Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency

Douglas Adams

1 There is no such word as "impossible" in my dictionary!
"In fact," says Dirk Gently, "everything between 'herring' and 'marmalade' seems to be missing."

Dirk Gently is an example of a breakthrough work: An attempt at something quite artistically new, which is all the more amazing because it actually succeeds. In short, this novel is: a Science Fiction Mystery Comedy.

* DG is a quite good Science Fiction book, with elements such as strange alien technology ("The Electric Monk"), time travel, and an immortal -- if VERY absentminded -- being
* DG is a quite good (and, to borrow another reviewer's term, "self-consistent") mystery/detective novel, even if the detective in question IS rather unorthodox!
* DG is a very funny comedy novel, which parodies not only the detective genre, but also makes not-so-subtle jabs at ivory-tower academics, business executives, British Telecom, and computers (and the geeks that use and program them)

Dirk Gently as a character in particular is a truly original creation. It is both very fortunate that we have him in two novels, and cruel and tragic that Douglas Adams did not live to develop him any further. For one example, many of Dirk's college friends think he is psychic, and are always trying to get him to dream-speak upcoming exam questions. Dirk sets out to prove them wrong by creating a complete copy of an upcoming exam, purely by researching past exams in the same course, studying the syllabus, etc., figuring that he will be only about half right on average, and everyone will see that he is just an ordinary guy and leave him alone. Except that the exam he so produces turns out to be identical to the real one. Oops. (Later, in the present day, he tells a client, who is wanted for murder: "Remember that you are talking to someone who has spent time in prison for something he didn't do.") Dirk's detective methods rely on studying "the vectors of interconnectedness of all things", which, plus the fact that he is perpetually broke, makes him look to casual observers rather more than less like a cheap con artist.

"Meet me at the pizza parlor in half an hour. And bring money."
"What -- Dirk, are you trying to blackmail me?"
"No, you fool, for the pizzas!"

I am reminded of a character named Gallagher who appeared in several short stories by the science fiction author Lewis Padgett. Gallagher is a brilliant inventor, but can only do inspired work when blind drunk. He wakes up to find that he has created astonishing gadgets, but has no idea how they work or even what they do. This is a similar to Dirk Gently, who also has a gift bordering on the supernatural, but is more its victim than anything else because his talent is not at ALL within his control.

One theme not mentioned so much in other reviews is computers and related humor. One of the main characters, Richard MacDuff, is a Macintosh programmer. (Douglas Adams himself was a fanatical Mac user in real life.) Among Richard's "creations" are a program that turns numerical, i.e. company financial, data into music; and a decision-making program that allows you to justify practically any outcome by back-tracing from the desired result (and which is promptly confiscated by the US Government!) Unfortunately, Richard has a problem: A sofa stuck halfway up his apartment stairs that can NOT be moved -- up OR down. So most of his computing cycles these days are spent on 3D modeling of the sofa, trying to extricate it, much to the annoyance of the boss of his software company. "People who want their company accounts to sing to them are not interested in buying a revolving sofa!"

And I haven't even mentioned the missing cat, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Johann Sebastian Bach, or the end of life on Earth yet! It is really hopeless to try to capture this complex, brilliant, wacky book in any kind of short review. My suggestion is: Just try it. Warning: Like the good mystery novel it is, it starts out nearly incomprehensible, and makes more and more sense as you go on, so be patient with it.

But, this book IS strange enough that it is probably not for everyone. How to tell? I would say that if you enjoy one or more of: Monty Python, Dr. Who, Woody Allen's "Zelig", computer geekdom in general, and/or the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy (but be warned: Dirk Gently's characters are much deeper and more complex persons than Hitchhiker's are) then Dirk Gently is definitely something you should consider reading.

I will leave you with another favorite quotation, which comes very early on. In the dedication, in fact: "To my mother, who liked the bit about the horse."

2 There is a Long Line of Great Detectives...
And for my money, Dirk Gently definately belongs to it. All right, he fails to rule out the impossible. In this book, that would probably have been the worst thing he could do!

Like several of the other reviwers, I think this book is, in many ways, funnier than the Hitch Hiker's Guide. I only wish Douglas Adams had written more about Dirk. Or Vlad. Or whatever his name is.

It's a nice, quick read, and though others have complained about how short it is, I think this book comes in a perfect little package. I don't know how Adams could have stretched it out any further, or if it would have been any better for it. Besides, there's always the sequel.

3 Better than "The Guide"
This is one of those short books that should have been longer. Adams, probably most famous for his hitch hiker's guide, is just as funny in this opus. As usual there are the trademark almost-normal-yet-totally-zany characters such as the 200 year old chronologist, the mechanical monk and the `hero' of the piece; who in ordinary circumstances could be considered a sleazebag, Dirk Gently. .

If you've read any of Adam's work, you know what to expect in terms of plot, it's totally unpredictable, anything goes, which means you'll have to leave your notions of space and time outside the proverbial door. By the way, the proverbial door features in this book as well, but I won't spoil it for you.

I would give this book a five star rating, were it not for the fact that I think Douglas has some personal grievance against Christianity. His less than subtle jabs at the Christian faith lessen what could have been a thoroughly enjoyable book. However credit must be given where it is due and Adams is definitely a master of the art - a comic extraordinaire (if there is such a thing) - who deserves a read.

4 Unique, funny, uneven
Lots of fun, though a lot more meandering and less exciting than I remember from the first time I read it.

5 One of my ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOKS! BRILLIANT
As much as I loved the Hitchhiker series, I actually enjoyed this book this even more. I originally listened to it on tape, and for a while, I was so confused with the plot, I almost turned it off and went on to something else. But, something (probably Adams's brilliant writing) kept me listening, and I stuck it out. As I kept going, more and more things came together, and I became curious...then involved...then engrossed. By the end of the tape, everything was so clear that I had to start all over and listen again to admire the unexpected way the story was woven together. (I understand Richard Dawkins had the same response to this book, and after reading it again the second time, wrote Douglas Adams the first fan letter Dawkins had ever written to anyone.)
It involves: Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner, ghosts, electric monks, time travel, cell phones and message machines, a pair of women named Susan, Cambridge University, romance, ancient aliens, Schroedinger's cat and a semi-legitimate (but highly imaginative!) detective named Dirk Gently, oh, and...by the way, the end of the world. If you don't see the connection between all these diverse subjects, it's because you don't understand the fundamental interconnectedness of all things, and therefore you really owe it to yourself to give this book a try!
The only downside at all is that Douglas Adams is not around to give us more of this (and all his other) amazing literary character. I love Doug Adams, and his absence is very, very much felt.

