Yesterday morning I believed that I was going to be spending my V-day eating a George Forman grilled t-bone and watching <i>The Simpsons</i>, which seemed like a nice change of pace from my usual V-days, but still had that tinge of the lonliness that accompanies the change from longterm relationship to kinda-sorta-but-not-entirely single. Anyway, my parents' plans have unfortunately fallen through, so I'll probably end up having dinner with them, and my brother wants me to come down for dinner and movies (and probably wants my help with some computer problem), and who the hell know what's going on with the Italian girl. So what yesterday appeared to be a day left to my own devices now appears to be a day of choices. Though I appreciate it, I'm not entirely sure I'm overjoyed at the turn of events.
Though I realize it's an unpopular statement, I'm a firm believer that Restaurant at the End of the Universe is the best book in the series. Most take the last two books out of contention straight away; So Long being rather too surreal and not having the social commentary that made the other books great, and Mostly Harmless being just so incredibly misanthropic that it's kinda painful to read (though there are nice moments like the tying up of Agrajag's stoyrline, and the sandwich maker bit is excellent) and it seemed a weak way to end the series. Life, the Universe, and Everything doesn't get nearly the praise it deserves, and I think is because of the fact that there's such an Englishness about the book that it tends to distance some American readers (myself included); not to mention that it kinda had a weak ending, and Zaphod's character was less interesting than usual, and what the hell was up with Ford in that book anyway?
Most fans of the series seem to favor the first book, and there's certainly a lot to like about it. The first bit with Arthur arguing with Mr. L. Prossor is very inspired, and I dearly love the whole scene where we first meet Zaphod. And who couldn't love, "Oh, no. Not again." 42 was brought into the lexicon, and finally we have a reason for mice. And yet. It just ends. Given Ford's character later in the book(s), there's no reason why he would've brought Arthur. Since Ford was a name he chose to blend in on Earth, why is everyone not from Earth still calling him Ford? Minor, minor problems in the work, but still.
For me, Restaurant works on all levels (ignoring the bit about the office building going faster than any other, before or since, moments before it crashes into the landingstrip of buildings that had been transported in exactly the same way) and is, of course, really funny. I love the idea behind the total perspective vortex, a shoe event horizon, and who man really descended from. The idea of the Restaurant is very good. The Man Who Rules the Universe is perfect; and the bit, "No one who wants to rule people should ever be allowed to do so," I think is Adams' most interesting saying. And poor Marvin.
I enjoy the entire series (except for Mostly Harmless, but does anyone enjoy that in toto?), but Restaurant will always be my favorite. Were I more awake I probably would've actually been able to have made a good argument for why.
Time to masturbate and then sleep.
Though I realize it's an unpopular statement, I'm a firm believer that Restaurant at the End of the Universe is the best book in the series. Most take the last two books out of contention straight away; So Long being rather too surreal and not having the social commentary that made the other books great, and Mostly Harmless being just so incredibly misanthropic that it's kinda painful to read (though there are nice moments like the tying up of Agrajag's stoyrline, and the sandwich maker bit is excellent) and it seemed a weak way to end the series. Life, the Universe, and Everything doesn't get nearly the praise it deserves, and I think is because of the fact that there's such an Englishness about the book that it tends to distance some American readers (myself included); not to mention that it kinda had a weak ending, and Zaphod's character was less interesting than usual, and what the hell was up with Ford in that book anyway?
Most fans of the series seem to favor the first book, and there's certainly a lot to like about it. The first bit with Arthur arguing with Mr. L. Prossor is very inspired, and I dearly love the whole scene where we first meet Zaphod. And who couldn't love, "Oh, no. Not again." 42 was brought into the lexicon, and finally we have a reason for mice. And yet. It just ends. Given Ford's character later in the book(s), there's no reason why he would've brought Arthur. Since Ford was a name he chose to blend in on Earth, why is everyone not from Earth still calling him Ford? Minor, minor problems in the work, but still.
For me, Restaurant works on all levels (ignoring the bit about the office building going faster than any other, before or since, moments before it crashes into the landingstrip of buildings that had been transported in exactly the same way) and is, of course, really funny. I love the idea behind the total perspective vortex, a shoe event horizon, and who man really descended from. The idea of the Restaurant is very good. The Man Who Rules the Universe is perfect; and the bit, "No one who wants to rule people should ever be allowed to do so," I think is Adams' most interesting saying. And poor Marvin.
I enjoy the entire series (except for Mostly Harmless, but does anyone enjoy that in toto?), but Restaurant will always be my favorite. Were I more awake I probably would've actually been able to have made a good argument for why.
Time to masturbate and then sleep.