You Should Never Go Back For Your Bag (Mostly Harmless - Douglas Adams)

Member Name: Midrange

Product:	Mostly Harmless - Douglas Adams
Date:	08/08/08 (20 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Ties up some loose ends, moments of comedy genius

Disadvantages: Characters all take seperate paths - feels a little fragmented at times

This, the final, enticing instalments of Douglas Adams' "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" series stands very much apart from the earlier books.

Whilst it retains Adams' sharp wit and intelligent story telling, it is lacking some of the friendly "togetherness" feel of, particularly, the first three books of the series. Perhaps it's because Arthur Dent is, at last, forced to make it on his own in the Universe. Perhaps it's because The Guide (Hitch-hiker's Guide of course) has been taken over by the mysterious (and comically named) "Infinnidim Enterprises". Trillion too, or more frequently, Trisha McMillan, has her own, independent storyline. The three main plots converge quite late on in the novel and it is a genunine relief to have (most) of the characters reunited and up to their "old tricks" (that is, Ford Prefect annoying the hell out of poor Arthur).

The book is clever, there's no doubt about that. Adams' brings together two parallel time/story-lines - the first being the familiar path that has been followed through books 1 to 4. The other is the story of Trisha McMillan, the girl who "went back for her bag" and never got caught up in the wild adventures with Zaphod Beeblebrox. That is, of course, until a group of rather confused, horoscope-loving aliens land on her lawn and ask her to rework their star-charts for them.

There are some great moments in the book - Trisha's experience with the aliens being one of my personal favourites. It's so unusual in science-fiction to ever encounter a race of space-faring lifeforms who really don't have a clue who they are, where they're from and what they're supposed to be doing.

The description of "The New Guide" is, in my head at least, rather sinister. I'll let you listen to it for yourself. Essentially, the days of "Don't Panic" are long gone and Ford Prefect is the only man trying to stop it. Arthur's encounter with the "wise man" on top of a pole is rather charming too. Adams' is full of good ideas, but it feels like there's something missing in this book - something friendly, or something relaxing and familiar.

Adams' tries to tie up several loose ends in this book. I admit, I had to read/listen a few times before I "got it". There are lots of references to previous books (indeed, in one place Adams' directly cites one of his previous books - a nice touch, I like it!) and the parallel plots can get a little confuddling at times. But it's funny and still feels fresh... just a little fragmented.

Summary: It was time to wrap up the series and Adams' does so with style, intelligence and humour