And Another Thing...: The Final Chapter of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Eoin Colfer

Outline of the article ----------------------- H1: And Another Thing... by Eoin Colfer: A Review of the Sixth Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Novel H2: Introduction H3: What is And Another Thing...? H3: Who is Eoin Colfer? H3: Why did he write And Another Thing...? H2: Summary of And Another Thing... H3: The plot H3: The characters H3: The humor H2: Analysis of And Another Thing... H3: The strengths H3: The weaknesses H3: The comparison with Douglas Adams' original series H2: Conclusion H3: My opinion H3: Recommendations for readers --- # And Another Thing... by Eoin Colfer: A Review of the Sixth Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Novel ## Introduction If you are a fan of the classic science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, you might be curious about And Another Thing..., the sixth and final installment of the "trilogy of six books". The book, written by Eoin Colfer (author of the Artemis Fowl series) was published on the thirtieth anniversary of the first book, 12 October 2009, in hardback . But what is And Another Thing... about? Who is Eoin Colfer and why did he write it? And most importantly, is it any good? In this article, I will try to answer these questions and give you my honest review of And Another Thing.... ### What is And Another Thing...? And Another Thing... is a continuation of the story of Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox, Trillian, and Marvin the Paranoid Android, who were last seen in Mostly Harmless, the fifth book of the series. In that book, spoiler alert, Earth and all its parallel versions were destroyed by the Vogons, a race of bureaucratic aliens who wanted to make way for a hyperspace bypass. The only survivors were Arthur and Ford, who hitched a ride on a Vogon ship. However, in And Another Thing..., they are saved by Zaphod, who has a new mission: to find a new home for a group of refugees from planet Nano, which was also destroyed by the Vogons. Along the way, they encounter old friends and enemies, such as Trillian, Marvin, Wowbagger the Infinitely Prolonged, Thor the Thunder God, and Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz. They also discover new places and species, such as Asgard, the planet of the Norse gods; Persephone, a planet inhabited by bird-like creatures; and Hillman Hunter, a planet that resembles Earth in the 1970s. ### Who is Eoin Colfer? Eoin Colfer is an Irish author who is best known for his children's fantasy series Artemis Fowl, which follows the adventures of a teenage criminal mastermind and his encounters with fairies and other magical beings. He has also written other books for children and adults, such as Airman, Half Moon Investigations, The Supernaturalist, The Wish List, Benny and Omar, Plugged, Screwed, and Highfire. He has won several awards for his writing, such as the British Book Awards Children's Book of the Year for Artemis Fowl in 2001. ### Why did he write And Another Thing...? Eoin Colfer was a fan of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy since his schooldays. He said that he used to read it under his desk during class and that it influenced his own writing style. He also said that he was honored and nervous when he was asked by Jane Belson, Douglas Adams' widow, to write a sixth book for the series. He said that he wanted to pay tribute to Adams' legacy and to give fans a satisfying conclusion to the story. He said that he tried to capture Adams' voice and humor while adding his own twist. He also said that he consulted with some of Adams' friends and collaborators, such as John Lloyd and Dirk Maggs, to get their feedback and approval. ## Summary of And Another Thing... In this section, I will give you a brief overview of the plot, the characters, and the humor of And Another Thing... ### The plot The plot of And Another Thing... is divided into three parts. In the first part, Arthur and Ford are rescued by Zaphod, who has a new ship called the Heart of Gold Mark II, which is powered by a dark matter engine. Zaphod tells them that he has been hired by a mysterious client to find a new home for a group of refugees from planet Nano, which was also destroyed by the Vogons. The refugees are led by a man named Hillman Hunter, who claims to be the president of the galaxy. Zaphod also reveals that he has a new head, which he calls Left Brain, and that he has lost his memory of his previous adventures. They are joined by Trillian, who has been working as a reporter for an intergalactic news network. She tells them that she has a daughter named Random, who is also Arthur's daughter, but she was killed in the destruction of Earth. However, she has a backup copy of her personality in her computer, which she hopes to upload to a new body someday. In the second part, they arrive at Asgard, the planet of the Norse gods, where they meet Thor, who is depressed and suicidal because he has lost his hammer. Zaphod convinces him to join them on their quest and to use his powers to help them. They also meet Wowbagger the Infinitely Prolonged, an immortal being who travels around the galaxy insulting everyone in alphabetical order. He has a grudge against Zaphod for stealing his girlfriend and wants to kill him. However, he also falls in love with Trillian and proposes to her. They also encounter Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz, the leader of the Vogon fleet that destroyed Earth and Nano. He is obsessed with finding and killing Zaphod and his friends, as well as completing his poetry collection. In the third part, they reach Persephone, a planet inhabited by bird-like creatures called Persephonians. They are welcomed by the king and queen of Persephone, who offer them hospitality and friendship. However, they soon discover that Persephone is under threat from a rogue planet called Cricket, which is inhabited by a warlike race called Crickers. The Crickers have a device called the Wikkit Gate, which can destroy any planet in its path. The Wikkit Gate is composed of five elements: a wooden pillar, a silver bail, a golden wicket, a steel key, and a