Triumphant Return

Anyone who has read the last three Hitchhiker books can instantly see how cleverly this new series has managed to stay both faithful to the source and as close as a 27 year gap will allow to the style of the original radio series. These shows pack in to their running length as much Douglas Adams brilliance as humanly possible (to the extent of the series on CD running nearly a whole episode longer than the broadcast version). They mix the actors who created the leading characters, state-of-the-art sound effects and cinematic music (some would say a far more appropriate score than that of the recent Hitchhiker movie).

Where these episodes differ from the style or substance of the original radio series is either unavoidable (because people get older, it doesn't mean they suddenly lose their acting ability), or deliberate (Douglas Adams apparently insisted that any inconsistencies between books and original radio episodes should be kept).

The new casting has works magnificently, blending the enduringly brilliant actors who originally created the characters with equally well-picked "new" voices, adding new flavors to the Hitchhikers landscape. Finally the music adds exactly the 'cinematic rock album' feel that Adams always said he wanted for Hitchhikers.

There are some "old series" Hitchhiker listeners who cannot deal with any Adams universe that is not of their memory's creation. But these new series are most emphatically of Douglas Adams's creation. They are for forward-looking, open-minded Hitchhiker fans, and are a more-than-worthy successor to their forbears.

The magic is gone

As a fan of the original radio series from way back, I was delighted when I heard that the BBC was going to do 6 more radio episodes with the original cast. Unfortunately, this is like listening to a reunion concert of an old rock group -- they try, but they can't recapture the original energy, and their new material isn't as good as their old hits. To be sure, there are some wonderful bits scattered throughout these 3 hours (such as "Bistro Math"), but not enough to make up for a lot of tedium, either from lackluster gags or overlong scenes that simply wear out their welcome. Much of this is due to the material itself, given that HHGTHG after its first original six episodes became something of a shaggy dog story. Still, the "secondary phase" had a manic energy, perhaps because all concerned were in some sense working with a proverbial gun to their heads, scrambling to come up with the next episode and get it on the air, mixed with great chemistry in the cast. That sort of energy just can't be recaptured, and the chemistry is gone. Although Arthur Dent remains a solid anchor, Zaphod sounds like a tired old shell of himself, and Ford, with little to do, isn't firing on all cylinders. Marvin, who was always a one note gag, isn't funny this time -- we heard the joke enough before. None of the nice sound effects and production can compensate for what's missing in the script and performances.

Bottom line: I can't imagine ever listening to these episodes a second time, which to me is the ultimate gauge of whether you should spend this much money to buy audio entertainment (much less invest 3 hours listening to them all). The old episodes on the 4th listening are still more enjoyable than these are on the 1st listening. You can't go home again.

A bizarre quest to find their way home

Now available in the U.S. for the first time, The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy: The Tertiary Phase is the audiobook radio dramatization of the third volume of Douglas Adams' "trilogy in five parts". Originally published in print as "Life, the Universe, and Everything", and adapted to a full-cast radio play featuring the late Douglas Adams himself in the role of Agrajag, The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy: The Tertiary Phase follows unlikely protagonists Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect in a bizarre quest to find their way home, towel themselves off and save the Universe, not necessarily in that order. Side-splittingly funny, featuring 6 complete radio episodes specially extended for CD, The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy: The Tertiary Phase is an absolute "must" for true fans of Adams' classic comedy series. 3 CDs, 3 hours 10 minutes.