By Mark O’Neill

Contributing Writer, [GAS]

A sixth installment of the “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” is to be written – despite the fact that its author and creator, Douglas Adams, died in 2001.

Instead, the book entitled “And Another Thing…” will be written by Eoin Colfer, who is most well known for his Artemis Fowl series of childrens books. I am a big fan of Artemis Fowl and I have all the books here at home. I personally think Colfer is a really good author, but good enough to write a Hitchhikers Guide book? Hmmm…I don’t know. I don’t know if his writing skills extend THAT far.

The last book, “Mostly Harmless” was released 16 years ago and Adams’ widow has given her consent to Colfer writing the next book.

Colfer has said in a statement :

“My first reaction was semi-outrage that anyone should be allowed to tamper with this incredible series. But on reflection I realised that this is a wonderful opportunity to work with characters I have loved since childhood and give them something of my own voice while holding on to the spirit of Douglas Adams.” He added: “I feel more pressure to perform now than I ever have with my own books, and that is why I am bloody determined that this will be the best thing I have ever written.”

This isn’t the first example of a sequel to a book written posthumously. A new James Bond book “Devil May Care” came out earlier this year and another example is “Peter Pan in Scarlet”, an official sequel to JM Barrie’s Peter Pan.

So what do you think? Will you read the new Hitchhiker’s book when it comes out? Are they right to tamper with Douglas Adams’ legacy or should they have left it well alone? Is Eoin Colfer the right man for the job?