6 Better than Hitchhiker's
Douglas Adams is, of course, widely known for the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" series, which is a wonderful pan-galactic romp. For my money, the Dirk Gently books (this volume and "The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul") surpass "Hitchhiker", which is no small feat.

Adams fans will recognize his unique style. No one is as smartly silly as he is. No one.

Dirk Gently, the slacker-slash-detective with the Zen-like attitude and unflappable nature, finds himself in the middle of a battle of gods...what else? From the campus of a prestigious university to the chambers of Valhalla, Dirk's cavalier attitude guarantees the reader a barrel of laughs from start to finish.

Get both volumes at once. Like all of Adam's work, the read is quick and easy, and you won't want to stop once you've finished the first book.

7 Witty titles were never my strong point
First of all I would like to say that I'm not the sort of person who needs everything to make sense to enjoy something (I'm a Doctor Who fan for Christs sake!) so that is something that helps me love this book.
Mr Adams was (and boy do I hate saying was) a master craftsman. He could be intelligent, witty and plain wierd at the same time and still have room for a bit of sentimentality.
I'm pretty confident that if you're reading this then you have enjoyed another of Mr Adams works. In which case I'm sure that you will delight in reading this as it is in the same style as many of his other books. It is fair to compare it to the Hitchhiker series as it is done in much the same vain. In my opinion it is as good as the aforementioned. Yes so the ending doesn't totally fit everyones perspective of great, but it suits me. It's full of lots of ideas that didn't neccessarily works out, but for me that is just as great; trying to work out what Mr Adams had as alternate plots. Even though the title charactor doesn't turn up till a good half way in, his soon to be friend, Richard Macduff does a good enough job of entertaining us. One to one, I strongly reccomend this to any other Adams fan, and for that matter any other fan of literature. It is truely great, as is its sequal.

8 P.G. Wodehouse meets Dr. Who: a complete pleasure
If you got P.G. Wodehouse to write a Dr. Who script you might come up with something like this. Why not? Apparently as well as script editing for series 17 (featuring, for example, 'City of Death' where John Cleese is an art dealer), Adams wrote a couple of episodes ('The Pirate Planet', and the unfinished 'Shada' which featured none other than Prof. 'Reg' Chronitis and his TARDIS style study). Sorry, enough trainspotting (thanks G & J).

The Dr. Who thing only hit me late in the book, but that's partly because 'Dirk Gently' only pops up about half way through, and he's most enjoyably reminiscent of Tom Baker in his distracted purposefulness. I suppose there's something of Ford Prefect there too, and other elements of Hitch Hikers - yet another confused alien species looking to earth as an Eden and changing the deep past and whole evolution of humanity. And I suppose Richard could be played by whoever was DentArthurDent in the TV show.

But, hey, this isn't having a go at the book, which is sheer pleasure to read. It's not at all a cheap carbon of earlier Adams, there's just some lovely echoes. The guy just writes so wonderfully - like Wodehouse - and the dialogue is full of good (frightfully British) humour and character. Moreover the comic observations on the everyday are clever and flawlessly executed. The setting is surprisingly coherent when you get down to it (I *love* the way he casually resolves the sofa paradox that's been running through the whole book) - there's really nothing I can think of to complain about with it. I'm used to books lifting me up and then disappointing, but this manages to ebulliently float you along from start to finish.

I'm so glad I decided to start rereading books. It must be over a decade since I'd read this and I only had the vaguest recollection of some of the key images. But the chief pleasure of Adams can't be reduced to, say, the plot line, which, while fine, is in one way incidental (i.e. the characters and dialogue are good enough to stand alone). I get the impression he was in a fairly positive state of mind when he wrote this (as opposed to Mostly Harmless), and in excellent form, so these character's are simply pleasant to be with - as well as being hilarious and - as with those of Pratchett on a good day - charming.

9 Gets points for trying to be different, but is average
"Dirk Gently's Holistic Dectective Agency" is an OK book. It is a different kind of mystery, as Douglas Adams intended. However, I found this book quite inferior to the "Hitchhiker" series, as it did not have that same pizzaz. Basically, there has been a murder, and some try to solve it. Dirk, the detective in the title who doens't appear until about 1/2 way through, is not interested in solving the murder, no, he wants to know why Richard McDuff, an employee of the victim, climbed into his girlfriend's flat. That McDuff's girlfriend is the victim's sister is beside the point. Dirk feels that all things are interconnected, and also wants to figure out how an old professor managed to do an impossible trick. Soon, we discover, the prof has a time machine, and there is a ghost who wants to reverse a billion year old error, which would mean the end of all life. A few chuckles, but mostly headscratching.

10 Beep Bop Boop
Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of Douglas Adam's writing, is that there will not be any more. This book offers solace to those seeking Adam's wit beyond the hitch hiker series.

While the general plot is at times annoyingly insane, the character development is priceless.

A must read for any classic Adams fan, if only for just the revealing look into the digital world of the 1980s.

11 The *Other* Douglas Adams Saga
The oddball detective Dirk Gently and his "client" Richard MacDuff go on an investigation to solve a murder, AND save the human race from extinction as well....No one could've expected Douglas Adams to write nothing but "Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy" books his entire life, and so, in 1987, he began a new series of books centered around a *very* unconventional detective named Dirk Gently, who uses his belief "in the interconnectedness of all things" to solve crimes. His introductory adventure, "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency," is a very different creation altogether from the popular "Hitchhiker's Guide" books. Like it says on the back cover, "Dirk Gently" is a combination of ghost, horror, detective, time-travel, and romantic comedy. The results are mixed---the book takes a while to get going (Dirk Gently himself does not physically appear for a LONG time), the story is confusing at times, and it just isn't laugh-out-loud funny like the majority of the "Hitchhiker's" series. But "Dirk Gently" still has it's amusing moments, including the plight of Gordon Way, Richard's relationship with his cello-playing girlfriend, Susan, and Dirk hypnotising Richard into doing something that, for me, was totally unexpected and very, very funny (but I won't spoil it for you). Also, as a fan of the popular sci-fi series, "Doctor Who," which Adams wrote some stories for, I was also delighted to see the appearance of Professor "Reg" Chronotis, a character from Adams' "Doctor Who" story, "Shada," who plays an important role here as well.Unfortunately, Adams gives "Dirk Gently" an ending that only raises more questions than it gives answers. Besides not making any sense (well, not to me, anyway), the ending feels hastily written, as if Adams was racing against the clock to meet a deadline with his publishers, couldn't come up with a *plausible* way for Dirk to save the day, and so, he scribbled down a nonsense scene to end Dirk's adventure with. And also, what happened to the Electric Monk, or Michael Wenton-Weakes? Adams doesn't say. So, in the end, "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency" is a very mixed bag, but I'm going to give it 3 out of 5 stars because it's still a pretty amusing book, with some pretty amusing characters, and I AM curious to see where Adams takes Dirk next. Alright then, onto the second Dirk Gently book, "The Long Dark Tea-Time Of The Soul".... :-)

