Who or what is aurthur dent [Archive]

Selena

02-02-2004, 12:28 PM

Not with Farscape heros ... the villians maybe.

Arthur Dent. The main character in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (deceased)

Arthur is an Englishman who is protecting his house from being bulldozed in the name of progress. He does not believe in extraterrestrial life, but has a friend called Ford Prefect who happens to be a correspondent and an information gatherer for the HHGTG book which has one entry for the planet Earth ... mostly harmless.
Arthur knows a girl called Trish (aka Trillian) who is also friends with Zaphod Beeblebrox who is currently sporting 2 heads.
Arthur knows nothing of these strange beings ... he only knows that Ford is his friend and is unaware that the Earth is about to be destroyed by the Vogons who have to blow it up to erect a hyperspace bypass.

..............and so it begins.

JrMissToughChick

02-02-2004, 12:30 PM

It's a term of indearment :)

I'm kidding I never do that

JrMissToughChick

02-02-2004, 12:39 PM

what Melon 'Frelling' Grayza... well it's only fitting

scrape_medic

02-02-2004, 01:42 PM

I'm sorry, your request for Arther Dent can only be answered if you've submitted form ADRI -1432, sent in, sent back, sent in, lost, found then buried for three months in soft peat and recycled as firelighters.

Selena

02-02-2004, 01:59 PM

Originally posted by scrape_medic
I'm sorry, your request for Arther Dent can only be answered if you've submitted form ADRI -1432, sent in, sent back, sent in, lost, found then buried for three months in soft peat and recycled as firelighters.

Sorry about that scrape_medic ... I completely forgot about the form ... I believe it must be completed in triplicate.

scrape_medic

02-02-2004, 02:03 PM

your absolutely right there Selena :lol

Selena

02-02-2004, 02:06 PM

I did so enjoy that series of books and was so shocked when poor Douglas went to meet his Maker at such a young age.
I loved Long Dark Teatime of the Soul too.

scrape_medic

02-02-2004, 02:09 PM

I haven't read that one yet, I've only read the first three, but I am attempting to find the time, [in the not too distant future] to rectify the situation.
And yeah, Mr. Adam's death was a shock, just as he was writing the screenplay for the new release, reminds me of Philip K. Dick's passing just prior to the release of Blade Runner.

Jat

02-02-2004, 02:27 PM

NOOoooo spoiled even before reading the book, I dunno if i want to read it now knowing someone is doomed already:mad:

scrape_medic

02-02-2004, 02:48 PM

It's okay Jat :lol Douglas Adam's wrote the book, he is not a character in it.

Read the book, and enjoy!

Jat

02-02-2004, 02:55 PM

lol oops, i thought i read about a character, im half asleep here!

how many books has he made? all about the hyperspace transit thing? sounds pretty cool.

scrape_medic

02-02-2004, 03:00 PM

Correct me if I am wrong but I believe there are five books in the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series.
BBC have a section devoted to the guide (http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/hitchhikers/)
They are an amasing and bizarrely explain some of the more puzzling aspects of life, that no one else has dared to even begin to look in to.

Selena

02-02-2004, 03:08 PM

That is correct ... The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a trilogy in 5 parts.
Hey it's Douglas Adams!:dunno:

jayelsee

02-02-2004, 03:16 PM

NPR's "Morning Edition" program had an interesting little bio about Adams on this morning. I think you can download & listen to it if interested (npr.org) I think.

scrape_medic

02-02-2004, 03:25 PM

Originally posted by Selena
Hey it's Douglas Adams!:dunno:
Sorry for that little typo, I just don't know where my towel's at. :lol

Edited to correct towels, or sould it be towel is ....oh what the frell

JrMissToughChick

02-02-2004, 03:33 PM

Selena

02-02-2004, 03:40 PM

Originally posted by scrape_medic
Sorry for that little typo, I just don't know where my towel's at. :lol

Edited to correct towels, or sould it be towel is ....oh what the frell

What typo? Did I miss something?
I was commenting on Douglas Adams' trilogy in 5 parts.

And I believe it is towel. Becasue one only needs one's towel and the HHGTTG to be a truly seasoned galactic traveler.

