As I'm sure you're aware, Douglas Adams passed away last year. This is the collected remains of his unpublished final book, together with various bits of other stuff he'd written - introductions, speeches, quotes. Introduced by Stephen Fry.

I was astonished just how funny this book is. It's like being inside Douglas Adams' head...all the thoughts, quirks and twists of personality that made him, him. From the introduction right through to the very end, I laughed out loud at least once a page.

The collected section is full of fascinating details about his life (for example I had no idea how much he cared about the progress of technology until I read this book) and the unfinished Dirk Gently book gives us an insight into how he worked through his ideas and formed them into the books they became. This story is lacking a little, but then it's not finished, so that's a bit of an unfair criticism.

If you've ever enjoyed any of his books, get this. If you think you'll enjoy them, get it. Douglas Adams was a true British genius, witty, clever, and damn funny. I can think of no better way to remember him.