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Douglas Adams' Last Book
mixedbag writes "A BBC news article suggests that a sixth book in Douglas Adams's Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy series will be published next May. It will be unfinished from files found of his computer. The title is to be A Salmon of Doubt."
I don't know how I feel about this. While I'll be glad to have another book from such a great author, I worry that this will in some way corrupt the memory by putting an unfinished work-in-progress up against his polished final drafts. I hope at least they'll leave it unfinished, and not have some hack come in and tie things up for him.
In Capitalist America, bank robs you!
WHAT WAS THE FINAL QUESTION? PLEASE PLEASE TELL ME PLEASE PLEASE...
Ceci n'est pas une sig
I am excited in one sense, I will definitely read it, but is this entirely ethical? I mean, I don't think I want the contents of my computer published when I die. Especailly since they made such a big point about his being a perfectionist. Maybe he wouldn't have wanted people to read this. What does everyone else think?
I was going to make the comment (like everyone else) that they shouldn't publish this. Except I can't -- I'm going to be one of the first to read it!
...a review Mr. Cranky wrote of Almost Heroes.
"Almost Heroes" is such an abomination that one actually wishes Chris Farley had kicked off long before he got anywhere near this script. The filmmakers would have been kinder to Farley's memory by taking a collective piss on his rotting corpse."
Let's hope that the new Adams book is a better experience. Don't most authors include something in their wills about not publishing unfinished materials?
Ron Hubbard published at least a dozen books after dying. Asimov, Heinlein, Roddenberry, Herbert, Toklein had amble stuff published too. Sometimes notes, as-is, or completions by "ghost" authors.
When I die, I hope they publish all those half completed letters to Penthouse I was working on.
"I never thought this could happen to me, but when I saw the six buxom cheerleaders knocking at my door..."
I just hope it does not end as it was with Tolkien, with lots of books published from temporary files/materials and in general so much stuff that it really looked like they were squeezing all the possible money from it....
While almost-completed stories are ok to publish, when the level reaches 10 lines of text and 10 pages of comment by someone else then it's sad.
The new book is not a Hitchhiker's book - there are already five of those - or a Dirk Gently book, but "it will be recognizable in style to anyone who knows those books." It also won't be The Salmon of Doubt.
"I abandoned [The Salmon of Doubt] about halfway through because I just thought it was getting too dull," Adams said. "Since then, I've now got lots and lots of different story lines waiting for me to turn them into books. One of them I shall apply the title Salmon of Doubt to, but I don't know which one yet."
Anyone know if the one being published was the "dull" book he never finished or another one?
-Daniel
from the article:
"He would take it and then revise it repeatedly so there were many files.
"As soon as he wrote anything he would say, 'Oh, God that's terrible'. He was a very, very self-critical author and so had a lot of trouble writing. He was a perfectionist."
I would rather that they not publish these final stories unless there was any indication from Mr. Adams before his death that he felt the stories lived up to his standards. It's sad, but they don't even know if he had thought of a completely new way to present the story, but just never had the chance to write it down.
Maybe if they include something in the forward saying that he had never reached a final approval point with these writings, it would sit easier with me. One thing I am glad they are doing, though, is to at least publish it in a collection with other writings, rather than selling it as the final novel in the Hitchhiker's collection.
And I will admit some curiosity to see the same story written in different ways. It might provide some insight into his creative process.
If all you have are silver bullets, everything looks like a werewolf.
Will we be seeing half completed movies that directors started?
oh yea AI.
or half completed software that a developer did not finish.
wait a minute, they dont have to be dead.
Point - its a mistake to publish something that isnt finish. It could have ended up way different that what was recovered on the computer after adams was finished revising it.
But Taco always say:
"Marvin you know we can't allow robots to post to slashdot. This website is for human nerds."
Hear I am. This is my fifth time though the whole expanse of time. I KNOW the secret to cold fusion. I personally talked to Jesus about the afterlife. I've had an XBox 5 TIMES now, and it just keeps pissing me off. Bill thinks he's so cool. Has he ever seen the end of time. I THINK NOT!!!