Silk

02-02-2004, 04:51 PM

Originally posted by JrMissToughChick
what Melon 'Frelling' Grayza... well it's only fitting
:rollin: Melon! :rollin:
I'm gonna have to start doing that (putting "frelling" in people's names).
Adams's 5 part trilogy was originally in three parts. But he extended it. Wanna read a really long trilogy? Check out Piers Anthony's Xanth books. Started as a trilogy. Now there are 27, but he still considers it the "Xanth trilogy." His logic: 3^3=27. More fun info: the 27th book in the Xanth trio is "Cube Route." If you like puns, read the Xanth books. If you like fantasy in general, read his other books.
Oh, and if you breathe, and wanna stay that way, read Douglas Adams.

JrMissToughChick

02-02-2004, 04:53 PM

I'm gonna have to start doing that (putting "frelling" in people's names). glad I could help :)

PS: my mom was doing it with 'Freaking' and I said "what about when John said Arther 'frelling' Dent", she said 'who's Arther Dent?'

JrMissToughChick

02-02-2004, 04:59 PM

Melon!Wait there are two l's in it right?

Mellon 'frelling' Grayza

that's better

Jehuty

02-02-2004, 05:46 PM

Originally posted by JrMissToughChick
Wait there are two l's in it right?

Mellon 'frelling' Grayza

that's better

Actually it's Mele-On Grayza ;)

Anyway, HHGTTG rocks. The Beeb have finially decided to make more of the radio series too (which many people don't know is where the story originated from) so yay for that.

Oh, and if you want another trilogy in 5 parts, then Robert Rankin's Brentofrd "Trilogy" is just as good and funny (only in a different way. No towels, but they have the same oppinion on alcohol ;))

-TK

JrMissToughChick

02-02-2004, 06:19 PM

Mele-On Grayza I knew that I think? So On is her middle name?

RomCen

02-02-2004, 07:29 PM

Pan-Galactic Gargleblasters! Anybody want one?

Selena

02-02-2004, 07:55 PM

Yes please, because I'm about to retire for the evening ... may I have mine with a large twist of lime and not lemon? :D

Enforcer

02-02-2004, 08:19 PM

It's best if you buy the Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. That way you get the full experience. Just remember to bring a towel! The number 42 comes in handy also!

scrape_medic

02-02-2004, 08:23 PM

Originally posted by Jehuty
Actually it's Mele-On Grayza ;)

Anyway, HHGTTG rocks. The Beeb have finially decided to make more of the radio series too (which many people don't know is where the story originated from) so yay for that.

Oh, and if you want another trilogy in 5 parts, then Robert Rankin's Brentofrd "Trilogy" is just as good and funny (only in a different way. No towels, but they have the same oppinion on alcohol ;))

-TK
Oh man Brentford is round the corner from my old school. I laughed so much when reading these, recognising the places in it. It was quite accurate about the area when it was written and the type of people who live there, but Breantford has changed loads since then and you would hardly recognise the place now :(

Sococlear

02-02-2004, 09:49 PM

thank you, I have more questions about things... But its been an extremely long day and I can't remember any right now.

This does clear some things up though...

Thanks again

Spedoinkel

02-03-2004, 12:16 AM

well to quote introduction to The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide:

"The history of the HHGTTG is now so complicated that everytime I tell it I contradict myself, and whenever I do get it right I'm misquoted. So the publication of this omnibus edition seemed like a good opportunity to set the record straight-or at least firmly crooked. Anything that is put down wrong here is, as fas as I'm concerned, wrong for good.

He goes on to explain how he has had massive headaches over how the first book contradicts the radio series, the secound book contradicts the first , and so up to the fifth. And at the end is are step by step instructions on "How to Leave the Planet".
I was first introduced to the guid on a rode tip to texas. we picked up the radio series and listened to it's 6 hours of quality broadcast.
The (very poor) movie infact uses all the same actors from the radio series, save for the actress who does Trillian. I remeber when Adams died it was rumored he was working on a "good" remake of the movie and some principal photography was already being done. When I transfered to TSU, I whent to the book store one day and found, The Illistrated Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It was filled with full color prints of actors in costume on sets. I thought this was quite a lot of trouble to go into for a book, so it must bee stills from the unfinished movie. I haven't researched it, but I believe this to be true.

douglas adams, along with Terry Pratchett helped me learn to see beyond what I have been taught and find out things for myself.

