Neil Gaiman
1 A great tribute to a great man
This is part a biography of Douglas Adams, and part a description of how the different versions of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy came to be. Douglas Adams was a very interesting and intelligent man whose life was cut tragically short. The story of how his most famous work was created is almost as funny and capticating as the Hitchiker's Guide itself. We get some examples of his early work, which can be incredibly funny ("How many kamikaze missions have you flown?" "Fourteen Sir!" "Shouldn't it be just one?"). He was involved with the Monty Python group, and wrote some material for them.
I think the book should be essential not only for Hitchhiker's buffs but also for wannabes in any creative profession.
2 Funny and Informative
Neil Gaiman does an excellent job of capturing the style and mood of Douglas Adams, and reveals the man behind the books revered by many. This book is enjoyable, and interesting, and a definite read for anyone who loves the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The only sad part is that it's a bit short - like Adams' life. So that's a bit depressing. Otherwise, a good read!
3 Sort of a biography of Douglas Adams
Don't Panic is sort of a biography of Douglas Adams. But it concentrates almost exclusively on The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and the events and circumstances in Adams's life that contributed to the creation and development of the Hitchhiker-phenomenon. It was originally published back in 1988, then revised in 1993, and now revised again, after the untimely death of Adams.
Don't Panic is written in the same style as the Hitchhiker novels, and is at times quite amusing. There are no less than 31 short chapters (the first one is chapter 0) in the book, dealing with various distinct subjects. This is followed by five appendixes. There are a lot of direct quotations from various people surrounding Adams, and from Adams himself, but there is never any information given about when or where these people said these things, which is a major drawback.
There is a lot of trivia here, but a lack of depth, and the book does seem to repeat certain myths (for example, the well-known one that Adams first got the idea for Hitchhiker while lying drunk in a field in Innsbruck). Still, if you're a fan of Adams, this is essential reading.
4 A must read for Gaiman and Adams fans
Years ago, while browsing in a book shop, desperate for something to read during lunch, I stumbled across this little book. I was a big fan of Adams but had never heard of Gaiman but decided to pick it up and give it a chance. It was well worth it as it was a great read.
Some time later, I spotted a new hardback on the shelves at the same book shop. I knew the name Pratchett and had to think for a while as where I knew the name Gaiman from and then recalled that he had written that little book called Don't Panic, so I picked it up. Haven't looked back since.
