I'm a heretic without humor... - Page 7

Fluribus · 08-01-2014, 05:51 AM

I like Mr. Bean and Monty Python, though Mr. Bean is somewhat less quotable. I like Benny Hill as well.

I found Hitchhiker's Guide to be amusing, but not uproariously funny. I can't remember if I read the book first, or played the Infocom game first. I found his Last Chance to See more interesting than Hitchhiker's.

I read the first couple of Discworlds and found them less funny than Hitchhiker's. Didn't read beyond those.

avantman42 · 08-01-2014, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katsunami

By the way; does the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (the actual electronic device, I mean) remind someone else of a black Kindle 1 with a locally installed version of Wikipedia?

You're not the only one to have made that comparison:
http://xkcd.com/548/

Katsunami · 08-01-2014, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avantman42

You're not the only one to have made that comparison:
http://xkcd.com/548/

LOL! You made my day

I've noticed that there are quite some things that Adams 'predicted' in the 70's and 80's which is actually true now. It seems book 5 is (among other things) about tracking usage statistics and surveilance of the users of the Guide.

Sounds a lot like Amazon and Google tracking the usage of their devices....

Hm. Maybe these books need another read later on. It looks like they can grow on you because of the allegories and 'predictions.'

pdurrant · 08-01-2014, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

It is wise to remember that THHGTTG was originally a radio series and the radio series is terrific. I love the books too, but they are not the radio plays. Don't watch the movie. Listen to the real series. It is very entertaining.

THIS. While he did adapt H2G2 to books, TV and film, I think the original radio series are where it really worked well.

If you've never heard them, do see if you can get hold of them at an audio retailer. The first and second series are well worth a listen.

eschwartz · 08-01-2014, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katsunami

By the way; does the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (the actual electronic device, I mean) remind someone else of a black Kindle 1 with a locally installed version of Wikipedia?

Yes, but it wasn't locally installed. It used the free 3G (or sub-etha, the interstellar equivalent).

IOW, your analogy is even more apt.

ApK · 08-01-2014, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avantman42

You're not the only one to have made that comparison:
http://xkcd.com/548/

I have that up on my wall!

You reminded me of another comparison I made a while back:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...21#post1262421

Katsunami · 08-01-2014, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Yes, but it wasn't locally installed. It used the free 3G (or sub-etha, the interstellar equivalent).

IOW, your analogy is even more apt.

I thought / assumed it only used sub-etha for over the air updates.

ApK · 08-01-2014, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katsunami

I thought / assumed it only used sub-etha for over the air updates.

I thought the same. Updates are received by sub-etha and kept locally in sub-meson storage.
But now that you mention it, Ford did use it's sub-etha to send the "mostly harmless" update about Earth....if he could SEND updates, why couldn't he send a request to be picked up from Earth??
OMG! Plot hole!

See, I knew I'd regret this thread.

bobstro · 08-01-2014, 01:20 PM

Wasn't the update to "mostly harmless" all that the editors left of Ford's 15 years of research that he submitted after they left earth?

eschwartz · 08-01-2014, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katsunami

I thought / assumed it only used sub-etha for over the air updates.

That's caching.

So the Guide has better caching than a Kindle.

Katsunami · 08-01-2014, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobstro

Wasn't the update to "mostly harmless" all that the editors left of Ford's 15 years of research that he submitted after they left earth?

No; he has submitted it before he left the earth, because

Spoiler:

However,

Spoiler:

Katsunami · 08-01-2014, 08:14 PM

Update.

I... uh... ahum... ehhr...

Bought the radio series.
And the BBC mini-series.
At the Amazon.co.uk Market Place.

Yeah.

I've been cruising around the interwebz and youtube, downloaded some stuff here and there, listened and watched a bit, and came to the conclusion that I HAD to have this stuff. It's just plain funny

Spoiler:

Conclusion: THHGTTG does not work well in book form, but it's very good as a radio play, and it's epic as a TV series. It's like the radio play, with the addition of visuals. (As far as I've seen/heard.) The dated, old-fashioned effects actually are the icing on the cream in the old series.

