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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
I personally like the Dirk Gently books more than the Hitchhikers books. If you like funny science fiction I am astonished you have not already read this. If you have not just pick it up now its so good.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this book because I watched the series. I really liked the series.
The only thing the book and the series had in common were a character called Dirk Gently (but this is a completely different character than in the series), the fact that he had a Holistic Detective Agency (but that means something else in the book than in the series) and the title.
That's it.
There were some interesting things in this book. It wasn't bad. It was just.. so entirely not what I expected. There sure was a LOT going on. All the computer science stuff is now rather outdated, but that makes it sort of cute. The time travel stuff was weird, but I don't think time travel can ever get outdated, because... well. I felt bad for the horse.
Won't read again, won't read the sequels - but I should pick up HHGttG again one of these days.
The only thing the book and the series had in common were a character called Dirk Gently (but this is a completely different character than in the series), the fact that he had a Holistic Detective Agency (but that means something else in the book than in the series) and the title.
That's it.
There were some interesting things in this book. It wasn't bad. It was just.. so entirely not what I expected. There sure was a LOT going on. All the computer science stuff is now rather outdated, but that makes it sort of cute. The time travel stuff was weird, but I don't think time travel can ever get outdated, because... well. I felt bad for the horse.
Won't read again, won't read the sequels - but I should pick up HHGttG again one of these days.
Rather than review this book myself (an endeavor rife with subjective opinions and too easily influenced by my emotional state), I enlisted the help of a computer program whose function is to review books with perfect objectivity. Unfortunately, the program only assigns five star ratings to books with seafoam green covers and now an investigation is underway to determine if books with seafoam green covers are--objectively--better than all other kinds of books, or if the computer program has evolved to develop its own personal taste, therefore making it completely useless for its intended function.
To help in this endeavor we've created a new computer program whose function is to objectively determine the objectivity of other computer programs.
This review will be updated accordingly.
To help in this endeavor we've created a new computer program whose function is to objectively determine the objectivity of other computer programs.
This review will be updated accordingly.
Douglas Adams, a staunch atheist, was influenced by scientist Richard Dawkins and British comedy troupe Monty Python. Adams' outlook on life with no God infiltrated his writing as did his environmental and conservation views. At age 49, Adams' died in Santa Barbara, CA where he met his non-existent maker and creator of all things or, for Adams, no things. There he rests in a dark corner, waiting for nothing to happen and perhaps that nothing will happen.
Though I may disagree on his views of God, I cannot deny that his wit and scientifically dense writing style made him a stark-raving mad genius of the unknown Universe. I hope that in my old age, perhaps I too will discover a time machine that I will then be able to undo the whole of mankind on this Earth. However, until then, I must resign myself to discussing the beauty and meaning in writing I have not done and hope that, one day, I may in fact be as accomplished a writer as Adams during his life.
With a mixed bookshelf of religious and scientific texts, I am lucky to have the wherewithal to understand that which Adams' addressed in his book Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. Quantum mechanics of wave patterns which, paradoxically, proves and disproves the source of life (or something like that) is the basis of much of the book. Even so, when it comes to cats disappearing I found it ironical that Svlad Cjelli aka Dirk Gently utilized the cancelation of wave patterns to explain the disappearance of said cat. When, in fact, he himself had disappeared as Svlad Cjelli -though not off the face of the Earth-and reappeared as Dirk Gently. Perhaps, this cat just changed its name and went on looking for a better place to catch mice. Yet, Gently's charm in attempting to convince his client to pay for 7 years of looking for a transmuted pet has been, by far, one of the more amusing pieces of scientific fiction I've read for quite a long time.
Most of the science fiction I have been exposed to lacks genuine comedy. Sure, it has the occasional witty line or event, but Adams produced a piece that was so absurd in its science, as it was used, that it became hilarious. Perhaps this was an evil plot showing how beliefs can be utilized to account for anything that happens, depending on how it’s told and to whom it’s told. Not that the science was wrong, but how Dirk used it to explain everything when, even in the interconnectedness of it all, there could be a simple explanation.
