), together with practical recommendations on observing, star hopping and observing logs (chap.6) demonstrate the authors very broad experience in finding, identifying faint galaxies and documenting them.
SECTION III (110 pages) on "What to Observe? - The Objects" contains the largest, most valuable part of the book.
An instructive combination of "photo/textual" descriptions presents a large number of objects in the most "objective" way :
Not counting individual galaxies inside groups or clusters (though mentioned in the tables), a total of 500 objects are listed in data tables - following that same structure introduced in SECTION I. Each data table is immediately followed by a separate table with textual descriptions. Around 600 such descriptions are given, based on the visual appearance of each object with different instruments: 1. binocular (if possible),
2. medium aperture telescope(6-10"), 3. large telescope(13-20", sometimes larger).
All these observation descriptions in chapters 7 to 10 stem from renowned observers; e.g. Steve Gottlieb, Steve Coe, beside the authors.
Chapter 7 suggests a variety of Observing Programs, based on
a) M-, NGC/IC- or UGC- CATALOGS
b) Sky Areas and constellations
Chapter 8 suggests selection criteria which are dependent on the characteristics of the individual galaxy; i.e. by sorting them by their distance or by their appearance.
Chapter 9 concentrates on Groups and Clusters; i.e. by listing a) pairs and trios, b) small groups and chains, then c) clusters.
Chapter 10 finally suggests interesting targets "off the beaten path" or in the category of "ultimate challenge".
My reason for mentioning all these details is to demonstrate that this book is quite well organized - especially for all those readers with a minimal amount of patience and learning will.
There is only one unfortunate omission : Springer printed the 1.edition of this unique reference book without a page index !!!
However, after I emailed the author, he swiftly produced an INDEX OF ALL OBJECTS (xls), which can easily be downloaded
from the (Homepage Wolfgang Steinicke).
A Wealth of Information, Poorly Organized.......2007-04-17
This book is filled with a lot of really interesting information on galaxies. However, it is extremely disorganized. My copy of this book is now full of bookmarks to help me find information later. Why? This book has no index. Let me repeat that--this book has NO INDEX. This is an unforgivable sin for any reference book! Furthermore, the subtitle is "and how to observe them." There is not a clue about how to observe galaxies. Instead, the pictures of galaxies are taken through large professional telescopes that for the most part are not even identified. There are observer's descriptions for some galaxies, but most of these are through 20" and larger telescopes. Only a few descriptions are for telescope sizes you might be likely to own.
On the plus side, there are a number of pointers to more information sources, but often these are given in large, undifferentiated lists, instead of the authors making specific recommendations.
Some of the descriptions of galactic structure and evolution are extremely sparse. You won't find a clear definition of Seyfert galaxies, for example.
If you're looking for a definitive work on galaxies, this isn't it. But if you want to learn some interesting facts, you might find this book a fun read. You'll probably come away with some observing ideas as well, but stock up on bookmarks!
Book Description
Panic! It's the last installment of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, with a brand new full-cast dramatization of Mostly Harmless, the final book in Douglas Adams' famous "trilogy in five parts." While frequent flyer Arthur Dent searches the universe for his lost love, Ford Prefect discovers a disturbing blast from the past at The Hitchhiker's Guide HQ. Meanwhile, on one of many versions of Earth, a blonder, more American Trillian gets tangled up with a party of lost aliens having an identity crisis.A stolen ship, a dramatic stampede, and a new and sinister Guide lead to a race to save the earth...again.
Presented dramatized on 2 CDs.
Customer Reviews:
So Long... and Thanks!.......2006-10-26
Well, that about wraps it up for...
Arthur Dent
Ford Prefect and
Trillian
...not to mention the galaxy of other characters who have appeared - even if only for a line or two - on the BBC radio series that has built a global and intensely loyal following for the past 28 years.
"There's nothing penultimate about this one: this - ladies and gentlemen - is the proverbial it."
Finally, there is closure. A conclusion that this listener has longed for ever since the original THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY invaded my awareness in 1981.
And what a conclusion! At the risk of spoiling it for other Hitchhiker wannabe's, BBC4 and Dirk Maggs have managed to remain faithful to Douglas Adams' final installment to the inaccurately numbered trilogy of books, spawned from the original radio series and then respawning into new radio shows. Go to their web for some priceless photos and other cool stuff: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/hitchhikers/newseries.shtml
And yet, there's more. The book was as dark as the space encompassing the outer eastern rim of the galaxy, and closed on a note that I'd swear was written by Marvin, the paranoid android. A series that the Beeb billed as "light entertainment" can't leave its audience that depressed and morose, now can it?
