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Douglas Adams Remembered By Those Who Knew Him

Posted by Zonk on from the rotating-in-his-grave dept.

John "Widgett" Robinson writes "IGN FilmForce tapped a bunch of folks who knew and worked with Douglas Adams, asking them to share some stories of their time with the man himself. They've posted the results as an article that includes responses from Pythoner Terry Jones, author Neil Gaiman, actor Stephen Fry, Rutle Neil Innes, zoologist Mark Carwardine, and Monkee Michael Nesmith. I've never heard any of these stories before, so the thing winds up being a unique tribute to a very cool frood."

16 of 181 comments (clear)

  1. rememberance and full article mirror by winkydink · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I had the privelege to listen to Adams speak at a lunch in San Jose back in '96. He was a very engaging and entertaining speaker and was very approachable afterwards to just chat.

    The mirror is here

    --

    "I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismometer." -Ken Kesey

    1. Re:rememberance and full article mirror by donarb · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Adams did the closing keynote at the Apple Developer Conference in 1997. He told a great story about how Microsoft wanted his opinion as a writer on using the latest/greatest version of Word. He talked about how most word processors were not conducive to the writing process (cutting/pasting story snippets, notes in the margins, organizing plot outlines, etc). He tried to explain to the pointy heads in Redmond about the features that would turn Word into something that writers could use (as opposed to what business people use). The response he got is that it would be difficult to add those features because they wouldn't have enough key combos for all of them.

  2. Re:coincidence? by torinth · · Score: 5, Interesting

    or a perfect time to publish an article.

    It's called cross-promotion, and companies that are completely unaffiliated "cash in" on it all the time. You see, because of the publicity and marketing driven by the movie, there is presently a market of people interested in facts about Douglas Adams, Hitchhiker's Guide, British Comedy, Old Science Fiction, and who knows what else.

    Any editor worth his salt would consider running stories that capitalize on that interest. The interest is bigger than it was two years ago, and bigger than it will be in six months. It would be idiotic not to run stories like this if you have access to them. It's not "disingenious", people want to read about things like this right now!

  3. Only things I remember... by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Interesting
    In a talk Douglas pointed out that W W W is 9 syllables, 6 more than what the abbreviation stands for 'World Wide Web' He suggested calling it "Triple-U"

    Also a question of who inspired Ford Prefect, it wasn't Eric Idle (as I'd guessed, from his minor involvement with the Pythons) but a college roommate, whose name he didn't give.

    There's my minor nuggets.

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  4. Saw him speak by mikeg22 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I saw Douglas Adams speak at Cambell Hall at UCSB a couple weeks before he died. He was a very friendly, funny guy who believed in embracing technology.

    One example he told about was how 10 years ago, society's view of cell phones was that they were devices only bought by gabbers who liked to annoy other people. People had this viceral reaction when they saw a person with a cell phone, something like, "Oh God, that person thinks they are SO important, but they just look like an idiot gabbing away." His daughter (I think) told him one day, "Why should I use a phone with a cord when I can use a phone without a cord that I can take anywhere?" When Mr. Adams had this epiphany, he immediately went out and bought a cell phone.

    This was an insightful story and really hit home because I was one of those people who had a very negative view of cell phones around 10 years ago, for no real reason other than they were new. Irony of all ironies though, Mr. Adams died on a treadmill (fake walking device) soon after.

    1. Re:Saw him speak by smooth+wombat · · Score: 3, Interesting
      One example he told about was how 10 years ago, society's view of cell phones was that they were devices only bought by gabbers who liked to annoy other people. People had this viceral reaction when they saw a person with a cell phone, something like, "Oh God, that person thinks they are SO important, but they just look like an idiot gabbing away."

      Ten years later and this view hasn't changed.

      And no, this isn't a troll or flamebait. The next time you are out and are behind someone who's waddling along talking on their cell phone, actually listen to what they are saying. 99% of the time the conversation will not be about something important ("I'm at the store, do you need something?"; "Are you alright? I'll be right over.") but rather someone talking to someone simply because they have a cell phone.

      Doubt me? Have a listen.