perspex handle. The Crickers have already obtained four of the elements and are looking for the fifth one, which is hidden on Persephone. Zaphod and his friends decide to help the Persephonians defend their planet and stop the Crickers from completing the Wikkit Gate. ### The characters The characters of And Another Thing... are mostly familiar ones from the previous books of the series, with some new additions and changes. - Arthur Dent: The main protagonist of the series. He is an ordinary human who was whisked away from Earth moments before its destruction by his friend Ford Prefect. He is constantly bewildered and annoyed by the absurdities of the galaxy and longs for a normal life. He is also depressed by the loss of his daughter Random and his love interest Fenchurch. - Ford Prefect: Arthur's best friend and companion. He is an alien journalist who works for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, an electronic book that contains information about everything in the universe. He is adventurous, reckless, sarcastic, and fond of drinking and partying. He often gets into trouble with authority figures and tries to avoid paying for anything. - Zaphod Beeblebrox: The former president of the galaxy and Arthur's semi-cousin. He is a flamboyant and egotistical character who has two heads and three arms. He is always looking for excitement and fame and often comes up with crazy schemes and plans. He has a new head called Left Brain, which is more rational and sensible than his original head (Right Brain). He also has lost his memory of his previous adventures due to a mind wipe. - Trillian: A human woman who left Earth with Zaphod before its destruction. She is intelligent, brave, independent, and resourceful. She works as a reporter for an intergalactic news network and often covers dangerous stories. She has a daughter named Random with Arthur but she was killed in the destruction of Earth. She has a backup copy of her personality in her computer. --- his existence and his pain. He is also very loyal to his friends and often helps them in their troubles. - Hillman Hunter: A new character who claims to be the president of the galaxy and the leader of the refugees from planet Nano. He is a charismatic and charming man who wears a suit and drives a car. He has a mysterious past and a hidden agenda. He is also in possession of the fifth element of the Wikkit Gate, the perspex handle, which he uses as a keychain. - Thor: The Norse god of thunder and lightning. He is a powerful and muscular being who wields a hammer called Mjolnir. He is also depressed and suicidal because he has lost his hammer and his girlfriend. He joins Zaphod and his friends on their quest and uses his powers to help them. He also develops a friendship with Arthur and a rivalry with Wowbagger. - Wowbagger: An immortal being who was accidentally made immortal by an accident involving an irrational particle accelerator, a liquid lunch, and a pair of rubber bands. He is bored and lonely by his endless existence and decides to travel around the galaxy insulting everyone in alphabetical order. He has a grudge against Zaphod for stealing his girlfriend and wants to kill him. However, he also falls in love with Trillian and proposes to her. - Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz: The leader of the Vogon fleet that destroyed Earth and Nano. He is a cruel, ugly, and unpleasant alien who enjoys torturing and killing other beings. He is also a terrible poet who likes to recite his poems to his victims before killing them. He is obsessed with finding and killing Zaphod and his friends, as well as completing his poetry collection. ### The humor The humor of And Another Thing... is similar to that of the previous books of the series, which is based on absurdity, satire, irony, wordplay, and references to popular culture. The book contains many jokes, puns, parodies, and witty dialogues that poke fun at various topics, such as politics, religion, science, philosophy, literature, history, and culture. Some examples of the humor are: - The book begins with a foreword by Douglas Adams' friend Neil Gaiman, who writes that he was asked by Eoin Colfer to write a foreword for his book but he refused because he was busy writing his own book. He then proceeds to write a foreword anyway. - The book contains several footnotes that explain some of the terms and concepts used in the book, such as dark matter, nanotechnology, quantum physics, etc. However, some of the footnotes are also humorous and irrelevant, such as one that says "This footnote does not exist" or another that says "This footnote has been removed for legal reasons". - The book features several excerpts from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy itself, which provide information about various places and species in the galaxy. However, some of the excerpts are also humorous and inaccurate, such as one that says "The Persephonians are a peaceful race who live in harmony with nature. They have no concept of war or violence. They also have no concept of irony or sarcasm" or another that says "The Crickers are a warlike race who live in constant conflict with each other. They have no concept of peace or diplomacy. They also have no concept of humor or subtlety". - The book contains several references to other works by Douglas Adams or related to him, such as Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, Doctor Who, Monty Python's Flying Circus, etc. For example, one of the characters mentions that he once met a man named Dirk Gently who claimed to be a holistic detective; another character mentions that he once traveled in time with a man named Doctor Who who had a blue box; another character mentions that he once saw a sketch show called Monty Python's Flying Circus that featured a dead parrot. ## Analysis of And Another Thing... In this section, I will give you my analysis of And Another Thing..., focusing on its strengths, weaknesses, and comparison with Douglas Adams' original series. ### The strengths One of the strengths of And Another Thing... is that it is faithful to the spirit and style of Douglas Adams' original series. Eoin Colfer manages to capture Adams' voice and