I only discovered Douglas Adams a couple of years ago (well, "discovered": someone introduced me to The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy, more likely). But since then, I have SO fallen in love with Douglas' writing, humor, BRILLIANT English language, care for animals, intelligence, overall view of the world, and last, but certainly not least, PERSONALITY, that his sad, early, and unfair demise feels like a personal loss to me......
I adore the novel Terry Jones wrote for Douglas’ video game, The Starship Titanic. It’s a wonderful celebration of the humour of both. I think the audiobook, read by Jones, is available on YT somewhere.
This is an amazing film and I enjoyed it lots more than I usually do things that make me sob uncontrollably. The man is a legend. He died far too young but while he was here, he LIVED. And he left us such amazing gifts; Douglas Adams changed my life, for sure.
His genious was appreciated before he died! I love his books and read the HHGTTG the first time shortly after they had been translated to my native language, and a year or maximum a couple of years later I read them in original language!
Sorry to be chiming in so late, but I've seen a few comments from people who enjoy both Stephen Fry and Douglas Adams who are unaware of their collaboration on the documentary series Last Chance to See. It's based on Douglas's book of the same name and their interactions will bring a touch of joy to those still missing this extraordinary man. All episodes and outtakes can be found on TH-cam. If I might make a suggestion, the outtake with the kakapo causing Stephen Fry to laugh like a maniac is a must. For those who are already aware of all of this, please ignore and go about your day. Hopefully it's a pleasant one.
I remember hearing a snippet of THHGTTG on CBC radio while driving in my car when it first came out. I found myself laughing in delight every few seconds as the story unfolded. It was absolutely hilarious and brilliant social satire at the same time. The many subsequent incarnations and elaborations of the idea just kept getting better.
I just watched this in 2024. I was only 7 when he passed away, but I grew up with his works and his sense of wonder and humour. He shaped me, as he did so many other lives. I often think about what his take would be on recent (political) events, and I like to think he would have made the best tweets and even better vines. If there is something, anything after death, I hope he knows how appreciated he was and still is. Rest in Peace, Mr Adams. We miss you.
I wonder what Douglas would have made of social networking, Facebook, Twitter etc.. Probably hated it in theory but loved it as a further excuse to avoid getting words on the page!
I KNEW I recognisez that voice ! Neil Gaiman is such a perfect narrator to talk about the creative life of a genius gone too soon. Along with Terry Pratchett, they're, like, a trinity of perfect writers.
It's one of the odder items NOT on my CV that I'm in the "gratefully acknowledged" credits (for a business related support, nothing special). But I was helping them free because I had loved Adams' work so much, and when I saw my name in the credits (which is never going to happen on another movie, amiright?) I literally leapt up and SQUEE-ed! Which, tbh, I'd never done before/since. It's not the greatest biopic, but I was happy to be involved.
Met him as a teenager......in the 70s......worked with him twice....what a giant....big man ...big personality.....big intellect...big kind heart....a joy to be in the room with...a very special human being.....I LOVED THE WHOOSHING SOUND HE MADE WHEN HE WALKED BY....!!!!!!!!!!!!!! a joy....
I stumbled on this after looking for the HHG item about Flying (i.e. forgetting to fall). I was ten years old on the day that Douglas was born, also left handed and also a guitarist. When i read his books I tended to laugh out loud in some embarrassing places, but I always felt I understood his thoughts. Whilst technology has changed radically since we lost him, I would rate him along with Jonathan Swift, George Orwell and Aldous Huxley in commenting about humans and gods etc. We must keep his memory and his contributions alive! I would have loved to have met him and chatted with him.
The Brit translations should have been:- "batting along" means going fast. "Chuffed" (not chafed) means pleased. I might have missed some, cos I was footling around (means messing about) on other sites while listening. :D
It's highly likely. A man with humor, heart, intelligence (nigh on brilliance), creativity, deeply passionate about the world and all of its inhabitants, and apparently a damn good friend to those fortunate enough to claim that status. There won't be another like him. I'm grateful for the legacy he left, but dammit, there should have been more! It was too soon, way too soon, and he wasn't finished with what he was here for. Of that I am certain.
theres also an audiobook called starship titanic here on youtube co authored by douglas adams and terry somebody ?cant quite remember.but definitely worth a listen for all dna fans like myself.
