Difference between revisions of "Douglas Adams"

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(March 11, 1952 – May 11, 2001)
 
(March 11, 1952 – May 11, 2001)
  
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'''Douglas Noel Adams''', an [[English]] [[SF]] writer, [[humor]]ist, and script writer, is best remembered as the author of '''''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy''''', a chronicle of the misadventures of Arthur Dent, the last Earthman.  
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'''Douglas Noel Adams''', an [[English]] [[SF]] writer, [[humor]]ist, and script writer, is best remembered as the author of '''''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy''''', a chronicle of the misadventures of Arthur Dent, the last Earthman. Other important characters include Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox and Marvin the Paranoid Robot.  
  
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It originated in 1978 as a quirky six-episode BBC radio comedy before developing into further seasons (called “fits”), a series of five books that sold millions of copies in Adams’ lifetime, a television series, stage plays, comics, a computer game, and a feature film in 2005.
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''The Hitchhiker's Guide'' originated in 1978 as a quirky six-part BBC radio comedy before developing into further episodes (called “fits”), a series of five books that sold millions of copies in Adams’ lifetime, a television series, stage plays, comics, a computer game, and a feature film in 2005.
  
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[[U.S.]] [[fans]] who traveled to the [[UK]] and visiting [[Britfen]] in the late ’70s brought back cassettes and shared them around, so the program was already well-known in American [[fandom]] by the time it aired on NPR in 1981. The cheesy TV further enamored fans, and the series spawned many popular [[catchphrases]], including ''' “...almost, but not quite, entirely unlike...”  “Always know where your towel is,” “Don't Panic,” “[[42]],” “Mostly Harmless,” “Share and Enjoy,”''' and '''“So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish.”'''
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[[U.S.]] [[fans]] who traveled to the [[UK]] and visiting [[Britfen]] in the late ’70s brought back cassettes and shared them around, so the program was already well-known in American [[fandom]] by the time it aired on NPR in 1981. The cheesy TV show further enamored fans, and the series spawned many popular [[catchphrases]], including ''' “...almost, but not quite, entirely unlike...”  “Always know where your towel is,” “Don't Panic,” “[[42]],” “Mostly Harmless,” “Share and Enjoy,”''' and '''“So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish.”'''
  
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Adams died of a heart attack at age 49. On May 25, 2001, two weeks after his death, fans held a tribute called '''Towel Day''' at [[Baycon 2001]], an event that spread into the [[macrocosm]] to be observed annually ever since.  
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Adams died of a heart attack at age 49. On May 25, 2001, two weeks after his death, fans held a tribute called '''Towel Day''', with events at [[Baycon 2001]] and elsewhere, a commemoration observed annually around the world ever since.  
  
 
'''More reading:'''
 
'''More reading:'''
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* ''Don't Panic: The Official Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Companion'' by [[Neil Gaiman]] (1988, revised 2009).
 
* ''Don't Panic: The Official Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Companion'' by [[Neil Gaiman]] (1988, revised 2009).
 
* ''Wish You Were Here: The Official [[Biography]] of Douglas Adams'' by Nick Webb (2003).
 
* ''Wish You Were Here: The Official [[Biography]] of Douglas Adams'' by Nick Webb (2003).
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* [http://www.towelday.org/ TowelDay.org.]
  
 
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Revision as of 20:00, 22 March 2021

(March 11, 1952 – May 11, 2001)

Douglas Noel Adams, an English SF writer, humorist, and script writer, is best remembered as the author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a chronicle of the misadventures of Arthur Dent, the last Earthman. Other important characters include Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox and Marvin the Paranoid Robot.

The Hitchhiker's Guide originated in 1978 as a quirky six-part BBC radio comedy before developing into further episodes (called “fits”), a series of five books that sold millions of copies in Adams’ lifetime, a television series, stage plays, comics, a computer game, and a feature film in 2005.

U.S. fans who traveled to the UK and visiting Britfen in the late ’70s brought back cassettes and shared them around, so the program was already well-known in American fandom by the time it aired on NPR in 1981. The cheesy TV show further enamored fans, and the series spawned many popular catchphrases, including “...almost, but not quite, entirely unlike...” “Always know where your towel is,” “Don't Panic,” “42,” “Mostly Harmless,” “Share and Enjoy,” and “So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish.”

Adams died of a heart attack at age 49. On May 25, 2001, two weeks after his death, fans held a tribute called Towel Day, with events at Baycon 2001 and elsewhere, a commemoration observed annually around the world ever since.

More reading:

Awards, Honors and GoHships:

Posthumous honors:

Person 1952—2001
This is a biography page. Please extend it by adding more information about the person, such as fanzines and apazines published, awards, clubs, conventions worked on, GoHships, impact on fandom, external links, anecdotes, etc. See Standards for People and The Naming of Names.

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