How does it compare to audio works by the same author?
Very good
Advantages:
Warmth, humour and some great descriptions .
Disadvantages:
Knowing that Adams is gone, and there'll not be more like this
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
In 1985, The Observer newspaper decided to send Douglas Adams to Madagascar to hunt for a virtually extinct lemur. No-one seems quite sure exactly why they did this, including Douglas Adams himself. Quite possibly, it’s because he was quite good at creating strange alien creatures that no-one is ever likely to see, and no-one really expected him to ever see the aye-aye, the lemur in question.
Quite against the odds, he did. And so, buoyed with their success at doing what no-one else had done for some time and actually catching sight of the aye-aye, Douglas Adams and Mark Cawardine, the zoologist who had accompanied him, decided to go looking for some more endangered species.
In 1988, they did. The result was “Last Chance to See”, quite possibly the best piece of non-fiction writing you may ever come across, and definitely the best book I have ever read about endangered wildlife.
It’s essentially just a description of a journey, or rather several journeys, to foreign locations in an attempt to find endangered species. It’s almost just a natural history version of Tony Hawks “One Hit Wonderland”, only better written. Think of a cross between David Attenborough and Michael Palin’s BBC documentaries, and you’re getting the right idea.
It is the same thing that made Michael Palin’s travelogues so entertaining that makes “Last Chance to See” as easy to read as it is. It’s written in a hugely accessible style, with very few technical terms – you’ll not find a single Latin species name here – and with an ever present humour. Douglas Adams has taken these voyages as an opportunity to poke fun at everything, including himself. There are moments that a lesser writer would have left out, such as the parts involving aftershave, which Adams does not.
However, the true beauty is in some of the descriptive work. Adams isn’t a naturalist, and so can look at what he sees with a completely fresh eye, having never previously considered seeing any of these animals, much less studied them, even theoretically, for some time. This, in addition to his clearly being a writer of some skill, gives rise to some unique descriptions that both entertain and make perfect sense, as well as conjuring up some wonderful mental pictures. Describing a rhinoceros as “a nimble young tank” is something you’re unlikely to see anywhere else, but somehow manages to evoke a wonderful image, even for those who have only ever seen either a rhino or a tank in pictures.
The only part of the book where the style seems to change in any way is during the trip to China. Unlike many of the other destinations, Adams doesn’t really seem completely comfortable with the idea of China and it does show a little in his writing. Of course, there is also the mention of Tiananmen Square, which was to be the scene of much unhappiness shortly after their visit. Although perhaps containing the most laugh out loud recollections as they try to waterproof a microphone, this section does lose a little of the humour that is otherwise prevalent. Although this is noticeable, it’s by no means a distraction.
“Last Chance to See” is no less than a total joy to read. The pages fly by and, although there’s a serious message here, it’s presented in such a gentle and humorous way that it never becomes cloying or overly sentimental. Adams’ writing is of such a quality and his touch so light that, although we are being preached to just a little bit, it’s done so gently that you don’t realise until after you’ve realised that you’re actually enjoying yourself.
If there is a touch of sadness to be had, though, it’s on the front cover. There is a poignancy in seeing Douglas Adams face above the words “Last Chance to See”, as it reminds us that there will be no more writing of this calibre from him ever again. He may have gone looking for endangered species but he beat them to the edge of extinction himself. It’s a brief moment of sadness in an otherwise light hearted read.
It’s not a book that will provide belly laughs, so fans of humour and people expecting writing more like Adams’ other works may be a little disappointed. But if you have anything more than a passing interest in hearing of travel to new places or in animals, this really is a book you have to read.
Even at £6.99, writing of this high order represents good value, which is rarer and rarer in books these days. However, from £6.39 at Amazon or £5.99 from play.com, it’s really something that should not be missed. Copies have been seen on eBay from £1.45 and in the Amazon marketplace from 90p, but they tend to be few and far between. Simply because some things are just so good, you can’t bring yourself to let them go once you have them. This is one of those things.
very helpful
very helpful
helpful
helpful