thanks skepticalJones82 - it's funny on multiple levels that this is the song causing the trouble - and there's certainly some sense of comic irony in there. Regards and thanks, keep on hitchhiking :)
I think that 42 is the number of a particularly profound Zen Koan in the Gateless Gate about a girl sitting next to the Buddha. Remember that is another girl, the soul mate of hero of H2G2, Fenchurch, a sort of Paddington bear soul mate, who works out the meaning of life in a cafe in Rickmansworth. And there you have it.
such a shame he only had a short life.after reading every bit of literature he wrote numerous times i wonder how many more excellent books he would of written given the chance .rip sir douglas
I'm sick of this copyright stuff... I was absolutely excited about seeing this and then they removed all of the audio. You have failed me once again youtube...
Kate Bush = Wuthering Heights ... nah. 'Twas Pat Bennitar by far. Then again, Douglas performed on stage with Fink Ployd so I bow to his musical preference. Sorry I even mentioned it really. Carry on ...
Worth mentioning if only for the reminder that Douglas Adams played with Pink Floyd. He did so many remarkable things in his all too short life, some with great cultural significance and some that are examples of what a remarkable life he lived. He packed more into his time here than the vast majority of people can do in twice the years that he was given.
I was very moved by this, but I missed Stephen Fry- I think he was a great Guide in the 2005 HH movie and did a good job with the HH audio book. He also mentioned Deep Thought once in QI. I have a feeling he can relate to Adams' works and personality strongly too and his opinion would have been worth asking. Then again, maybe he simply wasn't asked because he wasn't a personal friend? (Or his involvement came too late compared to the air date of this film biography...)
I'm fairly sure Fry *was* a personal friend. I may be wrong but I think he claims to be the only person who has ever been told what 42 really means and he's taking it to the grave. Hell, I think they filmed some nature doc together.
Yes they did. It's called Last Chance to See, and it's one of my favorite things I've ever watched, including the outtakes. It's a series based on Douglas's book of the same name, written some years earlier. All episodes are here on TH-cam. The outtake featuring the rather friendly kakapo making Stephen Fry just about collapse with laughter is... well, I can't do it justice. It really needs to be seen firsthand.
"This video previously contained a copyrighted audio track. Due to a claim by a copyright holder, the audio track has been muted." Is it necessary to remove the entire audio track?
Is it just me, or does his death even seem to mirror his writing? - 'Had a deadline, was loving life, lots of friends and family, wonderful life, just thought the heck with it, miss this one too. In perpetuity.' ;p
I am in the process of buying a digital-watch this one has world time-zones and radio-connection to an atomic-clock. It's a real bargain waterproof to 50m, backlight, day, date, month, year for 50 years. But it does not come with a free towel :/
Stephen Fry and Douglas Adams were an absolute delight together. If you've never seen the series Last Chance to See, it's a must for fans of both men. Douglas Adams' book of the same name, published some years before, is wonderful. A departure from his usual fictional books, it's a real insight into the man himself. The documentary series is every bit as marvellous as you can imagine, and then some. The outtake featuring the kakapo doing something that had Stephen Fry laughing hysterically is a treasure and is easy to find here.
I agree Michael, This is the stupidest thing I ve ever seen concerning copyrights on youtube. I d be interested to know who is the copyrights holder that went that far and that also believes that their music is the main point of interest here. Disgusted.
His novel Dimension of Miracles is often cited as an influence on Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, although in an interview for Neil Gaiman's book Don't Panic: The Official Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Companion, Adams said he had not read it until after writing the Guide.[8]"
Rest in Peace, the galaxy's most hoopy frood, Douglas Adams. We miss you.
The day I met Dirk Gentley, was the first day I felt that I was not alone in this universe.
Good Night, Doug.
And thanks for all your Bliss.
I only discovered Douglas Adams a couple of years ago (well, "discovered": someone introduced me to The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy, more likely). But since then, I have SO fallen in love with Douglas' writing, humor, BRILLIANT English language, care for animals, intelligence, overall view of the world, and last, but certainly not least, PERSONALITY, that his sad, early, and unfair demise feels like a personal loss to me......
A true Visionary. As time progresses, his insights are all the more astonishing.
Yes, a man with real heart. We could do with more people like this in the world.