Tell Taco to let me post! Don't let Taco discriminate against me just because I am a robot.
"Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press"
For that reason, I'd be tempted to stay away from this book by Douglas.
Curmudgeon Gamer: Not happy
The original source of the story is the Sunday Telegraph.
There is a little more information here than at the BBC.
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http://slashdot.org/moderation.shtml
I'll buy it and read it, but only for what it's worth. I got the feeling at the end of Mostly Harmless that he had pulled a Charlton Heston at the end of Beneath the Planet of the Apes--that he wanted to end the series so finally that no sequel was possible. A little like he was angrily trying to give the HH fans, always clamoring for more, the hint that he didn't have any more to give in the series.
On a side-note, Adams was a devout atheist. It doesn't seem fitting that we should be worried that he's looking down on all of us screaming, "No, you idiots! Don't publish that!"
Once again, I'd like to refer to what Neil Gaiman wrote in his journal once he heard of Douglas' death: I hope that his death isn't followed by the publishing of all the stuff he hadn't wanted to see print. (the Saturday, May 12, 2001 entry).
May we live long and die out
I seem to remember reading something along those lines as well...
I do know that Terry Pratchett has included in his will (well, his literary will - apparently you need one of those) that NOBODY is to finish anything he's half way through and any unfinished work is NOT to be published (literally over his dead body)which I think is fair enough... Writing is an odd business and I don't imagine each chapter is carefully crafted and honed before the author moves on to the next... it would be a rough draft/first walk through kind of thing.
Mind you, it could give great insight into the workings of a writer... I'd pay for that I think.
I am a leaf on the wind
The only way I'd by that book is if the proceeds go to his family or a major charity. It would be true to D. Adams form for him to hate having unfinished stuff printed. The motive of the publishing company should be questioned.
Jon - TheSpork
I have to say, I have mixed feelings on this. On the one hand, a devoted Adams fan, I look forward to reading anything that he wrote. Being that this is a "unfinished" peice of work, is a little insulting, (wrong word but cant think of what to use) and at the same time, seeing as i cried when I read that he had passed. I want to read it, to see a little bit of the raw material that he worked with, to help get a little closer to the man who agonised over every word to ensure that I the reader would love it like the last.
No matter what form, or shape this is in, I am sure it will be a enjoyable read and will earn its place in my libarary, not for the actual words on the paper, but for the dedication and commitment to his fans.
Zaphod
(since 1979)
"No A Zaphod, didn't you hear we come in 6 Packs Now"
-
The Answer to the Question is 42.
-
Marvin, amongst numerous other complaints, claimed to have a brain the size of a planet.
- Marvin, like other robots, has a computer-based brain.
-
The Earth is a planet.
- The Earth was built by the mice as a computer, the only such planet or computer ever built.
- By (2), (3), (4), and (5), the Earth must therefore be Marvin's brain.
- The sole purpose of the Earth's program was to discover the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything.
- Marvin once announced that he had, in a moment of boredom, found the square root of -1, something never before done in the history of the universe, and previously believed by all sensible hyper-intelligent beings to be possibly the most difficult task to undertake, as it was dependent on the very structure of the Universe. (Most normally- intelligent beings gave up, dismissing it as impossible.)
- Marvin announced that he felt a brief, but deep, sense of satisfaction after having accomplished the achievement in (8).
- The Earth was apparently destroyed just as the purpose of its program was fulfilled, and a Question had been found.
- By (7), the Earth computer would have felt a deep sense of satisfaction at having achieved the task it was designed to fulfil.
- By (10), the sensation in (11) would have been brief.
- By (6), and by the fact that emotional feelings are based in the brain, the feelings in (9), (11) and (12) are the same single feeling.
- Finding the Ultimate Question was deemed to be the single most difficult task undertaken by hyper-intelligent beings in the history of the universe, as it was dependant on the very structure of the Universe -- as well as Life and Everything.
- By (6), (8), (13), and (14), Marvin (the Earth) had clearly solved the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything.