12 A book on the fundamental interconnectedness of all things
Having finished with the Hitchhiker's series with So Long And Thanks For The Fish, Douglas Adams created a diptych utilizing the character of Dirk Gently, an eccentric character who in this first novel creates the self-titled Holistic Detective Agency. His method does not involve using fingerprint powder, but rather seeing the fundamental interconnectedness of things. As he elaborates to a client, "I see the solution to each problem as being detectable in the pattern and web of the whole. The connections between causes and effects are often much more subtle and complex than we with our rough and ready understanding of the physical world might naturally suppose." Missing cats is a specialty, using Schrodinger's quantum mechanics equation. It also serves to exploit old woman seeking their missing cats of their money, that is if he ever gets paid.

Gently cross paths with his old classmate from St. Cedd's College, Cambridge, Richard MacDuff, who is having a trying and interesting time. MacDuff, a computer programmer working for Way Forward Technologies, becomes involved with his old college tutor, Professor Urban Chronotis, the aged Regius Professor of Chronology, and hence bearing the nickname "Reg" whose vice is conjuring tricks, and in the middle of a dinner honouring Samuel Taylor Coleridge, performs a totally inexplicable one involving a salt shaker and a Grecian pot that perplexes MacDuff. Equally perplexing is how a horse entered the bathroom of his professor.

MacDuff has many other things to worry about. He's overdue on a software programme for his boss Gordon Way, he isn't spending enough time with his girlfriend Susan, who's his boss's sister, and he's got a sofa lodged halfway up the stairs to his flat. To make matters worse, he then sees the ghost of his boss, who was mysteriously killed at the same time he was at the Coleridge dinner, and is wanted by the police for questioning.

Adams' usual humorous observations on human foibles are at play here. He describes Reg's memory as being comparable to a Queen Alexandra Birdwing Butterfly, "in that it was colorful, flitted prettily hither and thither, and was now, alas, almost completely extinct." Reg and the eccentric Dirk, who seems able to explain things MacDuff can't, are the best characters here.

As for MacDuff, there is some of Adams in this character. Like MacDuff, Adams attended Cambridge and went for an English Literature degree, only it was at St. John's College and not St. Cedd's per the novel. Adams also managed to turn in only three essays (!!), which was three more than MacDuff completed.

Some may know that Adams was the script-editor for Dr. Who from 1978-1979. Elements from two stories he personally wrote, City Of Death and Shada pop up here. In the latter story, there is a character called Professor Chronotis as there is here.

The humour is more tempered than in Hitchhiker, and relies more on wit and funny situations rather than the laugh-out-loud comedy of the HH series. And this is more a sci-fi/mystery rather than a meta-scifi comedy in space. Adams never loses his imaginative streak, in terms of story and writing style. I read this immediately after the last HH book and found it an amusing and entertaining read.

13 A ghost-horror-detective-time-travel-romantic-comedy-epic
This is a very strange book. Adams himself has described it as a "ghost-horror-detective-time-travel-romantic-comedy-epic, mainly concerned with mud, music and quantum mechanics." It's hard to know who the main character really is. The title character, Dirk Gently, doesn't even appear in the story until almost a hundred pages into the book, and until that time, it seems that the story is really about computer programmer Richard MacDuff. But there are also ghosts involved, an Electric Monk from another world, an over 200-year old professor of chronology, and much else.
The story is a murder mystery, of a sort, and the plot gradually begins to centre around Dirk Gently's holistic concept that all things are fundamentally interconnected with each other. Gently himself is a very amusing and talkative character, and the highlights of the book is whenever he appears. The concept of the Electric Monk, and its purpose for existing, is also very entertaining.
Several elements of the story were salvaged by Adams from earlier ideas he had had when he was writing a few scripts (Shada and City of Death) for the "Dr. Who" show on BBC. And the story also reflects Adams's increasing interest in computers. Another bit of noteworthy trivia is that the publishing rights for this book, and its sequel, before either of them had been written, were sold for two million dollars.
Adams stays true to form, and the book is at times very funny. The solution to the mystery is unusual, to say the least, although the ending, suddenly involving quite a bit of sci-fi, is confusing and abrupt, and it's not exactly spelled out in detail how the world was saved. It is an entertaining read, although I can't help feeling it's not quite what it could have been.

14 easily Douglas Adams's best
The people who say this is boring or difficult to understand are reviewing themselves, not this book.

I've read this six times and loved it each time. It's intended as pure entertainment (and I can't think of a more entertaining novel), but it just so happens it is better plotted than even Henry Fielding's "Tom Jones" and Milan Kundera's "Immortality", which is saying quite a lot. I'm not one of those lowbrows who go around calling pieces of genre fiction "classic", but this is close. Seven stars.

15 Brilliant book, and how could you expect anything different?
Out of the mind of one of the world's greatest spinners of stories comes this utterly fantastic tale of parody. But don't try and put this book into a single genre: it can't be done! Is it mystery, is it suspense, is it humor? All I know is that it's great fiction!

16 Dirk Gentley
I just finished Douglas Adam's Dirk Gentley's Holistic Detective Agency. This was a pretty good read. Its not too in depth. It contains a lot of cynical, sarcastic, and underlying humor. Although it is definitely a science fiction book, as long as you have a decently open mind, its good. Following the odd coincidences that happen throughout the book, including a sofa in the stairwell, a horse in the bathroom, and a ghost, a tale that is so incredible it almost seems believable is revealed. The book does not really come together until the middle to end of the book, so don't get discouraged if youre terribly confused at the beginning!

17 one of the very cleverest books I've ever read
this one is just wonderful- I reread it every once in a while because it makes the world better. The first time I read it, I got to the end and immediately started reading it again. I've loved all of his books (how can he be dead?) but this one's still my favorite- yes, even above the hitchhiker books.

18 Not the Hitchhiker's Guide, but still good.
Summary:
Richard Duffy, an up and coming computer programmer, decides to visit a professor he had in college, Reg. Reg quickly convinces the reader he is an eccentric Douglas Adams character and, without either of them knowing it, a 4 billion year old ghost is trying to take possession of their bodies.

