Eoin Colfer to write new "Hitchhiker" book

HarryT · 09-17-2008, 09:15 AM

Not directly related to our main topic of conversation, perhaps, but I'm sure that it will interest many people to know that popular childrens' author Eoin Colfer (author of the "Artemis Fowl" series) has been chosen by Douglas Adams' widow to write a new book in the "Hitchhiker's Guide" series.

For more details, see:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today...00/7619708.stm

Slite · 09-17-2008, 09:23 AM

Hmmmm, I don't really know how to react to that.

On one hand, I like the Idea of another HHGTTG book, but on the other hand I don't think anyone but the late Mr. Adams can really pull it off.

HarryT · 09-17-2008, 09:27 AM

He is the ideal choice. I don't know if you've read the "Artemis Fowl" books? They are very "Douglas Adams-esque" humour.

zelda_pinwheel · 09-17-2008, 10:24 AM

i feel the same as slite ; wouldn't it be brilliant to have another one, and one that you haven't actually read eleventy billion times already, but... in the past i've been invariably disappointed when someone tries to take up where a (dead) author has left off ; Thrones and Dominations comes to mind, which tried really hard to follow in the footsteps of Dorothy Sayers (and while that's already not easy, it's nothing compared to the footsteps of Douglas Adams). it came close, but it just wasn't right. it didn't feel natural ; you could sense that the author wasn't writing in her own voice, but trying to imitate someone else's.

however, i have not read the artemis fowl books (although i'm about to add them to my list, after this bit of news), and it would be thrilling to have a 6th book in the trilogy (maybe then we could add a little sub-script "2" every time we write "the hitchhiker trilogy" sort of like h2o), so i'll try to stay optimistic and wait and see. and i'll read it when it comes out.

Slite · 09-17-2008, 10:31 AM

Havent read the Artemis Fowl books either, but if they are as Harry says, Douglasesque (is that a word?)

I have to pick them up and check them out.

JSWolf · 09-17-2008, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slite

Havent read the Artemis Fowl books either, but if they are as Harry says, Douglasesque (is that a word?)

I have to pick them up and check them out.

They are not available as eBooks. So there's a good chance the new HHGTTG book won't be either.

pilotbob · 09-17-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slite

Havent read the Artemis Fowl books either, but if they are as Harry says, Douglasesque (is that a word?)

I have to pick them up and check them out.

Aren't they "young adult" books? I tend to remember my 11 year old reading them for the "battle of the books" at school.

BOb

Slite · 09-17-2008, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Aren't they "young adult" books? I tend to remember my 11 year old reading them for the "battle of the books" at school.

BOb

Point being?

I often enjoy reading books for "young adults" even if I'm plodding along being closer to the big five-oh than not

It's the kind of stuff I can read on the comuter train going into work in the mornings, don't have to put too much thought into it.

HarryT · 09-17-2008, 11:13 AM

Yes, they're aimed at the teenage market.

pilotbob · 09-17-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slite

Point being?

I often enjoy reading books for "young adults" even if I'm plodding along being closer to the big five-oh than not

It's the kind of stuff I can read on the comuter train going into work in the mornings, don't have to put too much thought into it.

I'm not saying "young reader" books are bad... just why perhaps many here haven't read them. I think they were published fairly recently. The oldest one I see on Amazon is pub2001.

BOb

JeffElkins · 09-19-2008, 04:46 PM

I shudder at the thought. I remember when "new" Nero Wolfe novels were published after Rex Stout's death. I tried reading one and didn't even finish it. I feel the same about Jill Paton Walsh's Peter Wimsey novels. Rex Stout spoke about this directly and decried the practice, saying it didn't show respect to the original author, but I can't find the quote.

stustaff · 09-19-2008, 06:30 PM

Films and TV series etc all continue with new authors and Also series like star wars and star trek all had multiple succesful authors so It can work.

I think the idea should be a New book in the HHGTTG world By Eoin Colfer

acknowledge that it is a book by a different author just set in the same universe.

blunty · 09-19-2008, 06:52 PM

I really think this is just a marketing ploy by the publisher to pull in more dosh. If Eoin Colfer wants to write his own Douglasesque books that's fine but why call it part of the Hitch Hikers series which it patently isn't?
Dont fall for the marketeers spin.

stustaff · 09-19-2008, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blunty

I really think this is just a marketing ploy by the publisher to pull in more dosh. If Eoin Colfer wants to write his own Douglasesque books that's fine but why call it part of the Hitch Hikers series which it patently isn't?
Dont fall for the marketeers spin.

I dont get why you feel like that? Lots of series have had multiple authors and been great.

blunty · 09-19-2008, 07:13 PM

Maybe lots of series have multiple authors but long established series by a single author do not need extending by publishing houses who are just trying to make money on the back of the name. If the author is good enough they should be able to write their own series and if necessary claim it in the style of, or a tribute to the original. But it is never going to be a genuine continuation of a series, no matter how great, despite any thing the marketeers say. The same goes for writing "new" James Bond books.

09-17-2008, 09:15 AM	#1
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Eoin Colfer to write new "Hitchhiker" book Not directly related to our main topic of conversation, perhaps, but I'm sure that it will interest many people to know that popular childrens' author Eoin Colfer (author of the "Artemis Fowl" series) has been chosen by Douglas Adams' widow to write a new book in the "Hitchhiker's Guide" series. For more details, see: http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today...00/7619708.stm

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09-17-2008, 09:23 AM	#2
Slite Icanhasdonuts? Posts: 2,837 Karma: 532407 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mölnbo, Sweden Device: Kobo Aura 2nd edition, Kobo Clara HD	Hmmmm, I don't really know how to react to that. On one hand, I like the Idea of another HHGTTG book, but on the other hand I don't think anyone but the late Mr. Adams can really pull it off.

09-17-2008, 09:27 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	He is the ideal choice. I don't know if you've read the "Artemis Fowl" books? They are very "Douglas Adams-esque" humour.

09-17-2008, 10:24 AM	#4
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	i feel the same as slite ; wouldn't it be brilliant to have another one, and one that you haven't actually read eleventy billion times already, but... in the past i've been invariably disappointed when someone tries to take up where a (dead) author has left off ; Thrones and Dominations comes to mind, which tried really hard to follow in the footsteps of Dorothy Sayers (and while that's already not easy, it's nothing compared to the footsteps of Douglas Adams). it came close, but it just wasn't right. it didn't feel natural ; you could sense that the author wasn't writing in her own voice, but trying to imitate someone else's. however, i have not read the artemis fowl books (although i'm about to add them to my list, after this bit of news), and it would be thrilling to have a 6th book in the trilogy (maybe then we could add a little sub-script "2" every time we write "the hitchhiker trilogy" sort of like h2o), so i'll try to stay optimistic and wait and see. and i'll read it when it comes out.

09-17-2008, 10:31 AM	#5
Slite Icanhasdonuts? Posts: 2,837 Karma: 532407 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mölnbo, Sweden Device: Kobo Aura 2nd edition, Kobo Clara HD	Havent read the Artemis Fowl books either, but if they are as Harry says, Douglasesque (is that a word?) I have to pick them up and check them out.

09-17-2008, 11:13 AM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Yes, they're aimed at the teenage market.

09-19-2008, 04:46 PM	#11
JeffElkins Guru Posts: 780 Karma: 1416 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Kobo Clara 2E/HD, Kindle PW	I shudder at the thought. I remember when "new" Nero Wolfe novels were published after Rex Stout's death. I tried reading one and didn't even finish it. I feel the same about Jill Paton Walsh's Peter Wimsey novels. Rex Stout spoke about this directly and decried the practice, saying it didn't show respect to the original author, but I can't find the quote.

09-19-2008, 06:30 PM	#12
stustaff Wizard Posts: 1,055 Karma: 2110 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Derbyshire UK Device: sony reader PRS505 and 600	Films and TV series etc all continue with new authors and Also series like star wars and star trek all had multiple succesful authors so It can work. I think the idea should be a New book in the HHGTTG world By Eoin Colfer acknowledge that it is a book by a different author just set in the same universe.

09-19-2008, 06:52 PM	#13
blunty Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 884 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: London Device: Kindle Fire, iPad, iPhone5, Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Vox	I really think this is just a marketing ploy by the publisher to pull in more dosh. If Eoin Colfer wants to write his own Douglasesque books that's fine but why call it part of the Hitch Hikers series which it patently isn't? Dont fall for the marketeers spin.

09-19-2008, 07:13 PM	#15
blunty Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 884 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: London Device: Kindle Fire, iPad, iPhone5, Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Vox	Maybe lots of series have multiple authors but long established series by a single author do not need extending by publishing houses who are just trying to make money on the back of the name. If the author is good enough they should be able to write their own series and if necessary claim it in the style of, or a tribute to the original. But it is never going to be a genuine continuation of a series, no matter how great, despite any thing the marketeers say. The same goes for writing "new" James Bond books.

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