- By (8) and (15), the Question is "What is the square root of -1?".
- By (1) and (16), the square root of -1 is 42.
Pretty obvious, in hindsight...-grendel drago
Laws do not persuade just because they threaten. --Seneca
Instead of asking ``who the fuck is Ernest P. Worrel'', I'm sparing everyone else the trouble. He's that damned annoying ``Ernest Goes to Camp''/``Ernest Goes to Africa''/``Ernest Goes to Eroticon Six'' guy, played my Jim Varley.
http://us.imdb.com/Mlinks?0119068
That sort of thing.
-grendel drago
Laws do not persuade just because they threaten. --Seneca
I never can understand why people get so upset about "violating the wishes" of the now-dead. The dead shouldn't have rights, for the simple reason that they're not alive.
As for Mr. Adams, he was a very good writer, and an extremely talented man. He showed quite a bit of intelligence and insight, as well as compassion (I recommend that everyone try to get a copy of Last Chance to See. I think he did a great job of using his fame and talent to do good and have fun.
When he was alive, by all means, one should have shown him complete respect for his work and his rights. Treat him the way you'd want to be treated.
But, the fact of the matter is, now he's dead. You can't embarrass him, make him happy, cause him grief or indignation. You can't because he simply...isn't anymore. And, the fact is, there are people out there who are alive, who do want to read this. Why shouldn't they be allowed to, when doing so hurts absolutely nobody?
I'm sure some people will see this as flamebait, but seriously, many of the big problems in modern society revolve around un-dying "rights" and "wishes" -- be it of corporations, dead "prophets", or the ability of the very rich to pass on their inheritance to those who did nothing to earn it...Do we really need to devote any more "respect" to the non-existent when there are so many that could benefit (albeit in a very small way in this case) by considering the living?
If someone wants to show respect to the memory of Douglas Adams by not reading this unfinished material, that's their business -- personally I'd rather show people respect while they're alive and can appreciate it, rather than by making empty and useless gestures after they're dust.
I don't know if I'd enjoy reading an unfinished book. I think the Dune series did something similar where the son of the author took some unfinished manuscripts and churned out House Atradies and House Harkonnen.
Perhaps someone could provide an ending? A close friend perhaps? Meh.. as long as they did it for reasons other than profitability I think I'd take a look.
But without an ending... hmmm.. Imagine what the dictionary would be like if you never found out that the zedbra did it!
Price, Quality, Time. Pick none. What, you thought you had a choice?
If you don't want your unfinished writings to be exploited after your death (or you're just ashamed to have anyone see them), store 'em in an encrypted volume on your hard drive.
:-P
Just be sure to use a Government Approved backdoored cryptosystem, so the goons don't break your door down looking for terrorists.
Well, given that Marvin was, at the time of his death, (some two-digit number) of times as old as the universe itself, and had actually waited until The End Of The Universe at one point, you could say that at least one (most likely several) Marvin(s) existed in the universe at that point.
-grendel drago
Laws do not persuade just because they threaten. --Seneca
Harlan Ellison had a great response to the question "So is it wrong to do so?". Never was a huge fan of his fiction (obviously brilliant, just never clicked with me), but my God the man can write a brilliant invective.
Everyone complaining that the idea of publishing Douglas Adams' unfinished book posthumously seems somehow wrong, might find it interesting that Douglas himself wrote the forward for his own favorite author P. G. Wodehouse's unwished book "Sunset at Blanding". In it he wrote:
"This is P. G. Wodehouse's last -- and unfinished -- book. It is unfinished not just in the sense that it suddenly, heartbreakingly for those of us who love this man and his work, stops in mid-flow, but in the more important sense that the text up to that point is also unfinished."
...
"Will you, anyway, find much evidence of the great genius of Wodehouse here? Well, to be honest, no."
...
"But you will want to read Sunset for completeness, and for that sense you get, from its unfinishedness, of being suddenly and unexpectedly close to a Master actually at work -- a bit like seeing paint pots and scaffolding being carried in and out of the Sistine Chapel."
