Dirk Gently

As long as we recognize Lucas is washed up and most TV sucks, we'll all get along fine.
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Malcolm
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Post by Malcolm »

Hmm. Remember what happened when they made Hitchhiker's... without his input?
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Post by GORDON »

I tried reading the book in high school, and just didn't get it.... but that timing may have coincided with the timeframe in which I started getting laid, so I remember being distracted.

I remember something about a couch getting stuck in a stairwell in such a way that a computer simulation said was impossible. And a primordial Earth.
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Malcolm
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Post by Malcolm »

You don't remember the Electric Monk?
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Post by GORDON »

Malcolm wrote:You don't remember the Electric Monk?
I do now. I remember the words. Don't remember the context.
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Malcolm
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Post by Malcolm »

GORDON wrote:
Malcolm wrote:You don't remember the Electric Monk?

I do now. I remember the words. Don't remember the context.

The job of an Electric Monk is the same job as any other electric thing. In the monk's case, he believes and has faith for you. Except the one in the book has a malfunction.




Edited By Malcolm on 1452363147
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
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Post by GORDON »

Yeah, I may have to revisit. I'm pretty sure the hardcover on my shelf is a first edition. Probably worth ones of dollars.
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Malcolm
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Post by Malcolm »

About $50 if it's in decent shape.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
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Post by GORDON »

Malcolm wrote:About $50 if it's in decent shape.
I'm not looking at it right this second but I don't think it is good shape. No dust jacket for sure, and plenty of wear on the cover. Binding is still good as of the last time I looked at it.
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TPRJones
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Post by TPRJones »

This is one of my favorite books. Plenty of subtleties to pick up on subsequent readings. Easily Adams' best work.

They already made a show back in 2010. It's okay. Just okay. Almost no relation to the book beyond the identities and personalities of the lead characters. I wouldn't mind seeing something that actually tells (roughly) the story of the book.
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Re: Dirk Gently

Post by TPRJones »

Well. I'm three episodes into this new series and I think I'm not going to be sleeping tonight as I must now watch the rest immediately.

There's an undercurrent of the flavor of Adams, but it's been filtered through the insanity of Max Landis and the combination is ... intriguing. Confusing as hell, too, but it feels like there's going to be some answers before this is over. There damn well better be.

So far I approve.
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Re: Dirk Gently

Post by GORDON »

I am also 3 in and it feels like a chore.
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Re: Dirk Gently

Post by TPRJones »

Huh. Maybe it's because of
GORDON wrote:I tried reading the book in high school, and just didn't get it....
The book is ultimately about one thing. You know that feeling in a story when all the disparate pieces come together with a sudden click and everything make sense, even the things that felt like they could never make sense? That's what the book is. It's not meant to be understood as you read it so much as absorbed, then when you get to the end it all clicks. Then the second read is where all of it makes sense in the context of what you now know.

The show is just starting to do the same. There's a long way yet to go, but some of these crazy things are starting to click. But I expect if you are trying to make sense of it all as you go along it might be somewhat frustrating. I'm enjoying letting it wash over me until the parts start to click. I don't mind not understanding now as long as I know I'll understand later.

Although if it doesn't click properly at the end and earn all of this crazy shit it's doing I am going to be very pissed. Like, ending of Lost pissed.
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Re: Dirk Gently

Post by GORDON »

I know, and I have been dwelling on that.... I think I am just a little fatigued of quirky, random shows that don't make any sense for 8 hours and then we finally see how it all fits together. I greatly enjoyed Westwood, though, and even though the last episode is where all the exposition happened, you still had a coherent story going through, even if you weren't sure of the motivations. I think we are supposed to be the missing persons cops who continually ask, "What the fuck is going on?"

Episode 1 of DG had several dead bodies in a hotel room including a guy bitten in half by a shark, apparent time travel, a kitten, a dog in the middle of it all that seems to be the key to everything, a weird British guy calling himself a detective who latches on to a bellboy for no apparent reason, an FBI team with a sniper that seems to be a programmed robot, cops who don't get along, a sister who has a mental disorder in which she frequently thinks she is burning alive, and four random enchanted psychos who call themselves the Crazy 3 (or whatever), and........................ just a lot of randomness.

I read the book in high school expecting more of Hitchhikers. I couldn't get into it.
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Re: Dirk Gently

Post by TPRJones »

I will say for the record in this thread that other than the name Dirk Gently and the concept of a holistic detective, there is absolutely zero relation between the book and show. Except for - I'm hoping - that click.

But no, it's definitely not Hitchhikers. You are completely right about that. :)
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Re: Dirk Gently

Post by TPRJones »

One episode left in four days but I'm already mostly satisfied.

But I expect if you aren't enjoying the journey, the end isn't going to make it magically all worthwhile.
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Malcolm
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Re: Dirk Gently

Post by Malcolm »

So much of Douglas is humour that only works in prose.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
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Re: Dirk Gently

Post by GORDON »

Watched another episode... #4 or 5.... a main dude just got arrowed and kitty was hungry.

I will prolly get to the end. About 40% of the randomness has been explained, so it is easier for me to enjoy.
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