As I listened to the last episode of the fifth series, I awaited the darkness of the book's conclusion. When I read the book, MOSTLY HARMLESS, on which this radio series was based, I wondered if Adams was so annoyed with the insatiable appetite of readers and listeners that he decided to dispense with his much beloved characters once and for all. Was this the final disposition of the everyman hero, Arthur Dent, his hedonistic traveling companion and Guide field researcher Ford Prefect, and the only other survivor of the Earth's demolition, Trillian? As I wondered and listened, I achingly mourned Adams' passing. I'll miss forever his command of the English language - weaving similes and other literary devices into a tapesty that delights the listener/reader as much on the 10th or even 100th time as much as it does on the first. Sure, those words would will last for a long, long time. But there would be nothing new from that well that watered and nourished so many of us over the years.
On a somewhat related tangent, I responded to a query on the IMDB web page for Farhenheit 451 as to what book you would memorize for posterity's sake if that book/movie's scenario came true. No question: the original HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY or any of its sequels.
Back to this CD collection: The producer, director, script-writers, performers and other talented members of the ensemble succeed admirably in this final reunion, ushering radio story-telling well into the 21st Century. Sure, the voices had aged. Some had passed and are dearly missed: Peter Jones as the Book and Richard Vernon as the definitive Slartybartfast. But to hear the final reunion was absolutely golden.
Years ago, when I began my career as a road warrior, I used to tune into CBS Radio's nighttime mystery series on a 50,000 Watt AM radio station. (Hey, this was pre-CDs, way pre- XM or Sirius). There's something about driving down a rural two-lane road in the dark that made those tales that much more spine-tingley.
In like manner, listening to any of the CDs of the BBC Radio4's productions of Adams' work makes the miles fly by so much more easily. Books on tape/CD pale in comparison, in much the same way that a black hole is outshone by a supernova or even a red giant. The sound effects and incidental music add such a rich and complex dimension to the story-telling that is so sadly lacking with all the audio books on the market these days. OK, Ok, the flatulence noice is a bit puerile, but it works so well in the scene.
Douglas Adams is a true artiste whose talents will be appreciated for years to come.
So long... and thanks!
So Long, Hitchhiker's Guide, and Thanks for All the Fun.......2005-10-10
This is the superb final BBC radio series of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, this one adapting Douglas Adams' final book Mostly Harmless. It features the same creators and cast from the recent Tertiary and Quandary Phases (which means that most of the original cast from the 1978 to 1980 radio shows appear.)
While the book itself was a major disappointment, the radio adaption manages to be funny, interesting, thought-provoking and very satisfying. The writers have focused the story, created new scenes, included characters which Adams had apparently forgotten about over the course of the "trilogy," brilliantly converted the novel's rambling prose into dialogue and guide entries, stayed true to Adams' original intentions while simultaneously improving them considerably, and have created a new epilogue for the story which takes us beyond what Adams ever wrote and ties up the entire saga in a way so clever and sweet as to make a grown man cry. Such a brilliant adaption stands in stark contrast with the abysmal, dumbed-down script which was used for the recent film. THIS is the way to adapt a Hitchhiker's book.
Since the book concerns a parallel Earth and features two versions of the character Trillian (each from a different continuity in improbability,) it's of particular fan interest that the two Trillians are played by Susan Sheridan, the original radio actress, and Sandra Dickinson, who created the role for BBC television. As in the Tertiary Phase, Douglas Adams himself appears as Agrajag. I won't spoil the surprise of who else shows up.
As with all the previous radio entries, it's odd, brilliant, confusing and dense enough to warrant an immediate second listening, and has enough depth to offer new discoveries several listenings later. I couldn't be happier with how it all came out. Which leads me to wonder...
Why does this have to be the last one? If the producers don't wish to invent their own H2G2 episodes, I hope they turn their attentions to Dirk Gently, Douglas Adams' other comedic book series. A creative unit as successful as this shouldn't stop now.
Book Description
From our viewing platform on Earth, the night sky changes throughout the year. Autumn and spring are best for observing galaxies, winter is ideal for sighting nebulae and star clusters, and summer is the season of the Milky Way. A Year in the Life of the Universe, published in collaboration with Sky Telescope magazine, takes you on an intimate seasonal tour of these ever-changing heavens. Stellar photographs by renowned astrophotographer Robert Gendler help identify more than 120 deep-sky objects that stand out by virtue of their beauty, visual impact, and scientific interest, presenting the celestial objects in the order in which they appear through the seasons. This is not only a beautiful photo bookit is also a practical, hands-on guidebook for astronomy buffs at all levels, with coordinates, detailed captions, and wide-field sky charts to help stargazers young and old navigate the night sky.
