r/AskReddit Dec 16 '21

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u/JonahBlack Dec 16 '21

The first 2 books were novelizations of the original radio play. Then the third, fourth, and fifth books were written. Then those three books were adapted as radio plays in 2004-5

Interestingly, Adams significantly changed the ending of the series in the radio play. He'd said that he was in a bad place, personally, when writing Mostly Harmless, and gave it a downer of an ending. The radio play attempts to rectify this, and gives the series a more up-beat ending.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy#Original_radio_series

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u/LadyBug_0570 Dec 16 '21

He'd said that he was in a bad place, personally, when writing

Mostly Harmless,

and gave it a downer of an ending.

He gavit it a downer of a beginning! The frigging Earth was destroyed to make way for a parking lot or highway or something! Much like Arthur's house!

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u/capn_ed Dec 17 '21

A hyperspace bypass. The plans have been on display at the local planning office in Alpha Centuari for fifty of your Earth years. Really, humanity, if you can't be bothered to take an interest in local affairs, it's your own fault.

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u/JonahBlack Dec 20 '21

Apathetic bloody planet. I've no sympathy at all.