I would not say that this book was the top of my list to have everyone read. Mostly because it is difficult to follow and the character the book is named after doesn’t show up until halfway through. Though the lead up is entertaining in its own dimension, cutting about 75 pages out of it would make it more readable. It wasn’t until the last 50 pages that I felt there was a plot finally coming together. Though it was beautifully done and the writing original and fresh, for me, the lack of knowing a direction drove me to the brink of drinking so, maybe, I would be able to follow. Reading this book was similar to driving through a small town. One blink or one stray thought entering my head, and suddenly it was gone, or should I say, my understanding was gone.
As strange and often confusing as the book was, it also was profound in its approach to beliefs. The idea of having an electric Monk so it would do the believing could be taken in different ways as to why Adams included it. Is it that so many people just follow beliefs mindlessly, with no question? If they do question beliefs, or believe that which others don’t, they are wrong or “broken.” So much can be discussed about the depth of what Adams wrote, and for that there is no doubt he was a true master.
If my review was only based on the ideas and depth, I would give it 4.5 stars, but since it also includes the ability to read it through with clarity, I must give it 3 stars. Then again, that’s just my opinion.
Though I may disagree on his views of God, I cannot deny that his wit and scientifically dense writing style made him a stark-raving mad genius of the unknown Universe. I hope that in my old age, perhaps I too will discover a time machine that I will then be able to undo the whole of mankind on this Earth. However, until then, I must resign myself to discussing the beauty and meaning in writing I have not done and hope that, one day, I may in fact be as accomplished a writer as Adams during his life.
With a mixed bookshelf of religious and scientific texts, I am lucky to have the wherewithal to understand that which Adams' addressed in his book Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. Quantum mechanics of wave patterns which, paradoxically, proves and disproves the source of life (or something like that) is the basis of much of the book. Even so, when it comes to cats disappearing I found it ironical that Svlad Cjelli aka Dirk Gently utilized the cancelation of wave patterns to explain the disappearance of said cat. When, in fact, he himself had disappeared as Svlad Cjelli -though not off the face of the Earth-and reappeared as Dirk Gently. Perhaps, this cat just changed its name and went on looking for a better place to catch mice. Yet, Gently's charm in attempting to convince his client to pay for 7 years of looking for a transmuted pet has been, by far, one of the more amusing pieces of scientific fiction I've read for quite a long time.
Most of the science fiction I have been exposed to lacks genuine comedy. Sure, it has the occasional witty line or event, but Adams produced a piece that was so absurd in its science, as it was used, that it became hilarious. Perhaps this was an evil plot showing how beliefs can be utilized to account for anything that happens, depending on how it’s told and to whom it’s told. Not that the science was wrong, but how Dirk used it to explain everything when, even in the interconnectedness of it all, there could be a simple explanation.
I would not say that this book was the top of my list to have everyone read. Mostly because it is difficult to follow and the character the book is named after doesn’t show up until halfway through. Though the lead up is entertaining in its own dimension, cutting about 75 pages out of it would make it more readable. It wasn’t until the last 50 pages that I felt there was a plot finally coming together. Though it was beautifully done and the writing original and fresh, for me, the lack of knowing a direction drove me to the brink of drinking so, maybe, I would be able to follow. Reading this book was similar to driving through a small town. One blink or one stray thought entering my head, and suddenly it was gone, or should I say, my understanding was gone.
As strange and often confusing as the book was, it also was profound in its approach to beliefs. The idea of having an electric Monk so it would do the believing could be taken in different ways as to why Adams included it. Is it that so many people just follow beliefs mindlessly, with no question? If they do question beliefs, or believe that which others don’t, they are wrong or “broken.” So much can be discussed about the depth of what Adams wrote, and for that there is no doubt he was a true master.
If my review was only based on the ideas and depth, I would give it 4.5 stars, but since it also includes the ability to read it through with clarity, I must give it 3 stars. Then again, that’s just my opinion.
adventurous
funny
I reread this book for the first time in years. I enjoyed it a lot, even more so since