The Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul (Book Review)
into another seems to be a fascination for him, and one that continues here. Who could forget the missiles that transformed into a whale and a potted petunia in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? Here we find a lamp that transforms into a kitten, a train station that transforms into Valhalla, and an airplane that transforms into... well, I don't want to spoil that for those who have never read the book. Suffice it to say that the sheer ornithology involved is staggering.
Lest you think this story is just a jumble of nonsense (well, maybe it is), let me just add that, in the best Adams tradition, there is a very well thought out plot weaving its way through the obstacle course of absurdity. When you find out why the gods have become so weak and are dying, you may die yourself—of laughter.
My usual practice is to read a book once and move on to the next. This one I've read twice. Adams has once again penned a winner. Sadly, this appears to be the end of what was a very promising successor to the Hitchhiker's trilogy. I'd love to get to know Mr. Gently better, but I guess we'll have to settle for these two books only.
But it's far from settling. It's sheer delight.
Check out more book reviews here at Science Fiction and Society:
Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus
Future Perfect: How Star Trek Conquered Planet Earth
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
If you'd like to read more articles at Science Fiction & Society, please make use of our index system to locate the information you're looking for:
|
Newsletter (Coming Soon)
|
Latest Articles