Praise for Hitchhiker: A Biography of Douglas Adams by MJ Simpson

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“impressive in its encyclopaedic detail [and] deft in its analysis of Adams’s contradictory remarks about his own life. ... For anyone who loves his work, this book is an indispensable read.”
(The Scotsman)

“an engaging yet straightforward portrait of the phenomenally successful writer ... a must-have for serious Adams fans”
(Publishers Weekly)

“Simpson’s readable and balanced biography is primarily concerned with factual accuracy … and he is not afraid to contradict Adams’s own myths about his life.”
(The Sunday Times)

“Adams began his career writing radio shows for the BBC, and episodes of his life read like comedy sketches ... Simpson scrupulously uncovers Adams’s inspirations, from Doctor Who to a pretentious college roommate who wrote ‘awful poetry about swans’.”
(The New Yorker)

“MJ Simpson is the perfect chronicler of this quixotic and brilliant writer. ... The style here is as sardonic and sharp-edged as Adams’ own work and perfectly complements the subject. ... Hitchhiker is nigh unbeatable: any subsequent Adams biographers will have to struggle hard to match the achievement of this one.”
(The Good Book Guide)

“Hitchhiker is meticulously researched and works as a resource as well as a simple read ... Simpson’s book achieves the true aim of any biography – it makes you want to go out and buy the works of the subject.”
(Irish Independent)

“minutely researched and yet beautifully readable”
(Ink)

“[Adams] had an ever-ready stack of ripping yarns about his life and work, but Simpson, though a huge admirer, firmly points out discrepancies between Adams’ versions and actual events, allowing fans glimpses into Adams’ life that the intensely private writer wouldn’t. … A biography that will entertain die-hard fans and those who’ve never cracked a Hitchhiker book alike.” (*starred review*)
(Booklist, American Library Association)

“In this affectionate but not uncritical biography MJ Simpson introduces us to a flawed genius with a penchant for monologuing (he would talk nonstop for over an hour if something was on his mind) and a formidable talent for missing deadlines.”
(Sci Fi Magazine)

“Painstakingly researched and thoroughly footnoted ... The range of sources employed to tell the story is quite breathtaking. ... The world of cult TV would be far richer if we had more well-researched and objective studies such as this one. (10 out of 10)”
(TV Zone)

“Don’t worry (or indeed, panic), Hitchhiker is good. Even better, it’s VERY good. Excellent, in fact. ... Simpson works hard to separate myth from truth, overturning ‘established fact’ convincingly on more than one occasion.”
(ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha, the Official Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Appreciation Society)

“MJ Simpson’s solid and very readable biography ... A thorough and fair-minded biography of a dazzling if frustrating talent. A fine epitaph.”
(Literary Review)

“This exhaustively researched life ... is an impressive feat of devotion. [Simpson] is not an uncritical biographer, however, and reveals his subject’s penchant for exaggeration and fantasy in his oft-repeated anecdotes. None the less Adams comes over as a loveable character and as a truly awesome expert in the black arts of procrastination.”
(Guardian)

“This sympathetic, yet by no means hagiographic, portrait charts the development of Douglas Adams … It also punctures several myths, most put about by the impish Adams himself.”
(Choice)

“thoroughly researched ... delivers superbly (5 out of 5)”
(Starburst)

“[An] exhaustive and sympathetic biography ... MJ Simpson is the perfect chronicler of a strange and eventful life. ... [His] writing style is never academic, and sounds the same wry and witty note as his subject effortlessly found. ... Simpson paints a picture of this complex and fascinating man that is unlikely to be beaten for quite some time.”
(Amazon.co.uk)

“Simpson’s style is easy and informative ... mind-bendingly diligent research.”
(Daily Telegraph)

“The life of Douglas Adams … is itself an episode of knockabout farce in the larger tragicomedy of life … Inquire within about everything in his universe.”
(The Times)

“An honest, commendable book with much to intrigue those who grew up with post-Python comedy, the Guide and Doctor Who”
(British Science Fiction Association)

“Douglas Adams loomed large on the landscape of 20th-century popular fiction. He was also a physically large man, an atheist and a lifelong Beatles fan. MJ Simpson’s Hitchhiker: A Biography of Douglas Adams covers these and other personal matters, while also giving a step-by-ambitious-step account of Adams’ professional career.”
(Seattle Times)