Customer Reviews:
Stunningly Beautiful.......2007-04-02
When you look at such a spectacular set of photographs you have to be struck by the beauty of our universe. As the author says in the Preface, this book showcases the sky's most beautiful objects. Arranged in a way that the casual reader will enjoy. This is an assembledge of significant images of objects visible from from the Eat throughout the year. Many, perhaps even most of the images are from observations taken of items within the Milky Way. But there are also brilliant images of our local galaxy group and some more of galaxies and galaxy groups from much further away.
No less than the photographs are the explanations. While brief, here are matter of fact comments about our local group. There in a description of galaxy NGC 3079 (60 million light years away) there is a pair of dots labeled Q0957+562, a gravitationally lensed quasar ever discovered - 9.1 BILLION light years away.
I've taken a lot of pictures, but nothing like these. Dr. Gendler but in a different class than most of us, including a 20 inch telescope installed at an inky-dark, high-altitude site in New Mexico, and controlled over the Internet. But that's just the equipment. To go with it is a lifetime of skill.
This book is an absolutely delightful read for any amateur astronomer, or want to be.
A grand photographic reference.......2007-01-10
Beautifully done by a world class imager. During any season of the year the deep sky offers wonderous objects of beauty and wonder. Dr. Rob Gendler has captured the beauty of galaxies and nebula in a spectacular display of color and accompanies each image with useful descriptions.
Super Book by a Top Amateur Astronomer.......2007-01-10
This book, by Robert Gendler, one of the best known and most prolific amateur astrophotographers, is assembled mainly from his own images and incorporates some by other astrophotographers. It is a milestone in amateur astronomy. Many of us didn't know we were waiting for such a book, but when it appeared, I ordered it without hesitation. I'm not disappointed. Among other places, Gendler's images have appeared in Sky & Telescope, Astronomy, and on the Astronomy Picture of the Day web site. It's great to have them in book form both to enjoy personally as well as to share with those who are interested in the visible universe. [....]
Incredible!!!!.......2006-11-27
After I received this book, I downloaded quite a few of the author's images from [...] and had them framed for my home. I can't imagine anything as beautiful as our universe! Rob Gendler's incredible efforts are bringing an awesome appreciation of the universe to our planet. I'm ordering 6 now, and probably a lot more, as holiday gifts.
SEGMD
Book Description
ASTRONOMERS’ OBSERVING GUIDES provide up-to-date information for amateur astronomers who want to know all about what it is they are observing. This is the basis of the first part of the book. The second part details observing techniques for practical astronomers, working with a range of different instruments. Star Clusters and How to Observe Them is a mine of information for all levels of amateur observers, from beginners to experienced observers. It begins with a detailed yet easily assimilated description of star clusters, how they were formed as our Milky Way galaxy evolved, and how they are classified. The latest research has revealed a vast amount of fascinating information about the clusters, along with some spectacular photographs. Modern commercially-made telescopes enable amateur astronomers to see a surprising amount of detail, and to record – using CCD cameras, video, webcams or even film – some remarkably beautiful and detailed images. There is detailed information on using refractors, reflectors, SCT’s (like Meade and Celestron) and computer-controlled telescopes The book includes an Observing List cataloguing star clusters to be observed or imaged using a variety of different instruments, all of them available commercially to amateur astronomers.
Customer Reviews:
A Rare Breed!.......2006-07-18
Books specifically about Star Clusters are a rare breed (there are 2, Archinal & Hayes book AND this one!) So I ordered this book with bated breath.
I am glad to report that it did not dissapoint. The scientific data is fresh, non-technical and bang up-to-date and covers all types of clusters including remnants, extragalactic clusters and asterisms. The observing guide and object list is thorough and accessible, and unlike most general deep sky books, the content is geared specifically towards star clusters. Would I recommend this book to cluster enthusiasts and beginners? You bet!
Fascinating and Informative Book.......2006-07-04
I am an amateur living in suburban conditions, so star clusters are ideal targets for my small scope. I found this book invaluable. It gives not only up-to-date information on all aspects of clusters - but in an easy to read format, and no maths in sight. I also found the observing guide and 'hit list' very useful. In my humble opinion, this book is worth every cent.
A great observing guide!.......2006-05-24
This book is easy to read yet goes quite deep into star cluster science and physics - but with a down to earth approach. As a newcomer to astronomy, I found the observing guide very helpful. Even the sections on equipment and techniques were useful as they are geared to star cluster observation. The list of objects is thorough and well thought out - but It could have been larger!
The author states he is an amateur astronomer himself - and his passion for the subject certainly shows. Highly recommended!
An enjoyable and inspiring read.......2006-05-23
I found this book both interesting and factual. It does not contain any history of observing, or mythology but the author mentions that this was intentional. The book covers the science of star clusters very well and most of the latest discoveries are documented.
