Douglas N. Adams, a British writer, is known for his humorous science fiction works, including the Hitchhiker’s Guide series. He had odd jobs before his literary career and struggled financially until a meeting with Simon Barett led to the BBC taking on his project. Adams died in 2001 at age 49. His other works include the Dirk Gently series, The Meaning of Liff, The Deeper Meaning of Liff, and Last Chance to See. He also wrote for Doctor Who.
Douglas N. Adams, sometimes abbreviated to DNA, was a popular science fiction writer known for his dry wit and unmistakable British humor. He was born in Cambridge in March 1952 and educated at Brentwood School in Essex. He later attended St. John’s College of the prestigious Cambridge University where he obtained both BA and MA degrees in English. He was married to Jane Belson, a lawyer, and has one daughter, Polly Adams.
It was a tortuous path that finally led Douglas Adams to his literary career. Before starting to write in earnest, he had a series of – quite literally – odd jobs. He has been a chicken coop cleaner, a barn builder, a hospital porter and a bodyguard for the Qatari ruling family.
Like most writers, Douglas Adams went through a lean spell where he felt he could never make enough money just by writing. On February 4, 1977, however, Douglas Adams finally got his break. He had a meeting with Simon Barett, who finally encouraged him to write the sci-fi comedy story that was whirling in his head. Barett then persuaded the BBC to take on the project.
That project eventually became what Douglas Adams is most famous for: the transcendental Hitchhiker’s Guide series. It is in this collection of stories that Douglas Adams placed the number “42” as the “answer to life, the universe and everything”, as well as created cult figures Arthur Dent, an ordinary man who finds himself reluctant to do hitchhiking across the galaxy because his home planet Earth has been demolished to create a hyperspace bypass, and Ford Prefect, an alien adventurer just out for some fun.
The series first came to life as radio dramas broadcast, with Barett’s help, by BBC Radio. It was later made into plays, and then into a series of novels, which were eventually translated into multiple languages. The books have all achieved bestseller status and have become the recipient of many highly regarded awards. A delightfully low-budget TV show was soon developed. Finally, a film was produced and released in 2005 to mixed reviews.
Douglas Adams has been described as many things by those closest to him. He was, by turns, a brilliant comedy writer, radical atheist, intense procrastinator, passionate environmentalist, and good friend. Fans and friends mourned his death on May 11, 2001. He was working out at the gym when he suffered a fatal heart attack. He was only 49 years old.
Titles in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series include The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; The Restaurant at the End of the Universe; Life, the universe and everything; Goodbye and thanks for the fish; and mostly harmless.
Douglas Adams’ other works include the Dirk Gently series of the same name, a small collection of books centered around a strange kind of highly imaginative private eye, The Meaning of Liff and The Deeper Meaning of Liff, with John Lloyd, and Last Chance to See, with Mark Carwardine. The last book chronicles the various environmental adventures of Douglas Adams. Douglas Adams has also written a few episodes of the British institutional programme, Doctor Who.
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