So, this news story intrigued me (from the BBC):

Children’s author Eoin Colfer has been commissioned to write a sixth
instalment of the Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy series.

Now, my first reaction was: WTF? My second reaction was… Why?

I honestly don’t get why another H2G2 book needs to be written. I know that the series didn’t end on an upbeat note, but the story had come nicely full circle (for H2G2, which means that the circle had lots of corners in it and quite possible existed in more dimensions than the usual two). I don’t really understand why the trilogy needs a sixth part.

I can’t judge Eoin Colfer’s suitability for the project because I’ve never read any of his books (though I’ll now make a point of it). In fact, Colfer himself said:

"My first reaction was semi-outrage that anyone should be allowed to tamper
with this incredible series."

Which rather anticipates the reaction that this might well get from a lot of fans. Of course, the truth is that – to paraphrase a quote from Arthur C. Clarke’s eulogy for Isaac Asimov – there was only one Douglas Adams; these days there’s no Douglas Adams and the world is a poorer place for it.

Still, we can but wait and see. It’s due to be published next October, which means that it won’t be being written on an Adamsian timescale.

I think, for the moment, I’m looking forward to it. What do you think, dear reader?