Spedoinkel

02-03-2004, 12:32 AM

Okay one more thing. I need to shrae with you my favorite quote. Unfortunalty I couldn't find it in the book, so I'll transcrbe it from memory.

"I refuse to prove I exist," says God, "because proof denounces faith, and without faith I am nothing."
"Ah," says Man, "but the Babel fish is a dead give away you exist and therefore you don't. QED."
"Oh," says God, "I didn't think of it that way." And instantly disappears in a puff of logic.
"Well, that was easy." says man. He then goes on to prove that black is wite, and gets runover at the next zebra crossing.

BritAngie

02-03-2004, 12:37 AM

Douglas also wrote in a different series- Dirk Gently's Holistic detective agency and the long dark teatime of the soul (or as the lady in WHSmiths put it " the one by douglas Adams with the long title that noone can ever remember! " <g>) He's also written a few other things but I can't recommend his writings enough.. :D

Selena

02-03-2004, 05:55 AM

Dirk Gently's Holistic Agency is not quite as funny as Long Dark Teatime of the Soul (the one with the long title that 'no one' can remember) ... Dirk was the first book in that series and Teatime was the follow up ... it is side splittingly funny and once you read it you will never look at a sofa or walk past street lights again without thinking of that book.
Adams just had such a delightful way with descriptive phrases that it made one laugh and also think yep, that's exactly right!

ipimen

02-03-2004, 07:19 AM

Here are some news about a movie that's in the works:

09:00am ET, 29-January-04

Martin Freeman (The Office), Zooey Deschanel and Mos Def top the cast of Spyglass Entertainment/Walt Disney Pictures' feature version of Douglas Adams' beloved SF satire The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Variety reported. Garth Jennings and Nick Goldsmith (aka Hammer & Tongs) will direct the movie, which starts shooting April 19 in London, the trade paper reported.

Adams, who adapted his own book prior to his death in 2001, will have a posthumous producing credit, the trade paper reported.

The story centers on Arthur Dent (Freeman), who is whisked off the planet by Ford Prefect (Def), an undercover alien researching The Hitchhiker's Guide just before Earth is destroyed to create a new hyperspace freeway. Deschanel will play Trillian, girlfriend of Zaphod Beeblebrox, a two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and current president of the galaxy. That role has still to be cast, the trade paper reported.

Source http://scifi.com/scifiwire/art-film.html?2004-01/29/11.00.film

Silk

02-03-2004, 08:51 PM

Best to have a towel soaked with proteins.
Anyoe ever read the original radio transcripts (I did, from the library), or heard the original radio show (I didn't)?
There's a translator online called babel fish, and it's surprising how few people know the origins of the name. I grew up in a community where everyone had read HHGTG, so I assumed everyone knew about the babel fish.

Spedoinkel

02-03-2004, 09:44 PM

I use Babel fish in my writings.

It makes me seem more intelagent,

BillFrugge

02-04-2004, 04:34 PM

Some tidbits for you:

The first Dirk Gently book has numerous similarities to the Doctor Who serial 'Shada,' also written by Douglas Adams.

The problem with the casting of Zaphod Beeblebrox is that it is very difficult to find another actor with two heads and three arms.

The original Hitchhiker's Guide was the radio drama.

Due to licensing issues (and the BBC's unwillingness to produce a 6-record set) the show was re-written and recorded on a 3-record set. Later, the original radio drama was released on cassette and CD. (Only a brief snippet from Pink Floyd was removed...) The original record set was never released on CD.

The Hitchhiker's Guide (http://www.h2g2.com/)

Douglas Adam's website (http://www.douglasadams.com/) -- The forum has been preserved! Read what Douglas had to say!

------------------------

"So long, Doug, and thanks for all the fish."

JadedLegend3

02-04-2004, 04:45 PM

Thanks for asking this because I didn't know either.

