Douglas Adams at the BBC

A Celebration of the Author's Life and Work

By: Douglas Adams

Narrated by: Simon Jones

Length: 3 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

Simon Jones, who played Arthur Dent in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, presents a look back at the life and work of a writer who has captivated the imagination of millions.

When Douglas Adams created The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for BBC Radio 4, it was the genesis of a science fiction comedy legend. Yet his career at the BBC had begun in Light Entertainment, with contributions to The Burkiss Way, Week Ending, and other sketch shows of the time. He went on to script edit a series of Doctor Who, and to write a series of Hitchhiker and Dirk Gently books.

In programme, Simon Jones takes an A-Z look at Douglas Adams's career, taking in extracts from the many radio and TV programmes he contributed to. These include personal appearances on Wogan, Tomorrow's World, and Desert Island Discs, his own radio programmes such as Last Chance to See (about the search for endangered species) and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Future (a look at impending technology), and even a 'lost' segment of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy which Adams wrote specially for Radio 4's Steafel Plus in 1982. Also included are some of the many tributes paid to Adams following his untimely death in May 2001.

This is a fascinating and in-depth audio biography of a man whose brilliant work has inspired, enraptured, and entertained millions of people worldwide.

©2004 BBC Audiobooks Ltd (P)2004 BBC Audiobooks Ltd

If you love Douglas Adams...

As a huge fan of Douglas Adams I have to listen to this every now and again just to keep in touch with his comedic genius. This is an alphabetical march through the life and career of Douglas Adams. Touching on various aspects of his contributions it is not just Hitchhikers Guide and Dirk Gentley stuff. A very touching and humorous tribute to a man who brought so much enjoyment to the world. So long Douglas, and thanks

Reader's guide to a non-Hitchhiker Adams

Wish there had been more about the writing of Hitchhiker's and the radio and TV series. But that would be too predictable.

This is an audiography of Adams in alphabetical-not chronological-order. We are introduced to Adams of the Cambridge Footlights review, the sometime collaborator of Graham Chapman, the Doctor Who scriptwriter, the sketch artist, the friend of many Joneses--Terry, Stephen and Peter.

We get to listen in on excerpts from early radio and TV efforts and a number of author interviews, revealing an endlessly curiious and always inventive creator who excelled at recasting his stories for different media.

The audiography had many engaging letters of the alphabet, like J for Peter Jones, who was the voice of the book in the Hitchhiker series. Loved that. I would have preferred a chronological approach and, yes, more on Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect, even if that would have made it a predictable biography. But if you are curious about the multi-faceted author, you'll want to hitch a ride on this one.

A must for any Douglas Adams fan

If you are a Douglas Adams fan, this is a must for your collection. It has samples of interviews and things Douglas wrote from across his career. Stop reading this review and get this book.