Douglas Adams's Guide to "The Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy": The Making of the Classic Radio 4 Series (Fiction & Drama)

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining insights and a sense of wonder
Review: The history of guides to 'The Hitch-Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy' is almost as convoluted as the original story. Neil Gaiman started the ball rolling with a comprehensive book called 'Don't Panic;' a video followed, using lovingly reconstructed elements from the TV drama 'Guide' to illustrate production techniques. Next came a radio version, which found its way onto tape decades after the resilient comedy saga first reared its head.

Like the 'Don't Panic' video, BBC Radio's 'Guide to the Guide' is lovingly scripted in the style of the series. Debbie Barham's writing is as affectionate as it is amusing. However, without Peter Jones' narration the script would lose its lustre. Jones played the Guide itself, and returns to his silliest role with glee.

A scattered helping of interviews give us just enough information to admire the original production team. Pressurised by the BBC and Douglas Adams' bizarre writing schedule, it is a wonder that the programmes were ever transmitted. Here is proof that out of dread chaos can come creative comedy.

The only downfall is the lack of comment from creator Adams himself. An Interview with the author on a second tape goes some way to redress the balance.

At first, Adams is not as entertaining as his work might promise. As he rambles on about his Cambridge days, the interviewer fidgets, sniggers and at one point mumbles an incoherent question. The origins of Adams' fantastic ideas are often mundane.

Adams would be the first to admit that he's done his bit for the recycling brigade. 'The Hitch-Hiker's Guide' has been rehashed in every conceivable manner, and he continues to develop the idea on the internet. The Americans would call it a franchise and applaud him for his enterprise; in this country we expect our artists to be steadfastly original. Adams has probably got the right idea.

In the second half of the interview, Adams gives us intelligent insight into the meaning of life: religion, the world behind a light switch, a child growing up. Through these insights we begin to discover why the writer's been so successful - he's managed to retain his sense of wonder.

As we begin to comprehend how Adams' mind works, he's gone. Although there seem to be a lot of facets that are left unexplored, we are left with the impression that he is gracious, human, and mostly harmless.