      --
      We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
    2. Re:Saw him speak by Hentai · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Very true. The problem is, cellphones are an enabling technology for loud and obnoxious behavior. Think about it - a loud and obnoxious person is only loud and obnoxious when talking to other (usually ALSO loud and obnoxious, otherwise they would become irritated and leave) people. This is limited to times when other such people are available for conversations. Without cellphones, loud and obnoxious people must travel in packs in order to display their attrocious behavior. With cellphones, they can have conversations which are infuriating to third parties WITHOUT a readily available friend. Cellphones serve to DOUBLE the amount of effective distraction, since each side of the conversation is just as distracting as the other, and they are now in two distinct locales, each spreading irritation and social discomfort to passersby. You're doubling the area of interaction between jerk and society, thereby doubling the rate of exposure.

      --
      -Hentai [in vita non pacem est]
  5. No David Prowse by guru42101 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I'm surprised they didn't have an interview with David Prowse. He was close friends w/ Douglas Adams and worked with him on the BBC HHGTG show. I met him at DragonCon several years ago, shortly after Adams' death, and he had many interesting stories to tell.

  6. Re:Graham Chapman ?!?? by Skiron · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Remember, Graham Chapman died of AIDS, so he knew he was a 'gonna' long before he died. Who wrote that sketch? ;)

  7. The REAL issue at hand here by BlackIce_101 · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I think the world needs to be doing a whole lot less reminiscing and a whole lot more work towards advancing neurobiology. It's one thing to talk about how great he was, but what is anyone really doing about it? Do we know if his brain was even saved?!?

    All I know is that it doesn't sound like the effort is being put forth and we're really gonna be kicking ourselves 20 years down the road...

    --
    The only certainty in life is death... and buffer overflows for some strange inexplicable reason...
  8. GRAHAM CHAPMAN by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    GRAHAM CHAPMAN
    (writer, author, ex-Python)

    (Mr. Chapman could not be reached in time for deadline)


    He did in fact pass away in 1989.
  9. Douglas by Napoleon+Blownapart · · Score: 0, Interesting
    I was lucky enough to meet Douglas several times at book signings over here in England and went to a public talk he gave in London about conservationism when "last chance to see" came out.

    Always very courteous and pleasant.

    Last time I saw him was in Camden High St, London about 6 years ago buying a sandwich in a shop.

  10. Re:Hollywood Vultures by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Hey, MJ, thanks for taking what could have been a hypocritical opportunity to join promotion for a film you panned, and instead turning it into mention of another work that will probably (in your opinion, at least) better fulfill DNA fans.

    TG, no thanks for failing to comprend "integrity" (and "intent"), or for misunderstanding a couple of sentences explaining why that posthumous publication of DNA's work might be more satisfying than either the film bringing the message to you, or even the rushed, inadequately edited final, and lesser, two books in the H2G2 trilogy. Enjoy the tiny Slashdot soapbox - I doubt it warmed anyone.

    --

    --
    make install -not war

  11. Re:RIP Doug by object88 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Now there was a guy who always knew where his towel was.

    Apparently, you didn't R the FA. To quote the imminently quotable Neil Geiman:

    There was a sudden scurrying and commotion as a Douglasy sort of noise came from upstairs, followed by the arrival downstairs of Douglas's stepmother. "He says there aren't any towels in the bathroom and he's in the bath. Where are the towels?" she asked...

  12. I actually met him once by wdavies · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I dont get to name drop on this forum much, but when I was a teenager back in Wales, there was a stage production of HHGTG at the local student theatre (Sherman Theatre?). I remember them serving Pan galatic gargleblasters during the reception, and that myself and my friend James got to say Hi to him. I dont have any witty epitaphs to report, just remembering that he was very tall and sanguine. Thinking about it now, sort of a taller, thinner, less bearded Terry Pratchett.

    Winton

  13. Re:Hollywood Vultures by Boronx · · Score: 2, Interesting

    One of the responders mentions that the script of the movie is not Adams' script at all, and that Disney rejected his outright. If that's so, where is his script, and what would it take to produce it?

    --
    Play Command HQ online