Dirk Gently is a college classmate of Richard's and once he becomes involved, the trio become engaged in so many converging plots that it will leave your mind spinning. From evolution to religion to murder and hypnosis and ghosts and aliens, the story finally closes with love and music by Bach and you'll just have to read it to see how any of this summary makes sense.

My Comments:
If you have read anything else by Douglas Adams you don't need to read this review because you'll know if you like his work and, since this is typical Adams, you should like it. If, however, you have not read anything by Adams, you should know that he writes about science, science fiction, and religion and he does it all in such away that you come away from his work in stitches and having thought about things a little bit deeper.

As is also typically the case with Adams, he introduces what seem to be completely disparate characters and amazingly ties them all together before he is done. The writing is witty and flowery (and British - though I hate to admit it, I read the word 'boot' probably 20 times before I realized he was talking about the 'trunk' of the car).

Anyway, I'm not sure I am saying much of worth here, so I'll just say that I absolutely love Douglas Adams' work. I think a large part of that comes from him poking fun of religion (the rest being the excellent and hilarious writing). Anyway, if you're kind of into science (especially science fiction) and can laugh at yourself and your religion (if you have one), you should love this book.

19 It's a miracle of rare device
Douglas Adams has left us some rare gems, and one of these is this novel. Connect Coleridge's Kubla Khan whit fractal theory, software industry, Schrodinger cats and escatology...add a very unusual detective,and you have one of the weirdest mysteries ever written.You'll feel intrigued,haunted and bewitched... and the end will be worthy of your patience, provided you're not too fastidious whit scientific plausibility.
You'll love the uncanny athmosphere!

20 Whatever you do, don't read this book!
... unless, of course, you're the kind of person who does precisely the opposite of whatever they are told to... oh! Hang on... that's all of us! Folks, not only is this book brimfull of the usual brilliantly quirky insights and satires of the inimitable mr Adams, but it is also an extremely well thought out, self-consistent detective story, with only a few completely fantastic creatures. (Don't be scared now!) And perhaps the odd (almost) impossible occurence. (Surprised?) The characters are an utter delight, and arguably more sympathetic than the cartoon figures from the hitchikers series. Guaranteed: you'll laugh out loud in places, and at least spend a good deal of the rest of the time with a most idiotically pleasant smile on your face. (Try not to drool in public.) Upon finishing, you will find yourself obsessively compelled to schedule an immediate re-reading, seeing as you will most certainly have missed a number of small delights and teasingly hidden clues. This story Rocks! And Haunts! Unmissable!

I also FORBID you to read Dirk Gently's further adventures in "The long dark teatime of the soul"!

21 Interconnected to all things
A lot of the talk surrounding "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency" centres on its utter incomprehensibility, its snail-like slow start, and the fact that it's not nearly as funny as Adams' "Hitchhiker's" books.

Regarding the first point, I'd agree, but only to a degree. It's not really as complicated as many have made it out to be. All it takes to understand the complex ending is the knowledge of one simple fact. You'll have to find out what that fact is for yourself, for I'll never tell. (Trust me... the information *is* out there if you know where to look) That being said, there are bits and pieces strewn throughout the book that still have me scratching my head (Why did the Electric Monk do what he did? What was the point of that fascinating bit about Schrodinger's Cat? Who was climbing the stairs of that ominous tower, and what the heck was that tower anyway?). All of which make me agree with the general consensus: This is a book that rewards, nay, demands a second reading. And quite possibly a third, fourth, and fifth.

Regarding the second point, it's only slow when compared to a book as deliciously frenetic as "The Restaurant at the End of the Universe". But on a grander scale, "Dirk" moves along at a perfect pace. And frankly, if the reader is to be expected to pick up on the subtle clues Adams drops, a slow pace is exactly what he needs. Just be warned: When everything starts falling into place, the pace picks up and you might be inclined to pick up your reading pace. Don't. There's still important information at the end that you might miss.

Regarding the third point, well, this one I fully agree with. Only I think it was never Adams' intention to write something as laugh out loud funny as the books that made him internationally popular. He was aiming for a think-piece. He wanted to write his own version of the hard-boiled detective novel, a la Chandler or Hammett, albeit filtered through his warped British sense of humour ("The door was the way to... to...The Door was The Way. Good. Capital Letters were always the best way of dealing with things you didn't have a good answer to."). You'll enjoy the laughs brought on by Dirk and Richard's warped conversations, but they won't be as plentiful or as boisterous as the laughs brought on by an Arthur Dent/Ford Prefect conversation. Further to that point, however, is the fact that Richard MacDuff ("Tall and absurdly thin... good-natured... a bit like a preying mantis that doesn't prey... a sort of a pleasant genial mantis that's given up preying and taken up tennis instead") is a perfect conduit through which the reader can understand the story. Whenever Dirk goes on one of his wild rants, one that will have the reader asking himself, "What is he talking about?" Richard will ask Dirk, "What are you talking about?" He's always one step ahead of the reader's questions.

More than any other book I've ever read, "Dirk Gently" is perfectly structured, while still leaving a lot of holes for the reader, through his own research and interpretation, to fill in. You may get to the end and wonder if you've missed something. Chances are you probably have. But that's by Adams' design. This is a book that lives on well past the last page has been turned. I know that I'm looking forward to my next encounter with Dirk, and saddened that Adams won't be around to create any more new universes for his faithful readership to enjoy.

22 Hands down, the best book Ive ever read
I have read this book so many times I've lost count. Lets see now: The character portrayal is brilliant, Adams' humour is the kind that makes you laugh out aloud - in fact the humour achieved in this novel is unparalleled, the plot is delightfully complex and fascinating, the story is well-paced and makes you want to read read read, Dirk is utterly hilarious, and Adams' style of writing and mastery of wordplay has never been more evident.
Sometimes I'll read a passage over and over, not because I dont understand it but because it's so well written that I just about cant believe it. This book truly is a mental stimulation that you wont forget in a hurry, an absolute treat, and if I ever had to choose one book to be stranded on an island with, this would be it. Of course I would stash a few nudie books down the back of my pants as well, the authorities wouldn't notice.

5 STARS IS NOT ENOUGH for this book!!!!

23 It's a shame there will be no more
I love this book. I love all of "Hitchhiker's" too, but this one seems to be different. Although sprinkled with the standard elements of original sci-fi and comedy, "Dirk" has a darker tone to it. Although we see the Earth blown up and the end of the universe described in "Hitchhiker's", the human race is pretty much described as "mostly harmless." In this novel, the human race is more deviant, in some ways somewhat unknowingly, but still a little evil in our ways.