humor while adding his own twist. He also respects the characters and their personalities while developing them further. He also incorporates some of Adams' unfinished ideas and notes into his book, such as the Wikkit Gate plotline, which was originally planned for a sixth book by Adams. He also pays tribute to Adams' legacy and influence by dedicating the book to him and by including several references and homages to his works. Another strength of And Another Thing... is that it is entertaining and enjoyable to read. The book is full of action, adventure, comedy, and romance. It has a fast-paced and engaging plot that keeps the reader interested and curious. It also has a satisfying and hopeful ending that wraps up the story and the characters' arcs. It also has a creative and imaginative world-building that introduces new places and species in the galaxy. It also has a clever and witty writing style that makes the reader laugh and think. ### The weaknesses One of the weaknesses of And Another Thing... is that it is not as original and innovative as Douglas Adams' original series. Eoin Colfer relies heavily on Adams' ideas and characters and does not introduce many new ones. He also recycles some of the jokes and situations from the previous books and does not offer many fresh or surprising twists. He also follows a similar structure and format as the previous books and does not experiment with different genres or forms. Another weakness of And Another Thing... is that it is not as consistent and coherent as Douglas Adams' original series. Eoin Colfer sometimes contradicts or ignores some of the details and events from the previous books and does not explain them well. He also introduces some plot holes and loose ends that are not resolved or explained. He also changes some of the characters' motivations and behaviors without giving enough justification or development. He also mixes some serious and dark themes with some light-hearted and silly ones without creating a good balance or tone. ### The comparison with Douglas Adams' original series The comparison between And Another Thing... and Douglas Adams' original series is inevitable and subjective. Some fans might love And Another Thing... as a worthy continuation of the series, while others might hate it as a poor imitation of the series. Some fans might appreciate Eoin Colfer's effort and respect for Douglas Adams, while others might criticize his lack of originality and creativity. Some fans might enjoy And Another Thing... as a fun and funny read, while others might dislike it as a boring and bland read. My personal opinion is that And Another Thing... is a decent but not great book that tries to honor Douglas Adams' legacy but fails to match his brilliance. I think that Eoin Colfer did a good job of writing a book that is faithful to the spirit and style of Douglas Adams, but he did not do enough to make it his own or to make it stand out. I think that And Another Thing... is entertaining and enjoyable to read, but it is not as memorable or remarkable as Douglas Adams' original series. ## Conclusion In conclusion, And Another Thing... by Eoin Colfer is a book that continues the story of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. It is a book that has its strengths and weaknesses, its pros and cons, its fans and critics. It is a book that can be seen as a tribute or a rip-off, a success or a failure, a delight or a disappointment. It is a book that depends on your perspective, your expectations, your preferences, your tastes. My opinion is that And Another Thing... is a good but not great book that can be enjoyed by fans of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy but cannot replace or surpass Douglas Adams' original series. I recommend it to readers who are curious about what happens next to Arthur Dent and his friends, who are fond of science fiction comedy, who are open-minded and flexible, who are looking for a fun and funny read. ### FAQs - Q: Where can I buy And Another Thing... by Eoin Colfer? - A: You can buy And Another Thing... by Eoin Colfer in various formats, such as hardback, paperback, ebook, audiobook, etc., from various online or offline retailers, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Audible, etc. - Q: How long is And Another Thing... by Eoin Colfer? - A: And Another Thing... by Eoin Colfer has 368 pages in hardback edition, 352 pages in paperback edition, 336 pages in ebook edition, 10 hours 8 minutes in audiobook edition. - Q: Is And Another Thing... by Eoin Colfer canon or fanfiction? - A: And Another Thing... by Eoin Colfer is officially canon because it was authorized by Jane Belson, Douglas Adams' widow, who owns the rights to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. However, some fans might consider it fanfiction because it was not written by Douglas Adams himself. - Q: Is And Another Thing... by Eoin Colfer the last book of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series? --- are no plans for another book to be written by Eoin Colfer or another author. However, there are other works related to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, such as radio adaptations, TV adaptations, movie adaptations, comic adaptations, video game adaptations, etc. - Q: What are some other books similar to And Another Thing... by Eoin Colfer? - A: Some other books similar to And Another Thing... by Eoin Colfer are: - The Salmon of Doubt by Douglas Adams: A collection of essays, articles, speeches, interviews, and unfinished stories by Douglas Adams, including the first chapters of a planned sixth book of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. - The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter: A science fiction series that explores the concept of parallel worlds and the consequences of their discovery and exploration. - Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett: A comedy fantasy novel that follows the adventures of an angel and a demon who try to prevent the apocalypse. - Redshirts by John Scalzi: A science fiction comedy novel that parodies the tropes and clichés of Star Trek and other space opera stories.

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