- Hardcover: 247 pages
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster; First Edition edition (May 1987)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0671625829
- ISBN-13: 978-0671625825
- Product Dimensions: 21.1 x 14 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 973,742 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
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Product Description
Product Description
What do a dead cat, a computer whiz-kid, an Electric Monk who believes the world is pink, quantum mechanics, a Chronologist over 200 years old, Samuel Taylor Coleridge (poet), and pizza have in common?
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Book Description
What do a dead cat, a computer whiz-kid, an Electric Monk who believes the world is pink, quantum mechanics, a Chronologist over 200 years old, Samuel Taylor Coleridge (poet), and pizza have in common? Apparently not much; until Dirk Gently, self-styled private investigator, sets out to prove the fundamental interconnectedness of all things by solving a mysterious murder, assisting a mysterious professor, unravelling a mysterious mystery, and eating a lot of pizza – not to mention saving the entire human race from extinction along the way (at no extra charge). To find out more, read this book (better still, buy it, then read it) – or contact Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. ‘A thumping good detective-ghost-horror-whodunnit-time travel-romantic-musical-comedy epic.’ The author
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
After having read Adams's 'Hitchhiker' series, I then wished to read the recently published posthumous compilation of his works, 'The Salmon of Doubt'. Yet after viewing the back of that particular book, I realised that I would benefit from reading his two preceding Dirk Gently novels beforehand. The first, 'Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency', is hilariously written, with characters that compliment each other perfectly. Dirk Gently himself outranks Sherlock Holmes and Dick Tracy, in every manner but conventionality of methods, and it is his theory of the 'interconnectedness' of all things that gives the entire novel its sharp and refreshing originality. If read over a prolonged period, the ending may prove a little confusing; but if closely followed, the intelligent climax will be appreciated. Read this book, then read the others!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
An amazing novel by probably the best science-fiction comedy writer of all time. This review is alas, however, for the Kindle edition, which is riddled with errors brought about by its direct OCR translation to digital format, which evidently never underwent anything as elaborate as a once-over proofread before it was released.
Some of these errors diminished understanding of the text altogether. For example, at a pivotal point during the novel, "a book fell out of the pocket" reads "a hook fell out of the pocket," in this edition. The non sequitur caused a cognitive paradox which tore the fabric of the universe around it, and kept me awake for an hour researching wherefore a hook should fall out of any bloody pocket in this novel in the first place.
Some of these errors diminished understanding of the text altogether. For example, at a pivotal point during the novel, "a book fell out of the pocket" reads "a hook fell out of the pocket," in this edition. The non sequitur caused a cognitive paradox which tore the fabric of the universe around it, and kept me awake for an hour researching wherefore a hook should fall out of any bloody pocket in this novel in the first place.
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency is yet another example of the genius that brought us the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. A plot line with as many twists as...something twisty, and as much chaos as the average family household. It's filled with Adams-esque humour, which is subtle enough not to look silly and obvious enough that even *I* get most of the jokes ;o).
Most people see the Dirk Gently novels as secondary to the Hitchhikers series, but in my opinion they approach, and in some places exceed, Hitchhikers. There is something endearing about Dirk Gently, perhaps it's his oddness that most of us can relate to in some way.
If you like slightly insane humour, or any of Adam's other works (which include several Dr. Who scripts as well as the hugely popular Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy), you should definitely read this book!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Adams' best work
While I love all of Adams' works, and was weaned on Hitch-Hiker's guide, the Dirk Gently books are, to me, the pinnacle of his work. Read more
Published 23 days ago by SJATurney
classic Adams
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency is the first in the Dirk Gently series by the late Douglas Adams. Read more
Published 24 days ago by Cloggie Downunder
Brilliant
Just as good, if not better than Hitchhiker's, due to the tight plotting. Consistently funny, and appropriately odd. Loved it.
Published 24 days ago by Tim Goodings
Moderately good, but dissapointing for Douglas Adams
"Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency" is okay, which is massively disappointing if you have read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Volume One in the Trilogy of Five... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Bill
DIRK GENTLY
My dad made this book into a television series and when Iread this book Iknew that one day they could make it into a film!
Published 2 months ago by 7tails
For the fans
I wouldn't recommend this book (or this series, as there is a sequel to this book: Long, Dark Tea-time of the Soul) as a first encounter with the author, Douglas Adams. Read more
Published 5 months ago by gamblor
Excellent complex story
This story is Douglas Adams at his best. It is a very complex plot that requires concentration to follow but it is well worth the effort and can be listened to many times over. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Neilt
Whimsical source for TV Drama
I watched 'Dirk Gently' on TV recently and was genuinely amused and entertained by the programme. I had read the Hitchhikers Guide series, but not the two Dirk Gently stories. Read more
Published 14 months ago by J. S. Loydon
Dada, Absurdist, Buddhist - a bubble of fun
Douglas Adams' take on detective fiction is playful, imaginative, full of whimsy and quantum theory. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Lady Fancifull
Dawkins' Favourite Book (Apparently)...
Douglas Adams stands apart from other authors in having most of his books professionally dramatised. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Magic Lemur
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