I can see THHGTTG as a radio play and mini series become one of my favorites, while I'll probably continue to dislike the books. This is one of the few times a TV version is better than the book version.

ApK · 08-01-2014, 08:19 PM

You are now one hoopy frood.

ONE OF US! ONE OF US!

ETA: you seem to agree with this guy:
http://www.induceddyslexia.com/hitchhiker.htm

doubleshuffle · 08-01-2014, 08:35 PM

Yeah, seems Katsunami has found his towel at last...

The TV series was my introduction to the Hitchhiker's Guide - and I think to cool British humour in general. They showed it on German TV when I was, dunno, 13 or 14 and it made a lasting impression. I think they made a pretty good job with the German dubbing, which isn't always the case.

Katsunami · 08-01-2014, 08:53 PM

Quote:

The book of the same name was actually a transcript of the original audio. The book pales by comparison to the original radio episodes because of the genius of the audio effects. (The 2005 movie version was an abomination.)

I haven't seen the 2005 movie, but I already agree regarding the radio series vs the books; the radio series is better. The voices, acting, sound effects and atmosphere is what makes this stuff work.

Pity that the TV series seems to end after 6 episodes, covering only up to the ending of book two. Is that correct, or is there another DVD?

08-01-2014, 08:14 PM	#102
Katsunami Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,111 Karma: 34000001 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: KPW1, KA1	Update. I... uh... ahum... ehhr... Bought the radio series. And the BBC mini-series. At the Amazon.co.uk Market Place. Yeah. I've been cruising around the interwebz and youtube, downloaded some stuff here and there, listened and watched a bit, and came to the conclusion that I HAD to have this stuff. It's just plain funny Spoiler: I've listened/seen until just before Ford and Arthur are captured on the Vogon ship. Conclusion: THHGTTG does not work well in book form, but it's very good as a radio play, and it's epic as a TV series. It's like the radio play, with the addition of visuals. (As far as I've seen/heard.) The dated, old-fashioned effects actually are the icing on the cream in the old series. I can see THHGTTG as a radio play and mini series become one of my favorites, while I'll probably continue to dislike the books. This is one of the few times a TV version is better than the book version. Last edited by Katsunami; 08-01-2014 at 09:00 PM.

08-01-2014, 08:19 PM	#103
ApK Award-Winning Participant Posts: 7,402 Karma: 69116640 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ, USA Device: Kindle	You are now one hoopy frood. ONE OF US! ONE OF US! ETA: you seem to agree with this guy: http://www.induceddyslexia.com/hitchhiker.htm Last edited by ApK; 08-01-2014 at 08:36 PM.

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08-01-2014, 05:51 AM	#91
Fluribus Guru Posts: 891 Karma: 8893661 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: Kindle	I like Mr. Bean and Monty Python, though Mr. Bean is somewhat less quotable. I like Benny Hill as well. I found Hitchhiker's Guide to be amusing, but not uproariously funny. I can't remember if I read the book first, or played the Infocom game first. I found his Last Chance to See more interesting than Hitchhiker's. I read the first couple of Discworlds and found them less funny than Hitchhiker's. Didn't read beyond those.

08-01-2014, 01:20 PM	#99
bobstro Zealot Posts: 100 Karma: 440392 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: MA Device: Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014,Hisense Sero Pro 7,Kobo Aura, Kobo Mini	Wasn't the update to "mostly harmless" all that the editors left of Ford's 15 years of research that he submitted after they left earth?

08-01-2014, 08:35 PM	#104
doubleshuffle Unicycle Daredevil Posts: 13,944 Karma: 185432100 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Planet of the Pudding Brains Device: Aura HD (R.I.P. After six years the USB socket died.) tolino shine 3	Yeah, seems Katsunami has found his towel at last... The TV series was my introduction to the Hitchhiker's Guide - and I think to cool British humour in general. They showed it on German TV when I was, dunno, 13 or 14 and it made a lasting impression. I think they made a pretty good job with the German dubbing, which isn't always the case.

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