I did find a few small errors in the text but they don't distract the from the content too much, and I must admit that Springer books in general appear to have more typos than usual.
The sections on observing will appeal to beginners - though advanced amateurs may find these sections too simplistic - I guess the author is trying to appeal to all types of observer?
The list of objects is comprehensive and covers the range from very easy, to pretty hard - some are a little obscure - but at least this presents a challenge. The star charts are very clear - but some of the CCD images are a little ropey - but they are produced by amateur astronomers.
Archinal & Hynes book 'Star Clusters' is a much larger book and covers the history of star clusters and many pages are dedicated to its star cluster catalogues. But if you require a smaller book that concentrates on star cluster science and observing, then Allison's book will suit you better.
I would recommend this book to any star cluster enthusiast.
Star Clusters: The Missed Opportunity.......2006-05-22
I’m an optimist: I believe Man will wake up to Global Warming before we turn our planet into Venus, that there are some honest politicians, and that proofreading will return to the forefront of book publishing.
Alas, today is not that day. Allison’s book so badly needed a proofreader that a fifth-grade teacher, armed with a red pen, would have run out of ink before getting out of the first couple chapters. I think good writing should not only be engaging, but should be free from obvious grammar and spelling errors—it makes it easier to read for the inexperienced reader, and considerably less distracting for the experienced reader.
Allison’s book has so many errors in grammar, including punctuation and tense, that the book is quite distracting to read.
I admire the intent, though, and I would have grudgingly given a nod to the book were it not for the Fatal Flaw that seems to inhabit so many astronomy-oriented books these days: the inclusion of basic information unnecessary to the text or content of the book.
On point: does a book about the structure, history, and observing of star clusters really need basic information about finders, telescope types, Barlows, diagonals, and filters? If you think it does, because the book might be read by a novice stargazer who is not so familiar with the basics of observing, then why include information on cluster classification systems, stellar spectra, and hard-to-observe faint clusters that are test objects for large dobs? Does the reader who understands the science of stars and their classifications, or to whom the difficult clusters would be interesting challenges, really need a primer on finders and Barlows?
I think not. Perhaps the author didn’t either, but was asked to include this information by the publisher. Whichever is the case, it’s there, but it surely didn’t need to be.
Lastly, there is the “meat” of the book; its catalogue of 109 star clusters, replete with finder charts, photographs, basic data, and observation reports. This is the part of the book that might have, despite the other problems aforementioned, redeemed the book in the eyes of this 43 year veteran of star cluster observing.
It was not to be. I could not believe some of the sky’s most spectacular clusters, such as NGC 7789 in Cassiopeia, were left out, while truly difficult (and somewhat mundane) clusters, such as G1 in the Andromeda Galaxy, were included. If the intent is to inspire people to look at star clusters of all types and sizes, with all levels of difficulty, then a more comprehensive approach is necessary. If you compare this to “Star Clusters” by Archinal and Hynes (pub.Willmann-Bell), or “The Night-Sky Observer’s Guide” by Kepple and Sanner (pub.Willmann-Bell), or “Observing Handbook and Catalogue of Deep-Sky Objects” by Luginbuhl and Skiff (pub.Cambridge Univ.Press), the truly poor nature of this book’s contents becomes glaringly apparent.
I do not recommend this book without a major rewriting and the inclusion of a lot more star clusters. Save your money and get one of the books mentioned—your interest will be far better served.
Don Pensack, Los Angeles, May, 2006.
Books:
- The View from the Center of the Universe: Discovering Our Extraordinary Place in the Cosmos
- The View from the Center of the Universe: Discovering Our Extraordinary Place in the Cosmos
- Tropica: Color Cyclopedia of Exotic Plants and Trees for Warm-Region Horticulture in Cool Climate the Summer Garden or Sheltered Indoors
- What's Your Dosha, Baby?: Discover the Vedic Way for Compatibility in Life and Love
- Yellow Eyes (Posleen War Series #8)
- A Briefer History of Time
- A Field Guide to Stars and Planets (Peterson Field Guides(R))
- A Thousand Splendid Suns
- A Thousand Splendid Suns
- Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers,The (Voices That Matter)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Films of Randolph Scott
- Rainbows End
- History: Fiction or Science
- Love and Garbage
- Once Upon a Country: A Palestinian Life
- Mouse Development: Patterning, Morphogenesis, and Organogenesis
- My Traitor's Heart: A South African Exile Returns to Face His Country, His Tribe, and His Conscience
- Watches International 2001: The Original Annual of the World's Finest Watches
- If Problems Talked: Narrative Therapy in Action
- Hidroponia Basica/ Basic Hidroponics
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul
The Salmon of Doubt: Hitchhiking the Galaxy One Last Time
