A fantastic audiobook tribute to Douglas Adams
Get this audiobook!
I thought I knew quite a lot about Douglas Adams—I got all but one* question correct in the 'Douglas Adams Mastermind' test the audiobook opens with—but this audiobook was still a revelation.
It's an intimate look at Douglas' life through his own memories (in the form of audio clips and readings), his friends and collaborators. It's a fine tribute to a true treasure, lost too soon.
How I discovered it
I first heard about this on 'Cautionary Tales' pod and it sounded so good:
'Arvind Ethan David' is joining me today to talk about the life, the universe and the cautionary tales of Douglas Adams.'
Pocket Casts
The Audiobook
The audio book is more like a radio show, or podcast, which seems fitting as that's how many first encountered Douglas. For me it was the BBC Radio version of the Hitchhikers Guide.
It's a mix of read commentary, interspersed with audio clips of Douglas, his friends, collaborators, and readings of material from Douglas' estate:
When Adams passed away in 2001, he left behind a treasure trove of recordings from his personal archive—many of which have never been heard before. Now, thanks to the Adams Estate, for the first time, these rare materials are available to his fans and are featured in Douglas Adams: The Ends of the Earth.
Along with interviews with some of his personal friends, collaborators, and admirers, including actors and comedians like Stephen Fry, David Baddiel, Griff Rhys Jones, Sanjeev Bhaskar, and zoologists Lucy Cooke and Mark Carwardine, this archival material combined with readings and reenactments of his work come together to form an immersive journey through the mind of one of the most beloved and visionary writers of our time.
It's not a biography, nor really an analysis, although it contains aspects of both. It's a look at how Douglas viewed the world, created fictional worlds, and worked with others to share that. It also reveals how his views both predicted, and offered possible solutions to, many issues we live with today.
It truly is as described:
A celebration of the startling wit and unexpected wisdom of the legendary science fiction author, featuring readings of Douglas Adams’s work, rare archival audio, plus interviews with his most famous friends and fans reflecting on the late author’s legacy.
* I got the comic wrong...
