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Douglas Noel Adams

Douglas Noel Adams was an English novelist, scriptwriter, radio dramatist, and essayist best known as the author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a comedy science fiction novel series that first appeared as a BBC radio comedy in 1978. Douglas Adams was born in Cambridge, England on March 11, 1952 and became an influential British writer and one of the most popular humorists of his generation.

Early in his professional life, Adams's interest in the arts led him to complete a B.A. in English Literature at St. John's College, Cambridge, in 1974. He immediately began to write for various radio programs including BBC Radio 4's The Archers.However, his career took off when he wrote for the BBC sci-fi comedy series, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

The original radio show, which was broadcast in 1978, became an instant hit and was followed by a series of books, records and computer and television adaptations. The series centers on the adventures of an unlikely group of travelers who use a combination of a space ship, science, and sheer luck in their amusing and sometimes perilous travels through the universe. The popularity of Adams's work and his eccentric, humorous style of writing propelled him to cult status.

The success of the Hitchhiker's Guide franchise, launched Adams's career as a novelist. His other works include the Dirk Gently books and Last Chance to See, a book written with fellow naturalist Mark Carwardine, about animals on the brink of extinction.

Adams, an advocate for animal welfare and environmental conservation, was a lover of science and a vociferous critic of religion. His books often include themes of artificial intelligence, machine sentience and robot rights. His works also contain numerous references to Bach, cricket, European culture and politics, and British science fiction.
Throughout his career, Adams received several awards and honors for his works. In 1996, he received a Gold Star for Services to Radio. He was also named an Honorary Patron of the Young People's Humanist Association in 1997, an Honorary Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge in 2000, and received the Lifetime Honorary Grandmaster Nebula Award from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
Douglas Adams passed away in 2001, leaving behind a legacy of comic genius and a lasting impression on generations of readers. He is fondly remembered by his fans as one of the greats of English literature.

Bibliography

• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1979)
• The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (1980)
• Life, The Universe and Everything (1982)
• So Long and Thanks for All The Fish (1984)
• Mostly Harmless (1992)
• Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (1987)
• The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul (1988)
• The Meaning of Liff (with John Lloyd, 1983)
• The Deeper Meaning of Liff (with John Lloyd, 1990)
• Last Chance to See (with Mark Carwardine, 1990)
• Starship Titanic (with Terry Jones, 1998)
• The Salmon of Doubt (2002)
• And Another Thing (with Eoin Colfer,2009)