Eoin Colfer to pen sixth Hitchhiker's Guide

[IronParrot]

I know there are a lot of Colfer readers (and Douglas Adams readers) who hang out around these parts, so you may find this story of interest.

While I like Colfer as a writer, I don't understand publishing's fascination with clinging to existing franchises and the legacies of dead authors. Apparently it makes money.

My own terse comments here.

[The Gaffer]

Yo, IronParrot! How ya diddlin?

Originally Posted by IronParrot

I know there are a lot of Colfer readers (and Douglas Adams readers) who hang out around these parts, so you may find this story of interest.

While I like Colfer as a writer, I don't understand publishing's fascination with clinging to existing franchises and the legacies of dead authors. Apparently it makes money.

Well, you answered that question yourself:

I’m guilty of being party to this kind of brand-driven exploitation, and I know it.

You don't like it, yet you're highly curious.

Sadly, such laziness is a feature of publishing, films, TV, games, websites, music, art, everything. And the more it costs to create the medium, and the more revenue matters, the worse it gets.

Never got around to Artemis Fowl myself, though I might read a H2G2 spinoff if I didn't have to pay for it.

[BeardofPants]

Wha-? WHY??

I only read the first Artemis. Wasn't a fan.

[IronParrot]

Originally Posted by The Gaffer

You don't like it, yet you're highly curious.

Sadly, such laziness is a feature of publishing, films, TV, games, websites, music, art, everything. And the more it costs to create the medium, and the more revenue matters, the worse it gets.

Well, to clarify - I can't abide most tie-ins and franchise continuations, and I wouldn't even dream of giving another H2G2 a look if it weren't for the fact that it's Eoin Colfer's name on it. I enjoyed the early Artemis Fowl books, though they're transitory pleasures, and I don't think they'll age well at all. I think publishers are now realizing that the way to expand the tie-in business to readers that would otherwise thumb their noses at it is to recruit high-profile writers. After all, if you're like me and you don't read based on series or brands, you probably base your reading patterns on the authors themselves. Colfer, not the Guide, is the draw for me here.

I've been well. Glad this place lives on.

[The Gaffer]

Good to see you, and nice blog btw.

I would probably want a look to see if it's up to the standard of the original H2G2.

I guess this nicely illustrates your theory of double-baiting content.

Maybe the storyline will feature gothic vampires in basques for that triple effect.

[Nurvingiel]

I'm not really bothered by this but I probably won't read the book either. I haven't even read Mostly Harmless yet.

I love Eoin Colfer. I've read all except of the Artemis Fowl books and even one of the companion books. I've also read another of his books, Benny and Omar.

Colfer's only fault as a writer in my opinion is that he can't write adults well. I'll let a fantasy author fudge and have young heroes risk their lives to save the world with their parents being completely oblivious (at least for a while). Colfer does this aspect quite well. Mr. and Mrs. Fowl are fairly believable, given the circumstances. However, adults often come across as very one dimentional or stupid in his books - Butler being the exception.

This aboslutely ruined Benny and Omar for me, which would have otherwise been fantastic. The adults are so unbelievably horrible that I can only be sympathetic with the anti-hero's behaviour, to the point of wondering why he isn't even worse behaved. His parents are completely unsympathetic to an awful tragedy and it's really quite disgusting.

Immature characterization ruined a great book.

But right. Back to the thread. I know this is sacreligious, but I just don't care about HHG2G that much anymore. Some crappy add-on isn't going to ruin how awesome the first two books were. And Douglas Adams had always been very flexible about his canon. (Maybe not this flexible though, who knows.)

[hectorberlioz]

Reminds me of the "new" Godfather book that someone wrote instead of Mario Puzo.

[Earniel]

Finally borrowed the book from a friend. I think Colfer matches Adams' style well enough to make an enjoyable reading. But I somewhat wonder why there needed to be another book. It's all a bit more of the same to me.