25 years ago today, Douglas Adams, an English author, humourist, and screenwriter, died. He was best known as the creator of *The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*.

submitted by
edited

https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/01/05/13/daily/adams-obit.html?0518bk

17
134

Log in to comment

Hot Top New Old
[deleted]

25 years ago today, Douglas Adams, an English author, humourist, and screenwriter, died. This had made many people very angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move

 reply
37

25 years already… Damn…

 reply
22
edited

The Hitchhiker’s Guide and subsequent books are so much fun. If you like them though don’t sleep on;

Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency

Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul

 reply
19

All these years later and I’m still dark on Dirk’s cancellation

 reply
2

The show helped me understand the Dirk as a character (and the book’s concept in general so much better). I read Long Dark Teatime Of The Soul as a kid and I remember liking it but also being really confused a lot.

 reply
2

If you’ve only ever read it, remember that it started as a radio series! It’s very funny and you should go find and listen to it.

 reply
16

So long and thanks for all the joy

Seriously though 49 is very young. He is missed, and still well remembered, which is what we should strive for in a legacy.

 reply
8

[off topic]

If you liked Adams’ work, you might want to try this book..

A pitiful wretch carries a temple on his back. His very small god nags him constantly, and, by the way, the city is being invaded by an Empire that hates all religions.

https://bookshop.org/p/books/city-of-last-chances-shortlisted-for-the-hugo-award-for-best-series-2025-adrian-tchaikovsky/440b6acc88924e8a?ean=9781801108447&next=t

 reply
5

I also liked his ‘Meaning of Liff’, but it is absolutely British

 reply
4
edited

I also liked his ‘Meaning of Liff’, but it is absolutely British

Funnily enough, there is a German translation of it: “Der Sinn des Labenz”.

Stumbled upon it in the 90s internet and had it printed out on my 24-needle-printer, to be proudly placed next to the five books of the Hitchhiker trilogy.

 reply
4

Sorry…. for the inconvenience.

 reply
4

Would have been prophetic if he died at 42.

 reply
3

I watched the tv show version of H²G² when I was a kid, I read the books as well. I always thought it would have been a great year to die. Back then I didn’t see much chance of being happy in life so 42 always seemed ideal.

I got lucky and became much happier about 12 years ago, and unfortunately two years before I got to enjoy my 42nd year, my sister died of a brain tumor at 42.

Now 42 is always in my life in a sad way.

 reply
3

So Long, and Thanks for ALL the fish, Mr. Adams!!

 reply
3

This is the first celebrity death to really hit me, just because it was so out of the blue. Even given his irreverence toward deadlines I still fell like we lost a lot.

 reply
3

Damn, 49. He wouldn’t even have been that old today at 74.

 reply
2
Insert image