The Salmon of Doubt
On Friday, May 11, 2001, the world mourned the untimely passing of Douglas Adams, beloved creator of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, dead of a heart attack at age forty-nine. Thankfully, in addition to a magnificent literary legacy — which includes seven novels and three co-authored works of nonfiction — Douglas left us something more. The book you are about to enjoy was rescued from his four computers, culled from an archive of chapters from his long-awaited novel-in-progress, as well as his short stories, speeches, articles, interviews, and letters.
In a way that none of his previous books could, The Salmon of Doubt provides the full, dazzling, laugh-out-loud experience of a journey through the galaxy as perceived by Douglas Adams. From a boy’s first love letter (to his favorite science fiction magazine) to the distinction of possessing a nose of heroic proportions; from climbing Kilimanjaro in a rhino costume to explaining why Americans can’t make a decent cup of tea; from lyrical tributes to the sublime pleasures found in music by Procol Harum, the Beatles, and Bach to the follies of his hopeless infatuation with technology; from fantastic, fictional forays into the private life of Genghis Khan to extended visits with Dirk Gently and Zaphod Beeblebrox: this is the vista from the elevated perch of one of the tallest, funniest, most brilliant, and most penetrating social critics and thinkers of our time.
Welcome to the wonderful mind of Douglas Adams.
People Also Read
Douglas Adams
Douglas Adams didn’t just write books—he created entire universes that blur the line between science fiction and satire, turning the most absurd concepts into thoughtful reflections on life, the universe, and everything in between. Best known for his Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, Adams has captivated generations with his wit, his philosophy wrapped in absurdity, and his uncanny ability to make the impossible feel remarkably plausible.
Born in Cambridge, England, in 1952, Adams grew up with an innate curiosity about the world, balanced by a sharp sense of humor. His journey into writing was anything but conventional—he didn’t set out to conquer literature or science fiction; instead, his love for storytelling found an unexpected outlet in the absurdly wonderful, often chaotic, world of radio. It was on BBC Radio 4 where The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was born in 1978 as a radio play, ultimately evolving into one of the most beloved franchises in literary history.
More books by Douglas Adams
