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leeshajoy's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
mpclemens's review against another edition
3.0
Considerably better than [b:The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Secondary Phase|6125323|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy The Secondary Phase (Hitchhiker's Guide Radio Play, #2)|Douglas Adams|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328744000s/6125323.jpg|17062843], this series has the benefit of a solid plotline that carries all the way through the story, instead of discrete humorous elements that were glued together to form a manic whole. Zaphod is rightly delegated to a supporting role, and Arthur, despite his many misadventures, continues to grow as a character, and as such, finally gets a chance to do a bit more than complain, although even this is a long time coming. He's perhaps the most relate-able character of the cast, and it's good to see him regain the focus of the story.
Production quality is outstanding, and certainly benefits from the time between the original series and this one. There's more subtle asides, and genuine smiles and laughs from this phase, too. I found myself gritting my teeth through some of the longer portions of the Secondary, but genuinely regretted the end of the Tertiary. It doesn't hurt that the source material was already published and honed to a fine edge first, so the radio play could focus on just the "best bits" and be entertaining. A good balance of humor and philosophizing, in Adams' own style.
Production quality is outstanding, and certainly benefits from the time between the original series and this one. There's more subtle asides, and genuine smiles and laughs from this phase, too. I found myself gritting my teeth through some of the longer portions of the Secondary, but genuinely regretted the end of the Tertiary. It doesn't hurt that the source material was already published and honed to a fine edge first, so the radio play could focus on just the "best bits" and be entertaining. A good balance of humor and philosophizing, in Adams' own style.
heregrim's review against another edition
5.0
Arthur Dent meets Thor, learns the tragic backstory of Krikkit, and it's ties to his beloved Cricket. Slartibartfast pushes for Real Time and Arthur is called to task for his gratuitous use of violence in killing the same lifeform in all of their reincarnations.
danielmbensen's review against another edition
4.0
A funny ramble.
Part of the reason I like the Hitchhiker's Guide books is how non-linear they are. It's clear Adams was willing to go where his muse took him, although perhaps he wasn't always happy about it. The radio play I actually like less than the audiobook (some of the jokes work better as internal rather than external dialogue) but oh my God, I love "Journey of the Sorcerer by the Eagles." I've been listening to it on repeat for weeks.
Part of the reason I like the Hitchhiker's Guide books is how non-linear they are. It's clear Adams was willing to go where his muse took him, although perhaps he wasn't always happy about it. The radio play I actually like less than the audiobook (some of the jokes work better as internal rather than external dialogue) but oh my God, I love "Journey of the Sorcerer by the Eagles." I've been listening to it on repeat for weeks.
kaypat23's review against another edition
5.0
I can't believe how I missed out on the radio series and judged the book based on its contents. I completely forgot that Douglas wrote the series to be a radio play! This would explain why some aspects of the book felt lacking and some jokes fell flat. You truly need to hear them in order to enjoy them at their fullest.
This radio drama is much more enjoyable and fun than the book. There, I said it.
The characters and voice actors match, the music is well utilized and the sound effects are hilarious. Arthur sounds like the harried British man that he is, Ford sounds posh and calm, Slartibartfast has a very clipped and formal pronunciation whereas Zaphod sounds like an American who got lost in a foreign country for too long. Vaguely Latin? Vaguely South African? No idea. But I like how I could tell them apart right away. I like how depressing Marvin sounds like. But the white robots have a weird Italian Brooklyn accent I couldn't place and it didn't help that they also were garbled by voice changing machines.
I guess it would have been too much to ask for Slartibartfast to sound like a Norwegian man to help me tell him apart better but I cannot complain too much already.
Can't wait to listen to the primary phase. If I listened to this from the start, I might be more inclined to rate the book lower because it doesn't live up to the drama. So I'm glad I didn't find this until now.
This radio drama is much more enjoyable and fun than the book. There, I said it.