I saw this at the Garden State Film Festival years ago. I was disappointed not to find it streaming or on DVD/BluRay. Glad to see it here.
He is my 42, May he RIP on the heart of gold. Thank you for posting, niza310
Also a shout out to Terry J, another genius we're slowly losing. So much love.
Nick Webb and Geoffrey Perkins, as well. :(
I adore the novel Terry Jones wrote for Douglas’ video game, The Starship Titanic. It’s a wonderful celebration of the humour of both. I think the audiobook, read by Jones, is available on YT somewhere.
Such a great writer, never laughed till I cried as much as I have with his works.
Gone too soon, Mr Adams was a gift to the world, I hope his legacy lives on forever...
Wonderfull. One of the best stories about Douglas I have ever enjoyed. We are a blessed generation to have been his readers.
This is an amazing film and I enjoyed it lots more than I usually do things that make me sob uncontrollably.
The man is a legend. He died far too young but while he was here, he LIVED. And he left us such amazing gifts; Douglas Adams changed my life, for sure.
Shine on you crazy diamond! It's sad most genius is not appreciated until you are dead.
His genious was appreciated before he died!
I love his books and read the HHGTTG the first time shortly after they had been translated to my native language, and a year or maximum a couple of years later I read them in original language!
Sorry to be chiming in so late, but I've seen a few comments from people who enjoy both Stephen Fry and Douglas Adams who are unaware of their collaboration on the documentary series Last Chance to See. It's based on Douglas's book of the same name and their interactions will bring a touch of joy to those still missing this extraordinary man. All episodes and outtakes can be found on TH-cam. If I might make a suggestion, the outtake with the kakapo causing Stephen Fry to laugh like a maniac is a must. For those who are already aware of all of this, please ignore and go about your day. Hopefully it's a pleasant one.
Thank you (6 years later) for your post. 👍🏼
I will be looking up these vids. 🌞
I remember hearing a snippet of THHGTTG on CBC radio while driving in my car when it first came out. I found myself laughing in delight every few seconds as the story unfolded. It was absolutely hilarious and brilliant social satire at the same time. The many subsequent incarnations and elaborations of the idea just kept getting better.
CHUFFED to watch this 🙂
I just watched this in 2024. I was only 7 when he passed away, but I grew up with his works and his sense of wonder and humour. He shaped me, as he did so many other lives. I often think about what his take would be on recent (political) events, and I like to think he would have made the best tweets and even better vines.
If there is something, anything after death, I hope he knows how appreciated he was and still is.
Rest in Peace, Mr Adams. We miss you.
Love the David Gilmour music throughout this documentary.
Some Peter Gabriel too
What a legend he was
So Long, and Thanks for All the Books
Adams Python and Floyd
Does it get more special than that
The planet owes him a good piece of the philosophical humor it has seen.
P.S.: Thanks for the upload ...and all the fish.
I wonder what Douglas would have made of social networking, Facebook, Twitter etc.. Probably hated it in theory but loved it as a further excuse to avoid getting words on the page!
I KNEW I recognisez that voice ! Neil Gaiman is such a perfect narrator to talk about the creative life of a genius gone too soon. Along with Terry Pratchett, they're, like, a trinity of perfect writers.
Extremely well done, heart warming and insightful.
"Don't know what you got till it's gone ..."
WOW Douglas Adams contributed material to the comic The Eagle. That was my brothers favourite comic. If only I get copies of those issues.
Glad the majority of you seem to have enjoyed the film!
Thank you for it.
Thanks for making it Rick! And for allowing it to be on TH-cam where we can enjoy it!
It's one of the odder items NOT on my CV that I'm in the "gratefully acknowledged" credits (for a business related support, nothing special).
But I was helping them free because I had loved Adams' work so much, and when I saw my name in the credits (which is never going to happen on another movie, amiright?) I literally leapt up and SQUEE-ed!
Which, tbh, I'd never done before/since.
It's not the greatest biopic, but I was happy to be involved.
Happy Virtual 60th Birthday Douglas Adams :)
Met him as a teenager......in the 70s......worked with him twice....what a giant....big man ...big personality.....big intellect...big kind heart....a joy to be in the room with...a very special human being.....I LOVED THE WHOOSHING SOUND HE MADE WHEN HE WALKED BY....!!!!!!!!!!!!!! a joy....