It takes a bit longer to have all of the situations come together, but in typical Adams fashion, everything makes sense in the end, and I felt, like Arthur Dent, as if Yay! I actually understood. That's what I like about Adams' books, he not only stretches the limits of the imagination, but gives the feel of the Aha! at the end.

This book is definately a departure from the trilogy as he incorporates the "detective novel" genre into his twists of humor and sci-fi. A must read for any fan of fiction.

24 I Listened to the Audio Book
The Audio version of this book was definitely a treat for me. Listening to the story read by the author, hearing it the way Douglas Adams intended it to sound was great. I really enjoyed listening to his wonderful accent as he told this story. The story has all of Adams' amazing British humor, but also is liberally dosed with astounding intelligence. It is mostly a mystery story, with a bit of sci-fi thrown in for good measure. Dirk Gently is a detective that believes in the total interconnectedness of all things. It starts out with several seemingly unrelated story lines. These story lines are all intricately interwoven and the book ends with a satisfying... well... interconnectedness. Those of you that did not like the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series because it was "too silly" should give this book a try. It's anything but silly. Adams' logic can be astounding. Also, the bit with the couch being stuck in the stairway is intriguing. Adams challenges the reader to figure out how this couch is mysteriously stuck, defying all rules of physics.

25 I still haven't figured out the ending
I've read the book probably four or five times and the ending remains cryptic. Of course I didn't know the piece of information that another reviewer provided about parts 1 and 2 of Xanadu by Coleridge. Still, why does the revising of "Xanadu" stop the ghost from carrying out his nefarious plan in the dim past? Come to think of it, the whole scene where they suddenly figured out the ghost's intentions was pretty absurd. In any event, if anybody know's the explanation of the novel's ending, please email me. (jrc54@cornell.edu)

26 Wow, it's hard to describe.
Origanally I wasn't sure what to expect from the book. After reading all the other Douglas Adams books I chose to gave this one a try. I was BLOWN AWAY! At my first read it was a bit mind-boggling. At my second I began to comprehend more of it. You cannot just read it once! This book makes you think a lot! I reccomend it to everbody.

27 Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
This book started out very well. Right away I was able to start picturing everything that was going on because of the great description and imagery that the author used. The book did skip around a little bit, but that was the best part. At about the middle of the book, the author started to put in some foreshadowing about how the book might end up. At the end the author brought everything together in a humorous way, and was able to keep a good story line. All though everyone may not like this book, people that like a little humor in their reading will really like it. Douglas Adams is able to put a little humor in the story line without ruining the plot. Adams talk's about a couch that is stuck in a hallway and is not on the ground. The movers were moving it in, and it got stuck. Now the couch is not able to go in or out of the hallway. The character has to get professional that can't even figure out how to get the couch out. Every other chapter the book talks about a character at a dinner, and what he does after the dinner. The opposite chapters the book talks about a business owner that is going on a vacation, and then when he gets murdered, it talks about how he feels. At the end of the book Douglas Adams brings both things together in a very humorous way. Overall I would rate the book with four stars because Douglas Adams was able to keep my attention throughout the book.

28 i read the book version.
the book version of this is strange as hell. half the time i really dont get whats going on because it keeps going from like 2 different stories every chapter. i had to skip like 2 chapters to read what i was reading in one chapter. so i never read those cahpters that i missed. some of it is funny, but i dont think its hilarious. if you want something funny, go play "starship titanic" the game. ive never read the book by douglas adams, but the game is really good. this is not the best book in the world. but its still a pretty good book.

29 Depth to accompany the humor
I listened to the unabridged audiobook version (the printed version is out of print) and found the book to be an absolutely delightful surprise. I have not been a huge fan of the Hitchhiker series; I find much of Douglas Adams' humor to be silly, overly dependent on absurd non-sequiturs. This book started out that way it appeared. But part way through, some of the nonsense began to click, and the process continued until the narrative had painstakingly picked up all the loose ends and weaved all of the non-sequiturs into one coherent and delightful whole! The end result is a facinating and intriguing story that is -- far more than the Hitchhiker books -- intellectually stimulating and profoundly satisfying. While I knew Adams for his impish irreverence, this masterwork clearly reveals his genius.

30 Superlative humour
This book is extremely funny. Simple. It is also extremely unusual. No surprise there, this is an Adams book. It is also one of the best books i've read.. ever. I personally think it is better than the Hitch-Hiker books because we can all relate to the environment. Read it.... now.

31 Plug in your Electric Monk!
This is absolutely my favorite book and to hear it read by Douglas Adams makes it even more enjoyable. His delivery is so off-key and subtle that it makes you fall down laughing at the odd happenings to poor Richard and his friend Svlad...er...I mean Dirk.

32 A good book bu Adams has done much better
This is a really funny book but HHGTG fans may take awhile to get used to it. The slow begining and the long boring segments plus the out of place part kind of ruins it

33 Better than HHTTG
I finally found a used hardcover edition in pure mint condition at a used bookstore, nowhere else having it. And then I finally read it.

Very slow at first, I almost gave up on reading it, but it builds slowly. Slowly. Dirk doesn't even appear until 5/8ths into the book, but that's okay. All that matters is that this book is simply incredible. I tend to catch things very quickly (like movies that say you should see it twice to get it, I get it the first time), so I got the entire book and story immediately and loved it.

Not to mention it's extremely witty and well informed, where Douglas Adams got all the music ideas and fractal stuff from is of no clue to me, but it amazed me also. Just get this book for the fact that Douglas Adams' intelligence will frighten you after you read HHGTTG.

Douglas Adams' has written something I'd never expect from the writer of the HHGTTG series. A very deep thinking, yet rather humorous, book. In his very remarkable comedic style.

Time to read the sequel!

34 Good ol' Dougy
He has done it again!! douglas always makes me laugh. he is pure genius

35 Brilliant to say the least
This book is absurd, hilarious and serious. The only book I laugh about, loud, quite some years after reading it. Reading it was propably the smartest thing I did during 90-95. Well...second smartest.

36 An impressive start for the series!
It'll take you a while to get your head around this book so you probably should read it more than once. Even after I've read the book several times, I have a hard time explaining the ending, but nonetheless this is a worthwhile read. An evolution for DNA beyond the antics and absurdity of HHGTTG to a more complex sophisticated humour. I eagerly await the third book in the series; Unfortunately, last I heard it had been "shelved" by the author. Ah well...