“Simpson has created a very moving, warm and appropriately humorous reflection on the life and works of Douglas Adams. ... I think anyone who enjoyed the writings of Douglas Adams will enjoy this. It is a lovely recollection of an unusual writer who brought enjoyment to an awful lot of us over the years. MJ, you did him proud with this.”
(The Alien Online)

“MJ Simpson has written an engaging and unbiased study of his subject who emerges as a shy and frequently distressed genius.”
([London] Evening Standard)

“Simpson has done a magnificent job of researching and making coherent the different strands of Adams’ career.”
(Word)

“That Adams played up his anecdotes seems likely. Simpson patiently debunks some of the myths.”
(Financial Times)

“An entertaining read ... punches are certainly not pulled.”
(Lincolnshire Echo)

“Simpson takes the reader through every stage in Adams’ life with a meticulous style that strives for completism without being boring ... [His] conversational narrative style carries the reader along smoothly from point to point. ... Rich in detail and illustrative of the labyrinthine paths Adams’ life took, Hitchhiker is essential reading for fan and newcomer alike. Recommended.”
(Robot Fist)

“very good ... recommended”
(Interzone)

“an excellent and engrossing read”
(radioandtelly.co.uk)

“We don’t normally feature non-fiction in our science fiction recommendations, but we’re making an exception for this excellent biography of Douglas Adams. ... Those who are interested in the creative process, just as much as those who are interested in Adams, will find this a great book.”
(Creativity Unleashed Limited)

“Adams was an enormously creative man ... and this biography is a wonderful tribute to him.”
(Halifax [Nova Scotia] Herald)

“As MJ Simpson notes in his minutely detailed Hitchhiker: A Biography of Douglas Adams the man commonly credited with inventing the genre of humorous science fiction was a tragic figure with a chaotic personal life.”
(Time)

“a fastidiously researched jaunt through Adams’ life ... Simpson uncovers some good nuggets ... Douglas Adams himself could have learnt a few things about his life from this book.”
(SFX)

“Packed full of anecdotes from friends and colleagues throughout his life, this book is a fascinating read and clarifies some of the myths which grew up around the great man during his lifetime. ... Read it!”
(ic The Wharf)

“This is a major publication and is receiving deserved and widespread coverage in the mainstream press. ... This accomplished hardcover work will doubtless sell by the bucket load – and so it should!”
(Sfrevu.com)

“It’s a compelling read ... a worthy accompaniment to Douglas Adams’ own works.”
(Eternal Night)

“there’s a real sense of the one-off human being writer Douglas Adams was”
(Highland News)

“a fascinating and troubling portrait of a writer who made an art form of procrastination”
(Toronto Globe and Mail)

“covers Doug’s life and works in comprehensive detail ... MJ Simpson is undoubtedly the best person in an infinite number of universes to write it.”
(Multiverse Inc)

“Where Simpson triumphs is in giving us a fair and unbiased account of Douglas Adams’ relationships with other people.”
(CriticWeb)

“Reading MJ Simpson’s excellent biography of Douglas was like remembering a dear friend.”
(Woolamaloo Gazette)

“impeccably researched”
(Observer)

“thoroughly researched”
(Glasgow Herald)

“exhaustingly researched"
(Sunday Telegraph)

“meticulously researched”
(The Zone)

"mercilessly researched ... A well written and easy to read biography."
(Dagens Nyheter [Sweden])


The British hardback of Hitchhiker (far left), with a foreword by John Lloyd, was published in March 2003 by Hodder & Stoughton. Buy it from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.fr or Amazon.jp

The American hardback (centre left), revised and updated and with a new foreword by Neil Gaiman, was published in November 2003 by Justin, Charles & Co. Buy it from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.fr or Amazon.jp

The British paperback (centre right), also revised and updated but with the original John Lloyd foreword, was published in February 2004 by Coronet. Buy it from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.fr or Amazon.jp

The American paperback (far right), essentially the same as the American hardback including the Neil Gaiman foreword, will be published in October 2004 by Justin, Charles & Co. Buy it from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.de

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