So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish (1984)

Diferente a los anteriores, pero sigue siendo Douglas Adams. ( )

This book represents a departure somewhat from the tone of the earlier books in the series (and the later book, Mostly Harmless, as well). It stands out as an anomaly in that its obvious intent is to finally bring the series to a close with a deeply satisfying ending, bringing a more touching sense of what it all means to the often-hapless hero of the preceding trilogy, and rewarding the most put-upon and well-meaning characters for their endurance of life's cruel amusements. Where all three of the preceding novels in the Hitchhiker series kept me laughing constantly at the satirical treatment of life, chance, and human (and alien) nature that Adams serves so well, this novel left me feeling thoroughly satisfied, with a sense of closure for the series that I hadn't realized it needed.

The follow-up book Mostly Harmless, surely extracted from the notoriously reticent author Douglas Adams by use of the most advanced torture techniques of the Spanish Inquisition, was amusing, of course. It was the weakest in the series, though, and felt very tacked-on, sadly undermining the strength of So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish. If you're able (like me) to just decide that some point before the end of what you've read is the actual end of the story, and consider the rest irrelevant (like pretending the Spielberg ending to the movie AI, or the "updated" versions of the original Star Wars trilogy with Han Solo shooting second, simply don't exist), it might be worth reading Mostly Harmless to complete your experience of Adams' writing in the Hitchhiker series. If the whole series could be spoiled by a poor addition, however, I recommend you stop after this book, and consider it Done. ( )

Maybe only 3.5* but this entry in the Hitchhiker's Guide series was the perfect book for me right now. I remembered very little of it from my previous read decades ago & so it was almost like reading a new book. :) ( )

After all these years, I recognized the biscuit scene, and laughed just as hard. The rest was forgotten for good reason. ( )

I thought I'd already written about this. Mysterious.

So there are three of us in my apartment in St John's Wood ages ago. We'd been out with a woman drinking until not so much the early hours of the morning as the late. Now it was about 4pm. We were all still in bed, with not the least ambition of getting up when the doorbell rings. It's the woman from last night. I have no idea what on earth has possessed her to do this, but she's hunted us down and has brought fish. Raw fish to be cooked. Quite one of the worst timed gifts I've ever received.

I spoke down the intercom at her. So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish.

What can I say? A very handy book indeed. ( )