Mostly Surprisingly Good, Actually!

And another thing...... The long awaited sixth volume of the Hitch Hikers Guide To The Galaxy trilogy, written not by Douglas Adams (obviously, yet still, after all this time to get used to it, bitingly sadly) but by Eoin Colfer of 'books I haven't read' fame, is that rare thing - a book which totally exceeds all expectations. Ok, my expectations were low - I wasn't wild about the previous two books in the trilogy (apart from the Rain God, I bloody loved him) and I didn't really like where the narrative had ended up. Let's be honest - I much prefered the radio stuff with the Lintillas and the wise old bird who sounded like Sergeant Wilson and the shoe event horizon. And since that didn't make it into the books I was pre disposed to be annoyed with them.

So, to recap - geeky fan girl but with a chip on her shoulder about something silly, and therefore low low expectations. The 'books I haven't read' thing was hardly a selling point, either. I do totally realise it says something about me and nothing whatsoever about anyone else.

Recent experience (see the blog post about Unseen Academicals) was also not providing good omens. Perhaps some series aren't too good to end. Perhaps Dr Who genuinely is the only thing that could and should go on forever.

Lowered expectations are clearly a Good Thing when it comes to book enjoyment. 'And another thing......' wasn't fabulous. It was no 'Life, the universe and everything.....'. There were no Paul McCartney running gags and no cricket allusions. There was no real baddy. There were no lines as memorable as all the ones we used to quote at school. No vogon poetry. No digital watches. Not a lot happened. There was no Marvin, Ford was reduced to a cypher and Agrajag didn't die at all.

And yet, and yet.......I really enjoyed it. I did. It felt comfortable, and it felt credible. I laughed out loud while reading it. I might actually start saying 'appease the cheese'. Possibly. I love Thor. And the shoe event horizon got an oblique mention. So- there's hope yet. There will surely be a sequel, and that is clearly an episode begging to be woven into the book narrative.

But, I'm sorry, Marvin absolutely has to return. Destroy Earth as many times as you want - but the android must live. Without him Arthur and his motley rag tag of friends, acquaintences and daughter are all just too damn cheerful!


-- Posted from my iPhone