Douglas Adams (1952–2001,) fully Douglas Noël Adams, was an English novelist and scriptwriter. He is best known for the mock science-fiction parodies that lampoon modern society with biting humor and pessimism. Known collectively as The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, his works satirized contemporary life through a luckless protagonist who deals ineptly with societal forces beyond his control.
Born in Cambridge, Adams received an M.A. (1974) in English literature from the University of Cambridge, where he wrote comedy sketches for the performing arts society. He was a writer and script editor for the television series Doctor Who and wrote scripts for the BBC 1978–80.
Adams is best known for his humorous radio series (later adapted for television and film,) The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which he also wrote as a sequence of novels: The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (1979,) The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (1980,) Life, the Universe and Everything (1982,) So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish (1984,) and Mostly Harmless (1992.) The five-book series sold more than 14 million copies internationally. The Hitchhiker’s Guide was adapted for television, theatre, and film and was used as the basis of an interactive computer program.
Adams also wrote Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency (1987) and The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul (1988,) which satirizes the detective story genre. His other works include The Meaning of Liff (1983,) The Utterly Utterly Merry Comic Relief Christmas Book (1986,) and Last Chance to See (1990.)
Nick Webb wrote the official biography Wish You Were Here (2003.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Douglas Adams
For instance, on the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much—the wheel, New York, wars and so on—while all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man—for precisely the same reasons.
—Douglas Adams
Topics: Man
There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory mentioned, which states that this has already happened.
—Douglas Adams
Topics: Discovery
There is an art, or rather a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.
—Douglas Adams
Topics: Perspective
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be.
—Douglas Adams
Topics: Self-Discovery
One always overcompensates for disabilities. I’m thinking of having my entire body surgically removed.
—Douglas Adams
Topics: Disability
A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.
—Douglas Adams
Topics: Design
I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.
—Douglas Adams
Topics: Goals
What to do if you find yourself stuck in a crack in the ground underneath a giant boulder you can’t move, with no hope of rescue. Consider how lucky you are that life has been good to you so far. Alternatively, if life hasn’t been good to you so far, which given your current circumstances seems more likely, consider how lucky you are that it won’t be troubling you much longer.
—Douglas Adams
Topics: Challenges
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