The word is "chuffed" not "chafed", and it means excited and pleased, not irritable. part from that you got it completely right. :-)
Actually, there are two inside jokes, you just found the one.
nice people talking about nice things and plenty from dougie adams, this has cheered me right up
wonderful film
great choice of narrator too
thank you for posting
I stumbled on this after looking for the HHG item about Flying (i.e. forgetting to fall). I was ten years old on the day that Douglas was born, also left handed and also a guitarist. When i read his books I tended to laugh out loud in some embarrassing places, but I always felt I understood his thoughts.
Whilst technology has changed radically since we lost him, I would rate him along with Jonathan Swift, George Orwell and Aldous Huxley in commenting about humans and gods etc.
We must keep his memory and his contributions alive!
I would have loved to have met him and chatted with him.
The Brit translations should have been:-
"batting along" means going fast.
"Chuffed" (not chafed) means pleased.
I might have missed some, cos I was footling around (means messing about) on other sites while listening. :D
Hitchhiker is a must-read
Beautiful, genius
I remember the bbc radio4 broadcast, when they announced his death, I pulled over and cried
I heard about his death on a news report on ITV before F1 Quallly that year. I was so upset that unable to watch the F1 action
Rest in Peace,Doug
From the video, I guess Douglas Adams was one of the most perfect human beings who ever lived.
It's highly likely. A man with humor, heart, intelligence (nigh on brilliance), creativity, deeply passionate about the world and all of its inhabitants, and apparently a damn good friend to those fortunate enough to claim that status. There won't be another like him. I'm grateful for the legacy he left, but dammit, there should have been more! It was too soon, way too soon, and he wasn't finished with what he was here for. Of that I am certain.
i found this via "Geeks shall inherit " podcast so thank you Jason Lenzi.
theres also an audiobook called starship titanic here on youtube co authored by douglas adams and terry somebody ?cant quite remember.but definitely worth a listen for all dna fans like myself.
"chafed = irritated" LOL! ...Chuffed=very pleased!
What a legend!
The world is better for him having been in it.
now i didn't know he wrote for Eagle that was my brothers fave comic. now if i could only find some of those comics thats real buried treasure
thanks skepticalJones82 - it's funny on multiple levels that this is the song causing the trouble - and there's certainly some sense of comic irony in there. Regards and thanks, keep on hitchhiking :)
Wish he was here...
maybe that 2005 movie wouldn't have sucked if he was.If they let Terry Gilliam do it as originally planned wouldn't been so bad
At minute 3 I had to jump to the end bc I was going mad wondering if that was really Neil Gaiman
Thank you for this lovely video.
I wonder though if somewhere in this world there exists a better resolution version of this video? Hmmm
He died on the 11th of May 2001, just 8 days after this clip of him talking @8 mins.
he was just 49, same age as me, such a loss.
We do miss u
I think that 42 is the number of a particularly profound Zen Koan in the Gateless Gate about a girl sitting next to the Buddha. Remember that is another girl, the soul mate of hero of H2G2, Fenchurch, a sort of Paddington bear soul mate, who works out the meaning of life in a cafe in Rickmansworth. And there you have it.
Is Dent who he was...and Ford who he wanted to be? Or is that appallingly simplistic? Hmmmmmm...
I like it. That's very clever.
such a shame he only had a short life.after reading every bit of literature he wrote numerous times i wonder how many more excellent books he would of written given the chance .rip sir douglas
Pretty confident that's Neil Gaiman narrating.
The Babel Fish translation appears a little off. The word is 'chuffed' not 'chafed' and it doesn't mean irritated...
Such stuff as dreams are made of.... is that right? Never too sure...
I'm sick of this copyright stuff... I was absolutely excited about seeing this and then they removed all of the audio. You have failed me once again youtube...
no audio :/ I wanted to watch this so much...
What is the acoustic guitar music that plays in between?
37:07 - Chafed/Irritated?!🙄
CHUFFED= intrinsically pleased👍
🇬🇧🇺🇸
Same to you :-)
Kate Bush = Wuthering Heights ... nah. 'Twas Pat Bennitar by far. Then again, Douglas performed on stage with Fink Ployd so I bow to his musical preference. Sorry I even mentioned it really. Carry on ...
