Fighting Post-Hitchhiker’s Disorder: 6 Essential Books for Douglas Adams Fans

City of Death, by James Goss, Douglas Adams, & David Fisher
Widely considered to be on the best episodes of Doctor Who ever written, Douglas Adams’ “City of Death”—based on David Fisher’s story, in which the Doctor and Romana’s Parisian holiday is interrupted by a peculiar plot to steal the Mona Lisa and end life on Earth—has just been novelized by frequent Who franchise writer Goss. The format allows for details to seep in from Adams’ revealing stage directions and alternate versions of the script, information on which is detailed in the author’s thoughtful afterword.

So You Want to Be a Wizard, by Diane Duane
When you finish a good serial, sometimes all that will satisfy you is another series. This one, a blending of humor and fantasy tropes not entirely unlike Adams’ twist on SF, is a safe bet. Nita’s life changes in an instant when she finds a magic manual in her local library; soon, she’s going on adventures with her new friend Kit to help stop entropy across the entire universe. Duane’s saga of teenage wizardry is no less outlandish in its own way than Adams’ universe-flipping absurdities, but the Young Wizards series’ humor is grounded more firmly in reality, providing a nice change of pace.

The Complete Alan Moore Future Shocks, by Alan Moore and Various Artists
If your favorite thing about Hitchhiker’s Guide is the sheer absurdity of its premise, Alan Moore’s early work for British comics weekly 2000 AD will suck you in right away. Whether he’s playing with villainous cliches in “The Wages of Sin!” or describing the first and only performance of a planet-sized heavy metal record in “The Hyper-Historic Headbang,” Moore is a darkly comic genius of a writer, and the diverse cast of artistic talent in this collection executes his mad plans with fiendish glee. A great graphic follow-up to Adams’ insanity.

SuperMutant Magic Academy, by Jillian Tamaki
If, on the other hand, your favorite part of Hitchhiker’s Guide is the way Adams explores grand philosophical concepts with bizarre, yet recognizable characters, I have a totally different collection of black and white comics for you: nominated for two 2015 Ignatz Awards (Outstanding Artist and Outstanding Anthology), Tamaki’s loose and angsty strips take place in a peculiar school attended by all manner of magic-users and super-powered children. Almost none have any adventures, though; contrary to Professor Xavier’s example, these kids practice using their powers in peace, perhaps to deface school property or resurrect oneself from the dead. Their most frequent occupation, however, is abstract musing on the nature of existence. The result is a comic strip unlike anything you’ve ever seen.

And Another Thing… by Eoin Colfer
Left unsatisfied by a trilogy that’s a mere five books long? Make it a baker’s quintet and read Eoin Colfer’s follow-up to Adams’ originals. The Hitchhiker’s Guide through the lens of Artemis Fowl’s creator is a truly unique experience, and contains nearly 100 percent more Lovecraft than its predecessors.

Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, by Douglas Adams
Of course, it may well be that the only thing that can truly treat a soul in want of Douglas Adams is a shot of pure, unadulterated Adams. If you haven’t already, pick up a copy of this uproarious book about the interconnectedness of all things: missing cats, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and of course, the glum psychic detective who doesn’t believe in his own powers. Don’t you feel better already?