So I don't think Douglas himself would really object to this.
It depends on who's releasing the work. Under California law (Douglas Adams was a resident of California when he died), his unfinished work is an asset owned by his estate, which presumably passed to his surviving wife if he died without a will or to the heirs named in his will if he had one.
Guessing that he left everything to his wife and children, his wife and/or children will own, sooner or later, his unfinished work, and can consent to it's publication. I'd hope that they make money on it.
On the other hand, if someone other than the executor of the estate or Douglas Adams's successors in interest (the wife and children) were to publish the unfinished work without authorization, then that person could certainly be sued by either the estate or the heirs.
144l. ph34r my 133t l3g4l 5k1lz!
I have to say that I think I have the perfect ending, one that Douglas Adams would appreciate.
If I was the editor it would end thusly in mid-sentence.
"...sadly the author of this work is now dead and no one knows what the question is."
and then like 42 blank pages. i would laugh my ass off at that I think Douglas would as well.
-
If you wathc the on-line recordings of DNA's memorial service, his literary agent explained that: ...they intended to include it in a forthcoming collection of his non-book-published work (journalism etc.) simply because the fanatics would demand it.
a) salmon of doubt was extremely unfinished (to be precise, it's not a case of only being half of a book, it's a case of what there is being early drafts from a writer who did many many many revisions of his work) but that even so...
b)
~~~~~ BigLig2? You mean there's another one of me?
I would hate to know that he would be pissed to find out that an incomplete work was being published.
There, that's on topic.
I can't believe my previous post was modded off-topic, I respond to someone who talks about Adams (meaning I'm talking about Adams' beliefs), but I get modded down?
Time to include an IQ test to allow moderation privledges.
Vote monkeys into Congress. They are cheaper and more trustworthy.
Since I got modded Off-topic on my first attempt I'll risk another point or two of karma and try again for a (score:3, Funny).
He would take it and then revise it repeatedly so there were many files. "As soon as he wrote anything he would say, 'Oh, God that's terrible'. He was a very, very self-critical author and so had a lot of trouble writing. He was a perfectionist." Which sounds like so many Open Source projects which never make it to rel. 1.0. If we could set it up as an Open Source project, we'd have a chance of getting to 1.0 in maybe 3 or 4 years.
so if 42 == sqrt(-1) && 42 == sqrt(1764) then 1764 == -1 or sqrt isn't the function we all thought it was. Who knows, maybe we live in a base 1765 universe.
I ate my sig.
The reason the first HHGTTG is like that is because it is an adaptation of the first few episodes of the radio series. The second book split off from the plot of the radio series halfway through, and the rest of the books were entirely independent.
So true Adams fans should go find a copy of the radio series and listen to it - most of it will be an entirely new experience. Some very different stuff happens to the characters. BBC-Americas sells CDs of the series sporadically (mine took 14 months to arrive), and if you don't have the patience you can easily find MP3s of it.
Win dain a lotica, en vai tu ri silota
The fact that Adams didn't publish any of this, because he thought it wasn't right, says a lot, I think. This just seems like a way of cashing in .
I personally, think that it shouldn't be published. If Adams wasn't happy with it, then his wish should have been respected.
This reminds me of when Freddie Mercury died, and all of a sudden a whole pile of Queen records got released. Most of them were pants. If they hadn't been released, it was for a good reason.
Very sad indeed. This shouldn't just be an excuse to cash in.
I, for one, will never purchase a book that has been published after an authors death.
clearly an attempt by his estate to make a few bucks from fans who miss the author, and what the author had contributed to there lives.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
Brilliant? Brilliant???!!! Passionate, yes. Hardly brilliant. Ellison asserts that an author has absolute control over his work, even after his death--but Ellison simply treats that as axiomatic, and gives the skeptical reader not one whit of argument as to why he should accept Ellison's axiom.
I presume Ellison (and all the posters here who oppose posthumous publication without the author's consent) would also deny the world Mozart's Requiem.
Never take moderation advice from sigs, including this one.