New Hitchhiker's novel?

[Doctor Who?]

I'm not against the idea of another book but THGTTG has so much of Adams in it I am not sure how anyone else can pull it off.

I have never read anyone who writes anything like Adams.

[mrbasehart]

I think Robert Rankin is a lot like Douglas Adams, though he doesn't necessarily deal with Science Fiction as much. 

[Pak-Man]

As a wannabe writer, I'm terrified of the prospect of creating a series beloved the world over, then dying, and having someone else take over. After you're dead, your creative universe should go with you.

On the other hand, if we followed that philosophy with comic books, there wouldn't be many comic books left.

Color me conflicted.

[Relaxing Dragon]

I'm beyond nervous with this one. I happen to enjoy the Artimis Fowl series, I think they're pretty good. But Adams is (and probably always will be) my absolute favorite writer. I adore everything he does (Life, The Universe, and Everything and Last Chance to See are my personal equivalents of the Old and New Testaments, respectively), and I've yet to see anyone who can capture his unique brand of humor better than he did. And while I think the series could use a slightly more upbeat ending, I don't want some book that doesn't even come close to capturing the spirit and humor of the rest of the trilogy.

So, I remain very weary.

[Imrahil]

Weary or wary?

As others have said, Pratchett is closest in tone to Adams. But Pratchett has his own universe and issues, and (again) as other have said, I'd rather see him stick close there.

Anyone ever read any Tom Holt? He -might- be able to pull it off...

[Relaxing Dragon]

Wary. Sorry, typed all that in a hurry last night (I believe I was quite weary at the time, though).

[Mr.Quark]

Salmon of Doubt had the first part of the Third Dirk Gently book in it. Douglas Adams said in the book that it was actually more like a Hitchhikers book than a Dirk genlty novel.

But I was wondering how could there be another Hitchhikers book when

[Imrahil]

Salmon of Doubt had the first part of the Third Dirk Gently book in it. Douglas Adams said in the book that it was actually more like a Hitchhikers book than a Dirk genlty novel.

But I was wondering how could there be another Hitchhikers book when

At the end of the MH radio drama they 'fixed' that by having essentially all probabilities collapse and scatter, so that different versions of all of the characters ended up doing nice things; one has Arthur and a billion Lintillas showering on the Heart of Gold, one has Arthur and everyone at the Restaurant (including Marvin, now chief parking lot attendant), and Fenchurch happens upon them as the waitress, etc.  It's a bit of a copout, but after so much time spent with the characters it gave me a warm fuzzy.

[Kzinistzerg]

I've read Eoin Colfer. He's a nice author, but I think HHGTTG should be left alone, as is. Don't Mess With It, please?

[Imrahil]

Well, as Ronin said--at the worst we just ignore it and still have Adams.  I'm holding out a little hope here.

[Tripe H. Redux]

Ok wow that's a surprise. I remember waiting a hellishly long time for Mostly Harmless to come out and being pretty bummed out by the ending.

I don't think Pratchett, while appealing to the same audience, really has the same voice exactly. I think Rankin could probably do it better.

Or perhaps get Rob Grant or Doug Naylor to do it.

[mrbasehart]

Ok wow that's a surprise. I remember waiting a hellishly long time for Mostly Harmless to come out and being pretty bummed out by the ending.

I don't think Pratchett, while appealing to the same audience, really has the same voice exactly. I think Rankin could probably do it better.

Or perhaps get Rob Grant or Doug Naylor to do it.

I've read a couple of their books outside of the Red Dwarf adaptations, and they were both pretty weak.  But perhaps working within an established universe, without having to create one theirselves might work out better.

[Tripe H. Redux]

See that's what I was thinking. Grant worked on Stressed Eric and could possibly tap into some of the exasperation with reality present in the Hitchhiker's novels.

[DarthChimay]

As a wannabe writer, I'm terrified of the prospect of creating a series beloved the world over, then dying, and having someone else take over. After you're dead, your creative universe should go with you.

On the other hand, if we followed that philosophy with comic books, there wouldn't be many comic books left.

Color me conflicted.

That, and there are some well-established series that found life in other writers' hands. L. Sprague de Camp ran with Conan quite successfully. The Seven-Per-Cent Solution is a phenomenal Sherlock Holmes story. I'd love to be able to create a world that's so potent other people want to play in it. On the other hand, I'd also be jealous and not want anyone else in my sandbox.

[Tripe H. Redux]

Yeah but The Seven Per-Cent Solution is hardly a continuation of Holmes in the manner that Conan-Doyle would have intended.

Metafiction is one thing, continuance of the fictional universe is another.

I mean we all love Lovecraft, but without Derleth there's really not be a cohesive Mythos to call Lovecraftian. Now that's continuance of a fictional universe.