37 A devastatingly imaginative detective story. After page 146.
This book does not compare to the Hitchhiker's Guide, nor is it, I suspect, meant to. The hero is an ex-con who got sent to the slammer for helping people con themselves and then delivering on the false promises he didn't actually make. (If you want that to make sense to you, read the book.) The story then runs on and on and on till you're only reading for hope's sake. Suddenly the detective tale jumps out of stereotype and you're left gasping at the author's imagination. Unless you've got time to kill, try an abridged version.

38 Don't be fooled by the foolish...
Anyone who has commented in their review that the book is boring or incomprehensible does not understand one thing. This book cannot be read one time. I consider myself to be a fairly intelligent person, and after my first reading (granted, at 14 years old) I was amused. Bewildered, but amused. Only after the first half of the book though. The first few scenes at the college being, in truth, pointless and boring unless you have read the whole book at least once already. The second time through, more stuff made sense, and a lot of comedy was therefore made more clear. And so on. I've read the book six times, at least, and comprehend new levels every time. And I know I don't get it all yet. It is, beyond doubt, one of the most intricately and complexly structured novels of all time. One almost begins to feel like a time traveler after reading it a few times...one must understand how things end before one can even begin to comprehend how they begin...if that makes sense. To anyone who was bored, and gave up...persevere, it gets good. Then read it again. And again. And it gets better, and better, until, upon the fourth reading, you realize that it is an incredibly brilliant book!!

Long story short, it is not a book for the faint of heart...only those with patience and intelligence.

39 This is my favourite book.
There is nothing more brilliant than this piece of literature. Read it. And then read it again. It is absolutely amazing!

40 Read it at least twice!
This book, and indeed this series, is my personal favorite. I've read both books several times, and still find something new each time. The satire on the human condition, industry, beauracracy, and everything in general are superb. What really grabs you and doesn't let go is Adams' vivid "scene painting". You can almost smell the mist at St. Cedd's campus, feel the soft earth beneath your feet in the rain forest, and hear the horrendous cacophony in G-minor. I'm still a little confused by the ending, but this doesn't detract from the rest of the story. I think my favorite character has to be Reg. Adams has a wonderful ability to make you almost feel as though you know the characters personally, and this book is no exception. If you like books that just read a story at you, this is NOT the book for you. This one puts you behind the interrogation desk, points the light in your face, and demands that you figure it out for yourself. I love it!

41 Absolute genious!!!
This book completely blows me away! It was so amazing! It was hysterically funny yet very intelligent.

42 You gotta love Douglas Adams!
After reading all six books of The Trilogy, I was starving for more Douglas Adams material. "Dirk Gently's ..." certainly is was I was looking for. But after some consideration, I think it's really unfair to compare The Hichthiker's Guide to this book. Adams is at his best here: the book is funny, complicated, catching, provocating, appealing... in a word: Fantastic.

43 Entertaining, Light. Makes a great book to read at bedtime.
I have read DA's Hitch Hikers before. I feel that generally his stories are mostly light entertaining reading. But scattered in these texts are the occational jewel- something really original and helarious. I read mostly to pick them out. This book had a couple of these Jewels in it which makes the book worthwhile reading e.g : Speculation on underwhat circumstances the Book of Revelations were written, thus explaining its ( the Book of Revelation's ) character.

44 ADAMS FINEST!
Don't be discouraged by the lukewarm to poor reviews you may read on this page. The Dirk Gently books are far superior to the Hitchhiker's series (we didn't really need five!). These plots are complex but the storytelling, as usual, is superb and hilarious. These are laugh out loud books to the core. I have no idea what Adams has up his sleeve next, but I'm praying for another Dirk Gently book.

45 Another twisted, enjoyable one from Douglas Adams
Pretty different from the Hitchhiker's mould, this book is a more involved & twisted tale. Hilarious all the way through.

46 Hysterical!
I'm puzzled by how many people seem to have had difficulty with this book. True, it's confusing as can be -- but any good mystery novel has you guessing at every step of the way. I rarely even smile while reading a book, no matter how funny. But this one had me laughing out loud from the minute the poor Electric Monk is believing the world is pink. No, this isn't a book for people who like simple plots and kindergarten writing. But for those who can handle wit, satire, and complex story-telling -- this one's a gem!

Honestly, probably one of the funniest books I've read in my whole life (with the exception of "Good Omens," I should add...)!

47 Just average.
After taking a chance to finally read a "Douglas Adams" book, was I impressed? I'm not sure. Parts of this novel were comical and very original, but I'm still confused and, therefore, disappointed by the ending. Also, too much credit is given to his "philisophical" undertones. Do people really read his writings for that reason?

A fun book to read, but not worth all the hipe.

48 Way Forward Humor
Until I read Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, I did not think a more superintelligent blend of wit and science friction existed than could be found in Adam's Hitchhikers "Trilogy" -- but from one of the first several chapters of Dirk Gently my face muscles actually ached from laughing out loud. I even quoted that ENTIRE chapter to my university's academic dean in a long tirade. Although sometimes the humor is quite catty and there is a good bit of horsing around, I found Dirk Gently the most thoroughly masterful book of its type. My only criticism is that the book is never returned when I loan it to friends, so I've had to buy about eight copies at last count.

49 Adams must have read "Dancing Wu Li Masters"
This is by far Douglas Adams best book. Much better than HHGTTG. I've just read The Dancing Wu Li Masters by Gary Zukov. As I am rereading Dirk Gently, it is clear to me that Adams had his mind opened by Zukov to the amazing changes in leading edge physics that happened at the beginning of this century. He masterfully sculpts a story that brings together Quantum Physics, Gothic-Ghost-Storyism, and Modern Computer Technology, while intertwining, the poetry and eccentricity of Coleridge. Buy it and read it to your children, (when they are older).

50 This book should get more attention.
When you think Douglas Adams, you immediately think of the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. Admittedly, this series is quite excellent (well, the first three books of it are, anyway), but in all the excitement over HHGTTG, this book and its sequel often get ignored. This is a real shame because this book is almost as good if not just as good as HHGTTG. Just don't expect this book to be another sequel to HHGTTG and go in with an open mind. One caveat: Adams has started to be more linguistically vulgar in his more recent works, and I think there is at least one gratuitous use of the "F" word in this novel. It's a shame, because it detracts rather than adds to this book's enjoyment (at least for me).

51 Complicated
This is a superb, but highly complicated book. Because most of the story went over my head the first time I read it, I didn't even finish it. However, I went back and tried again and much to my surprise it was great. I recomend it to anyone who is an intelligent reader and is willing to reread things. In my opinion, this is Douglas Adams's finest work.