The characters and voice actors match, the music is well utilized and the sound effects are hilarious. Arthur sounds like the harried British man that he is, Ford sounds posh and calm, Slartibartfast has a very clipped and formal pronunciation whereas Zaphod sounds like an American who got lost in a foreign country for too long. Vaguely Latin? Vaguely South African? No idea. But I like how I could tell them apart right away. I like how depressing Marvin sounds like. But the white robots have a weird Italian Brooklyn accent I couldn't place and it didn't help that they also were garbled by voice changing machines.
I guess it would have been too much to ask for Slartibartfast to sound like a Norwegian man to help me tell him apart better but I cannot complain too much already.
Can't wait to listen to the primary phase. If I listened to this from the start, I might be more inclined to rate the book lower because it doesn't live up to the drama. So I'm glad I didn't find this until now.
february's review against another edition
4.0
Never was there a more devastating burn in the entirety of the universe than when someone replied to Zaphod Beeblebrox introducing himself with a deadpan, "So what?"
Another entertaining radio series, which retcons a bit of what happened in the previous series (because of course it does!) and follows along some of the key points of [b:Life, the Universe and Everything|8694|Life, the Universe and Everything (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #3)|Douglas Adams|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1333577589l/8694._SX50_.jpg|74123], complete with the Starship Bistromath (loved actually hearing it here, the strife with Krikkit (much more exciting than actual Cricket... though, come to think, the Cricket of this book may have also been more exciting than actual Cricket due to the murderous robots that appear), and the characters Wowbanger and Agrajag who display levels of pettiness to which I can only hope to aspire.
Great radio play and much improved audio, though I would say some of the dramatic effect pauses (or maniacal laughter) may have been a bit overlong, as were some fluff bits. The script slogged a bit in places for me because of it. Still very enjoyable, and a fun afternoon walk listen.
Another entertaining radio series, which retcons a bit of what happened in the previous series (because of course it does!) and follows along some of the key points of [b:Life, the Universe and Everything|8694|Life, the Universe and Everything (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #3)|Douglas Adams|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1333577589l/8694._SX50_.jpg|74123], complete with the Starship Bistromath (loved actually hearing it here, the strife with Krikkit (much more exciting than actual Cricket... though, come to think, the Cricket of this book may have also been more exciting than actual Cricket due to the murderous robots that appear), and the characters Wowbanger and Agrajag who display levels of pettiness to which I can only hope to aspire.
Great radio play and much improved audio, though I would say some of the dramatic effect pauses (or maniacal laughter) may have been a bit overlong, as were some fluff bits. The script slogged a bit in places for me because of it. Still very enjoyable, and a fun afternoon walk listen.
booksareamood's review
fast-paced
4.0
As usual this is excellent, so funny and excellent theme tune. Will definitely be listening to the rest!
studiomikarts's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
Even though, once upon a time, I had read all the Hitchhiker's Guide novels, and this dramatization is based on the third book, I didn't remember anything about it as I listened to this. That's not a complaint, just an interesting observation, since this series is among my all-time favorites. Not knowing what was coming meant all the plot twists and jokes were fresh and new, so I enjoyed this radio play completely! I loved the cast, including the recasting of characters whose actors had passed away, though it was sad to think that both of Slartibartfast's voice actors have now passed 😞 I didn't know until finishing this and reading others' reviews that Douglas Adams himself voices a role posthumously, as well! Definitely looking forward to listening to the next entry in this series!
verkisto's review against another edition
4.0
Where the first two novels in the series were adapted from the radio dramas, this third series of the radio plays was adapted from the third book in the series. It was produced without Adams this time around, and since so many years had passed between the second and tertiary phases, some of the cast had to be replaced. It still flowed well, and it was nice to remember the details of the books as I listened to the drama; it's been over thirty years since I last read the series.
2021 Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book in a different format than what you normally read (audio adaptation)
2021 Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book in a different format than what you normally read (audio adaptation)