The Curse of the Drinking Class

When Roland Barthes said ‘the author is dead’ it seems Douglas Adams, like Ian Fleming, took him literally, much to the disappointment of their publishers. Why let a good thing die with the author? Living writers take up the reigns of their late contemporaries to continue the story posthumously.

"Being given the chance to write this book is like suddenly being offered the superpower of your choice." – Eoin Colfer

Not unheard of, the idea of writing sequels of another author’s work is not in breach of copyright with the correct permission of a close relative and grace of the publisher. You need think only of Scarlett, Alexandra Ripley’s sequel to Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind and more recently, Sebastian Faulks (author of Birdsong) bringing Fleming’s Bond back to life.

If Barthes is correct and meaning is in the reader, then the switch to a new author shouldn’t disrupt the series, as Douglas Adams’ followers hope. Author of the popular Artemis Foul series, Eoin (pronounced Owen) Colfer releases the sixth installment of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy today – And Another Thing….

Adams noted before his death in May 2001, that he had hoped to add to the series and finish it on a more upbeat note than Mostly Harmless. With permission from widow Jane Belson, Colfer brings Aurthur Dent, Zaphod Beeblebrox, Ford Perfect and Trillian to life once more.

While Colfer’s audience is ordinarily the eight- to 13-year-old group, he has no problem accessing the same wide audience as Adams with his references to the Hitchhiker’s Guide and British wit turned Irish comic. Available now in hardback, And Another Thing… combines the same science-fiction, humour and human elements to prove that the author is never really dead.

For more information on the book and the series, visit it’s official website.

by Jason Esch