Here’s an interesting situation, the Radio Times reviewer has not been given a chance to hear the upcoming HHGTTG sequel, entitled And Another Thing…. This is despite the fact that the reading begins Monday on BBC Radio 4.
So what should we to read into this?
My opinion, is it probably doesn not mean a lot. The book, and the abridged reading of it, for BBC Radio 4, have both been embargoed. That means nobody not involved with the production gets to read it before it comes out.
This isn’t new, it’s been done for quite a while on big books. Most famously with the later Harry Potter books.
The idea is for the publisher to control the thrust of reviews (and such) so as to give one all-mighty-push-through into the public consciousness. So really it says a lot more about the publisher’s policies than the strength of any particular book that is being embargoed. And history shows that both well and badly written books have been embargoed.
Myself, I’ve not read any Eoin Colfer, and I stopped reading Douglas Adams books shortly before he died.
What do you think about this?
And Another Thing… (book #6 in The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide To The Galaxy series)
By Eoin Colfer; Read by Stephen Mangan and Peter Serafinowicz
10 Broadcasts – Approx. 2 Hours 30 Minutes [ABRIDGED]
Broadcaster: BBC Radio 4 / Book At Bedtime
Broadcast: October 12 – October 23 2009 @ 22:45
Eoin Colfer’s sequel to Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series.
They’ve also roped Arthur Dent (as portrayed by Simon Jones) to do a little audio promotion for the book HERE.
Jones, by the way, is also the narrator for Hyperion’s UNABRIDGED audiobook of And Another Thing….
Here’s Eoin Cofler explaining how the sixth book in a three book series came to be written by someone other than DNA…
[Thanks Roy!]
Posted by Jesse Willis
Colfer’s a very gifted writer. As with Pratchett, it’s fairly clear that Adams was a big influence on his style and sense of humor. As with Pratchett, he’s also clearly his own man. Colfer’s Fowl books were fairly strong caper novels, mysteries, fantasies, and sf, and good kids’ novels as well. He’s got chops.
But I have to say, I think he’s a fool or a brave man to take on this project. The money is sure to be good; but a lot of fans are bound to hate him for it, even if he produced the best Hitchhiker’s book ever.
Being a huge fan from the very beginning… I am very much looking forward to this sixth installment of the Guide. I love Colfer’s ‘Artemis Fowl’ books and since he was approached by the Widow Adams and did not seek it out as a vanity project, I’m willing to give him a chance. This does not seem like a money making ploy by the BBC or the Adams family (hee hee). Most of the reviews I’ve read, all spoiler-free, have been for the most part positive.
Mine will arrive today!!!
I do wonder if the AWESOME people at Above the Title have plans to adapt this for radio!!!
I’ll be willing to give it a chance too (a least of a bit of one) but don’t kid yerself, it’s definitely a money making scheme. They didn’t mention anything about donating all the profits to charity or anything. Not that I expect it, but it’s FOR money, and ONLY for money for the estate. As for Colfer, could be for more than money. I guess we’ll see.
BTW doing it for money is fine, but I’m just betting it doesn’t generate the same chances for goodness.
Too many novels are written BECAUSE they are saleable. The arguments against it being written aren’t very good, but neither are the arguments for it.
Having read Colfer I greatly anticipated the broadcast. The text seems in keeping with the heritage of H2G2 but oh dear, isn’t the reading dire?
They just don’t seem to get it.
Continually infuriated by the emphasis being in the wrong place and the lack of a sardonic and satirical tone where one was clearly required, I stopped listening shortly into episode two, deciding it would be better reading the book for myself.
And I wasn;t expecting Peter Jones either but really one expects a basic competance. In fairness to the readers, I suppose some of this is down to the director (if it had one).