52 But please for god's sakes don't take my word for it
Boring. Boring. Boring. Slow. Dull. (I'm running out of synonyms here) I think you get the point. I couldn't even read the whole thing. It's the second book ever (and I read constantly) that I've thrown down in discust.

53 One Of His Best
When reading this book, don't try to figure out what is going on. You can't -- at least, not until the end. After all, this IS a mystery, a detective story. But, as is typical with Adams, this is unlike any other detective story you have ever read. It is extremely funny, baffling, and brilliant all at once. And in the end, it all makes perfect sense, in its own wonderfully unique way. On a more serious note, I have always thought that beneath the wacky humor of Adams' books, there are always very interesting concepts and certain truths that go deeper than the crazy stories on the surface. For instance, Dirk Gently's belief in the "interconnectedness of all things" is actually a true belief of many religious groups, such as the American Indians. But even if you don't buy into the philosophy, you certainly can enjoy this great book. Just stick with it until the end. For me, this was easy, since I have read all of Adams' books and am used to his sometim! es seemingly-disjointed style. I say "seemingly" disjointed because, again, it will eventually all come together. And it does so brilliantly.

54 One Of His Best
When reading this book, don't try to figure out what is going on. You can't -- at least, not until the end. After all, this IS a mystery, a detective story. But, as is typical with Adams, this is unlike any other detective story you have ever read. It is extremely funny, baffling, and brilliant all at once. And in the end, it all makes perfect sense, in its own wonderfully unique way. On a more serious note, I have always thought that beneath the wacky humor of Adams' books, there are always very interesting concepts and certain truths that go deeper than the crazy stories on the surface. For instance, Dirk Gently's belief in the "interconnectedness of all things" is actually a true belief of many religious groups, such as the American Indians. But even if you don't buy into the philosophy, you certainly can enjoy this great book. Just stick with it until the end. For me, this was easy, since I have read all of Adams' books and am used to his sometim! es seemingly-disjointed style. I say "seemingly" disjointed because, again, it will eventually all come together. And it does so brilliantly.

55 If you like Hitchhiker's you'll like this!
This is a wonderfully funny book. Any Hitchhiker's fan will love this book. Seriously hillarious and silly.

56 You have to really pay attention
Although I'm a ridiculously big fan of Douglas Adams, I was initially put off by the book. But I gave it another shot and was surprised by how much more sense it made and how much more fun it was. Now every time I read this book I pick up something new. Also, understanding this novel is a great deal easier if you're familiar with Cambridge and the work of Coleridge.

Perhaps because his writing style isn't all that complicated, I wasn't ready for the complexities involved in the story so I didn't really pay as much attention to the fine details as I should have. In the end though, it is the story's seemingly random events and how they gradualy fit together that makes this his finest work.

57 Complex and Rewarding
Sadly, I did not finish this book the first time I started reading it. It seemed dull and disjointed and eventually put me off.

A few years later, I came back for a second try, and found it to be the best of Adams' books--a true masterpiece. Since the book had not changed in the mean time, I can only assume that I had changed, and the problem the first time was MYSELF.

This book is complex, with several threads that may not seem to be connected. The brilliance, though, is that they are skillfully woven and interconnected. As a reader, you are required to bring more to the table for this book to work. For instance, it is absolutely necessary to understand a bit about Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem, "Kubla Khan." The author assumes that the reader understands that it is an unfinished poem taken from a dream. Only Part 1 exists because Coleridge was interrupted by someone who came to the door. By the time the poet returned to work, he had forgotten the rest of the dream; thus he was unable to complete the poem.

Without this understanding, the reader will completely miss the point when PART 2 is read aloud in a university setting at the beginning of the book. This is supposed to be a slap in the face, but the reader who doesn't know the history of the poem will not realize that something is wrong with the historical timeline. This type of thing can lead many people to think that plot points are not resolved or don't make sense.

The other point that needs to be made is that the style is different from the books in the Hitchhiker series. It is a novel set in the (almost) real world. At least it's based on the real world, anyway. While it is still filled with outrageously funny characters, there are more constraints in place than you will find in the no-rules universe of Vogons and Babblefish. The humor is more subtle. You may even find that--like me--the style grows on you. After finishing the book, I found that the humor in the others seemed a little overdone in comparis! on.

I still like all of the author's fiction books, but this is the crowning jewel.

58 A very rewarding book if you have patience.
The first time I read this book, most of it didn't make sense - I didn't understand what they do at the end, or how everything was connected. However, that's the catch of the book; like Dirk's detective agency, Adams uses a holistic approach to storytelling. Everything in this book is connected, and makes sense once you think about it. However, I did not fully appreciate this book until the second or third reading. It is now my personal belief that it is the best book Adams has ever written. Give it a chance.

59 Could be better...
I think that this book is not nearly as good as the Hitchhiker's trilogy. It just doesn't manage to be cohesive enough and several plot elements seemed to make absolutely no sense. It does have some very good scenes, such as the monk and the ghost. However, most of the book was rather dull.

60 any more enjoyable and it would be illegal
Without doubt the best book Douglas Adams has ever written. Many works of literature have plot devices which work on more than one level, but in this book the structure of the levels is like a fractal. weaving in and out of the very fabric of time, a deliciously high-minded and insightful description of happenings in 5 dimensions. Superficially as chaotic as an acid trip, whilst if read with some degree of background knowledge and insight into the workings of energy and time, the intellectual gymnastics and leaps of perception, not to mention the humour, will provoke the most explosive mental orgasms one could ever experience, and is one of the few books that can be read again and again and again without tireing of it... Not a book for those who like things simple, but for people who love mental stimulation. the reader needs to be a little insightful and intelligent to enjoy it, and preferably to have at some stage in their life ingested a few micrograms of a certain mindbending drug :) For Douglas Adams Fans, this is a must read. Those who are not fans will become fans, and those that do not are either dead or stupid. In the case of the latter, they will be heartened to know that Amazon.com also sells kids books :) Enoy this book... if you dare!

61 Obviously an Adams book
A short whimsical book in the true Adams style. Seemingly totally disconnected events are somehow all wrapped together in the end. Just when you think it's over, another twist comes up. See if you can figure it out.

62 Not his best, but worth a read
I am a great fan of Douglas Addams and his work, but I was sadly disappointed by this example.

It was strange, confusing and overall pointless. If you are a fan of Addams, I would reccomend this book, but only if you're a fan. Otherwise, it would be pointless to read it.