Jacqui :love:

Sococlear

02-04-2004, 08:48 PM

no problem

Frellster

02-04-2004, 09:20 PM

Ya know, I won the worlds ugliest towel in a Vogon poetry contest. 3rd place (my poem was bad, just not gross enough for 1st-though I did get the entire audience to place swedish fish in their ears.) Its a happy/sad memory, becuase my friend was in the audience and commited suicide shortly after. No, the bad poems did not drive him too it. We never knew why. I'm so very angry with him. He said he'd always be there for me. If we meet in the afterlife, I'll kick his frelling ass. Anyway, the memory of the poetry contest was one of the happiest in my life. Surrounded by friends at Trillians' restaurant. Being presented with an ugly towel as a trophy, drinking porter and eating fish 'n chips. Moments like that are so frelling rare. The only things we can keep are memories, our dreams (if we nurture them), and our ability to love. There are no easy answers. (well maybe 42)

scrape_medic

02-04-2004, 09:28 PM

But what was the question?

Spedoinkel

02-04-2004, 09:44 PM

Well Frellster, I'm umm...happy for you...I think.

cantrip

02-04-2004, 09:45 PM

Gratz to Frellster for reply number 42! :)
_____________________________________

"You're not smart enough to discover it on your own. You're not smart enough to handle it wisely. You'll have to find it yourself. The unconscious knowledge we've given you will guide you - nothing more. That's all that we can do for you...but that should be enough. You are already on the right path" --Jack Crichton [Nerve]

Frellster

02-04-2004, 09:48 PM

Yeah, Spedoinkel, I may have lost a friend, but I gained a really ugly towel - and that really ugly towel wil be with me for many years to come. (irony, sarchasm)

So the question is...

I actually forgot.

Sococlear

02-09-2004, 09:58 PM

hello, I realize that this has turned into an arthur dent tread, but I remember the other farscape question I had. Hopefully someone can give me an answer.

What does die me dictomy mean?

does it mean the death of my other mind, or something like that?

Thanks

Sococlear

02-11-2004, 08:40 PM

hello..... Somebody!!!

Spedoinkel

02-11-2004, 09:58 PM

Sorry I don't know....Hey new interface!

JrMissToughChick

02-11-2004, 11:17 PM

What does die me dictomy mean?
I don't know? Frell I can't even figure out how to pronounce it.

jayelsee

02-12-2004, 04:03 PM

"Die Me, Dichotomy"...

dichotomy: 1) division into two parts, kinds, etc. 2) classification by division into two mutually exclusive and exhasutive groups

Poetically descriptive of John's state of mind as he is forced to "share" his mind with Harvey, his torment and guilt dealing with the results of his actions. And also maybe a portent of what is to come in "Eat Me"?

Clarsax

02-12-2004, 04:05 PM

It's actually Die Me Dichotomy. I found this much in the dictionary:

Dichotomy - 1. division into two parts, kinds, etc.; subdivision into halves or pairs. 2. classification by division into two mutualy exclusive and exhaustive groups. 3. a mode of branching by constant bifurication, as in some stems, veins of leaves, etc; 4. the phase of the moon or of an inferior planet when half its disk is visible.

I'll put some spoilers in for the episode before I take a guess at this.
Spoilers:

I think it's probably referring to the way John's mind was split into two halves: a John half and a Harvey half. The Harvey half led to Aeryn's death, so maybe they got the title idea from that.

jayelsee

02-12-2004, 04:11 PM

:rollin: Clarsax, we were using the same dictionary! and typing at the same time.:)

Sococlear

02-12-2004, 08:01 PM

Thanks everyone... That question was eatin way at me for a while

Clarsax

02-13-2004, 09:28 AM

Originally posted by jayelsee
:rollin: Clarsax, we were using the same dictionary! and typing at the same time.:)

Weird. And I was using this ancient dictionary I've had practically forever to look for the definition. I thought no one else would have a copy like that one.

jayelsee

02-13-2004, 04:26 PM

I was using this ancient dictionary I've had practically forever to look for the definition."The Random House Dictionary of the English Language--The Unabridged Edition." Mine is really old. And "big. REALLY big". It had the same definitions as your # 3 & #4, too, I just didn't include them in my response.:rollin: