Douglas Adams ​

Douglas Noel Adams was an English author, scriptwriter, essayist, humorist, satirist and dramatist. Adams is best known for his series "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", which started as a radio series and subsequently developed into a series of five books that sold more than 15 million copies during his lifetime.

Quick Facts ​

• His four-part series, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, was originally a radio series that aired on BBC Radio 4 in 1978.
• These books sold more than 15 million copies in the UK, the US, and Australia and was also adapted into TV series, stage plays, video games, and a 2005 feature film.
• Adams wrote two more episodes for the series Doctor Who, which were also adapted into novels.
• His unique writing and humour is often referred to as "Adamsian".

Background ​

Adams was born in 1952 in Cambridge, England. He was educated at Brentwood School, Essex, and St John's College, Cambridge, where he read English. His early career was spent as a script editor for Doctor Who and a writer for radio shows, before becoming an author. His best-known work, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, began life in 1978 as a BBC Radio 4 comedy series. Due to its success, it was developed into a series of five books that sold over 15 million copies in his lifetime and generated a television series, several stage plays, comics, a computer game, and a feature film. His other successful works include the Dirk Gently novels. Adams died unexpectedly in 2001 from a heart attack at the age of 49.

Writing Style and Impact ​

Adams' writing style is characterized by an irreverent and satirical wit, with imaginative storytelling blending science fiction and humor. His books often satirize modern society, bureaucracy, politics, and even science fiction itself. His work has been influential across various forms of media, from books to radio and television, and he has a strong following from fans who appreciate his unique approach to storytelling.

Notable Works ​

• 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)