63 Confusing, just partly funny, other Adams-books are better
This book, after the first reading, remains cryptic to me. Maybe it is just me, or that I read it too leisurely, but I just didn't get it. The subplots go haywire, especially near the end, and questions remain unanswered.
For comparison, "The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul" is full of puzzle pieces and riddles, too, but in the end they all fit together nicely, everything suddenly falls into place and is clear. Well, in Holistic Detective Agency it all just remains entirely cryptic.
That is not to say that it isn't, in some details, funny and produces a good laugh or two. In general terms of humor, however, it still falls far short of the first "Hitchhiker" books, and has a hard time to even compare to the later Hitchhikers or the Dark Tea Time.
No, seriously, is there a clue book for it out there somewhere?, haha. Anybody who knows all answers to this book please email me.
Maybe I should read it again, analytical, with a notepad beside me, and maybe THEN one is able to figure it out. Maybe. Maybe not. Anyways, I am not in the mood for deciphering trivial literature. For a book to read several times over in order to discover the connectedness of the events, I would prefer Catch-22, e.g.
One thing is sure, though: If you read it once and for the pure purpose of entertainment, which I would consider the category for such a book, you won't grasp it. That's where it clearly differs from Adams' other, in my opinion better books.
If you do read it, it very well might entertain you. However, if you don't, you won't miss a lot.

64 Once is not enough...
This book is a spectacularly successful spoof on, well, just about everything. Although it starts out as a bizarre collection of seemingly unrelated events, they all tie together in the end with nary a loose end in sight. I strongly recommend reading this book several times, because there is more to be discovered each time through. Entire threads of the plot and movements of the strange characters occur through oblique references and hints, but if you take the time to put them together, you discover a flawlessly constructed tale that succeeds on many levels.

Throw in a hefty dose of Douglas Adams' irresistable humor, and this sci-fi/mystery/ghost story/love story/comedy is well worth reading (and reading again).

65 Keep at it!
Douglas Adams' novel is a strongly written piece of hilarity. One word of advice, though, which I wish I'd known whilst trying to make sense of the best part of the book: don't worry - keep at it even if you think you're hopelessly clueless. That's the point. Only a true Gently would be able to decipher the myriad ravelled strands the book weaves. And then where would the fun be?

66 Dr Who, The Ancient Mariner and Dirk Gently Interconnect
Douglas Adams has read The Ancient Mariner and Coleridge's theory of organic creation. (That's a hook for you literature majors out there). And indeed, the ghost of an alien who accidently started the creation of Mankind and wants to destroy it, and a time traveler -- who is suspiciously like Tom Baker's Dr Who - - play key roles in this mystery that Dirk must solve. Of course, Dirk searches for clues by following cars that look like the driver knows where he/she is going.

You Dr Who fans will recognize much of the plot in "The City of Death." If you check the credits of that Dr Who, you will notice Douglas Adams in the credits.

67 Weird, yet at the same time oddly amusing.
This book is in a word, weird. Yet in another word, it
is funny. This book is classic Adams and one of his best.
If you are a fan of his hilarious satire you'll
love this book. And if you're not, you'll still
enjoy it.

68 Lost Cats and Humor a specialty
Adams has done it again. This book about a simple, well, simple isn't even close. This outrageous detective could solve all the problems of the universe with a gum wraper if he wanted to. Holistic is right, evrything will come together in the end. A smashing book and a must read.

69 A new dimension in literature
Again Douglas Adams proved his unusual talent for revolutionary literature. The holistic approach is unbelievable genious and the story is a thrill. Another brilliant and fascinating book.

70 A smorgasbord of fun, mystery, and refridgerators.
Douglas Adams has done it again except this time he does it on his own planet. This time we join Dirk and Richard, the main characters, as they inadvertently save the world, a cat and presumably themselves. You won't expect the same thing if you've read all of his Hitchhiker's Guide books, but it is on the same wavelength and level as the previous books. This is a GREAT book. To put it simply, and you mustn't stop at the first book. Read the second one, the Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul. But since this is only a review for Holistic, then I'll stick to the subject. The last couple of dozen pages gets a little wayward when it comes to sticking to plot, but what would you expect from the man who created a paranoid android?

71 Wonderfully zany, I couldn't stop laughing.
Richard leads a quiet life until the day his employer is unexpectedly killed (so few victims expect their death) while talking to an answering machine. Is it coincidence that the very same day, he runs into a slightly odd professor performing unbelivable conjuring tricks and suddenly notices that he forgot to pick up his friend for dinner?
But he is lucky to know Dirk Gently, to date best known for saving poor cats from having Schrodinger's experiment performed on them. Together, they unravel a plot as old as time, eat a lot of pizza, and prove the interconnectedness of all things while saving the world at no extra charge.

This is Douglas Adams at his best. Describing the book as a spoof on the detective profession and the computer industry would be an understatement. The story takes unbelievable and unexpected twists, and is so funnily written that you have to laugh out loud.

At the same time, it is very intelligently written. The first reading left me quite confused. I have read the book about six times so far, finding more details and cross-references at each reading, and then each of the presumably unrelated subplots falls in place, and finally you start believing in the interconnectedness of all things yourself.

This book is not just material for fans, it's for everyone with a sense of humour who does not insist on a straight plot line.

72 What's so strange about a sofa in the middle of the stairs?
Imagine, if you will, a private investigator... excuse me, a HOLISTIC DETECTIVE, in an adventure that will teach you more about life, the universe and everything (including the fabulous intrincacies of time-travel, the true, revealing nature of magic, the revelation of the long-lost dodo bird's dissappearance, and of course, the pale horse... uh, I forgot the sofa in the stairs) than you could've possibly imagined... or maybe you know already in a parallel existance. Douglas Adams' work is astonishingly silly, yet it is that silliness that makes it poetry... pure poetry. It is a novel that you could read (and learn) as much as five times (in a week) and still wonder "How the heck did he think of that?", and of course, finding answers to questions you never thought existed. And to think there is a sequel...

73 The fundamental interconnectedness of all things.
In this book, we meet Svlad Cjelli (also known as Dirk Gently), who operates his holistic detective agency on the premise that the world continues to turn (and we upon it) because of the fundamental interconnectedness of all things. I very much enjoyed the part about the sofa in the stairwell (a sort of a Gordian knot thing), and meeting Sam Coleridge, but wait till you get to the bit about the horse in the upstairs loo! If you think you're never going to read a silly book like this, just wait. This book WILL come up again in your life, maybe tomorrow, maybe ten years from tomorrow - just know this, you can never escape the fundamental interconnectedness of all things. To attempt it is madness!