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shanbonan's review against another edition
5.0
Very, very funny. I love absurd humor, and Douglas Adams delivers. The scene in which Dirk is describing the actions of the ghost of recently-murdered Gordon Way had me laughing out loud...and, mind you, I was listening to the book while at work!
perfektionaise's review
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
subplotkudzu's review against another edition
5.0
I just love this book. Not only is it personally evocative of my 80's childhood, but I think it really is the most enjoyable of Douglas Adams works (perhaps only Hitchhikers surpasses it). The plot is nicely twisty, unfolds at its own pace and in some odd ways (you can really see British SF/F techniques of cold opens and asides that make no sense until much later in the story that are meant to set you questioning and draw you in), and hangs together well. The characters are all likable: while the Hitchhikers stories take place in a universal culture that is sardonically indifferent bordering on hostile, the Doctor Who antecedents of the Dirk Gently stories gives Adams a softer and more compassionate humor. Dirk himself is a fascinating character (and again, shares a lot of the Doctor's DNA). The story is very much set in 80's London, but I don't think that harms it - of course, I read it in the 80's and know that time, if not that place. Your mileage may vary.
If only Adams wrote faster... I would have loved 5 or 6 Dirk Gently books rather than the 2.5 we got.
If only Adams wrote faster... I would have loved 5 or 6 Dirk Gently books rather than the 2.5 we got.
lainpapermoon's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
caitasoflate's review against another edition
2.5
Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did Hitchhiker's - expect it to be because I listened to a dramatisation which, while having a very talented cast, this abridged version did not quite hold my attention or capture my imagination well enough. Still, worth reading, should you like the bizarre and mundane contrasted so well as Adams can do.
bookstor's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
alwaysanna13's review against another edition
4.0
I love Adams, and this was a fun and entertaining read throughout. Great characters, great humor, great style. Plot got a little sloppy - I got a little lost at the end with all the Coleridge stuff, but still liked it.
malmil303's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
3.0