My mother was in the hospital a great deal of the time from the spring of my 2nd grade year through most of the grade school period with a variety of broken bones, and the problems that arrived from these breaks. Sometimes the hospital was nearby, sometimes in downtown Chicago, and for a period, in Minnesota. My father, between his two jobs, spent what spare time he had visiting mom. This left me under the supervision of my siblings, who were from 8 to 15 years older than me. So I have to say I got away with a lot of things that most grade schoolers might not.
Sometime while I was in junior high I managed to convince someone it was ok for me to have a subscription to Rolling Stone. I mostly read the record reviews, and occasionally an interview, if it was Linda Ronstadt or Pat Benatar or some other rock goddess. I usually ignored the ads in the magazine, selling weird things like tie-dyed t-shirts with pot leaves on them. But one day I saw an ad that had a word that caught my eye: FREE. This a word that meant I could get something with out paying for it...still a concept I love. It was for a free BOOK, which made it even better, since I loved to read, and still had time to back then. It was for a free copy of a book called "The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy". This name sounded so intriguing I had to have it. I sent away for it, and waited for its arrival.
Once the book showed up I devoured it. It was truly amazing. I had developed a taste for Science Fiction, largely due to a little film called Star Wars, and a library book by Ben Bova Exiled From Earth. I can tell you nothing about the book, I just remember the author. I had also developed a taste for British comedy thanks to my brother Dave allowing me to stay up past my bedtime on Sunday nights to watch Monty Python's Flying Circus. In Hitch Hiker's Guide these two passions merged under the skillful hand of Douglass Adams. His writing was funny, yet smart. His science was spot on, and his fiction hilarious. Two of my favorite quotes, that I use till this day come from this book. "It must be Thursday. I've never quite gotten thehang of Thursdays" which Arthur Dent says after finding out the earth was about to be destroyed. The other quote is from Marvin, the robot with the "genuine person personality" who moans, "Life--Loathe it or ignore it-- you can't possibly like it" These I have kept with me from the book, along with my lifelong obsession with the number 42.
I of course collected the entire series of books, along with Adams' Dirk gently book, and anything else Adams I could get my hands on. No one could put the comic spin on anything quite like Adams. His mind was brilliant, and just warped enough to question, and poke fun at nearly everything. In 2001 the world lost this genius to a heart attack at 49. I was saddened, as were scores of fans around the world. Never again would we read new adventurs of Arthur, Zaphod and the whole gang.
A couple years ago a new Hitch Hiker book, "...and another thing", showed up in the stores, written by Eoin Colfer. I am reading this book right now. It is good to spend time with these characters, but Mr Colfer is no Douglas Adams. Please don't get me wrong. I am sure he is a fine author, my daughter loves his Artemis Fowl series. But, he can not fill Adams' shoes. I don't think anyone can. I am currently listening to "Salmon of Doubt" on audio book. This is a collection of works gleaned from Adams' computer. This is bringing my back to my joy of reading Adams' books. And I realise how much I have missed Adams. I hope that they don't make any more books by Colfer in the series... again, nothing against Colfer, but you can't replace Adams in the same way Paul Rogers just can not replace Freddie Mercury.
Well, I find myself rambling, so I'll let you go...but I recommend that you find your copy of Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and blast off with Mr Adams again. 42