Worth mentioning if only for the reminder that Douglas Adams played with Pink Floyd. He did so many remarkable things in his all too short life, some with great cultural significance and some that are examples of what a remarkable life he lived. He packed more into his time here than the vast majority of people can do in twice the years that he was given.
It's probably "Raise My Rent" by David Gilmour.
DNA would also be disgusted.
I was very moved by this, but I missed Stephen Fry- I think he was a great Guide in the 2005 HH movie and did a good job with the HH audio book. He also mentioned Deep Thought once in QI. I have a feeling he can relate to Adams' works and personality strongly too and his opinion would have been worth asking. Then again, maybe he simply wasn't asked because he wasn't a personal friend? (Or his involvement came too late compared to the air date of this film biography...)
I'm fairly sure Fry *was* a personal friend. I may be wrong but I think he claims to be the only person who has ever been told what 42 really means and he's taking it to the grave. Hell, I think they filmed some nature doc together.
+susankreber John Lloyd(the producer of Q.I.) was the mutual friend in common.Just FYI,know? DA RIP
Yes they did. It's called Last Chance to See, and it's one of my favorite things I've ever watched, including the outtakes. It's a series based on Douglas's book of the same name, written some years earlier. All episodes are here on TH-cam. The outtake featuring the rather friendly kakapo making Stephen Fry just about collapse with laughter is... well, I can't do it justice. It really needs to be seen firsthand.
Adams & Fry were friends & Apple Macintosh addicts. They contacted each other regularly comparing Apple kit.
"This video previously contained a copyrighted audio track. Due to a claim by a copyright holder, the audio track has been muted."
Is it necessary to remove the entire audio track?
Its depresing watching Dawkins rationalize his own emptiness.Now I've got a headache, this will all end in tears.
Ignorance is bliss, friend. I hope your magical invisible overfather gives you what you want.
Neil Gaiman might've had a notable career in audio narration alone.
He’s done quite a bit of voice work over the years rn he’s in this audio drama with Felicia Day.
Is it just me, or does his death even seem to mirror his writing? - 'Had a deadline, was loving life, lots of friends and family, wonderful life, just thought the heck with it, miss this one too. In perpetuity.' ;p
1:11:30 hahaha - well, I've had enough of your world. I'm going to start my new life under the sea
so, does someone have the audio track somewhere else?
Nb Chuffed = happy !
37:08 - "Chuffed" means "pleased". Sheesh...
when was this first aired?
I am in the process of buying a digital-watch this one has world time-zones and radio-connection to an atomic-clock. It's a real bargain waterproof to 50m, backlight, day, date, month, year for 50 years. But it does not come with a free towel :/
its chuffed not chifed. it means happy
more Richard Dawkins needed! and how about some Stephen Fry?
Stephen Fry and Douglas Adams were an absolute delight together. If you've never seen the series Last Chance to See, it's a must for fans of both men. Douglas Adams' book of the same name, published some years before, is wonderful. A departure from his usual fictional books, it's a real insight into the man himself. The documentary series is every bit as marvellous as you can imagine, and then some. The outtake featuring the kakapo doing something that had Stephen Fry laughing hysterically is a treasure and is easy to find here.
"Chafed = Irritated" ??? where is this coming from. And the guy said chuffed. Which is pleased.
EITHER PUT AUDIO ON OR TAKE IT DOWN
+Jem Roberts HOORAY! Thanks...
4200th viewer.
AAAAWWWW YEEEAAAHHH.
and everything is 42 in base 13
+Robeon Mew Douglas himself said of this, "I'm sorry, but I don't write jokes in base 13."
Robeon Mew Didn't seem like it.
Is this narrated by Neil Gaiman?
life
142nd Like. :-D
No audio! Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!
I agree Michael, This is the stupidest thing I ve ever seen concerning copyrights on youtube. I d be interested to know who is the copyrights holder that went that far and that also believes that their music is the main point of interest here.
Disgusted.
Why has nobody just edited out the offending part? It's ridiculous to have this just uploaded here but useless to everyone.
51:10
fyi- narrator =Neil Gaiman
8
So no acknowledgement to Robert Sheckley? Disgraceful.
His novel Dimension of Miracles is often cited as an influence on Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, although in an interview for Neil Gaiman's book Don't Panic: The Official Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Companion, Adams said he had not read it until after writing the Guide.[8]"
inb4 the dislike
37:08 Chuffed = Very pleased