LIFE, THE UNIVERSE AND EVERYTHING

New York: Harmony Books, 1982. Near fine in near fine jacket.. Inscribed association first US edition of the first, but not the last, conclusion to the five-book Hitchhiker's trilogy, presented by Adams at Toronto's International Festival of Authors at Harbourfront to Greg Gatenby, the Festival's founding artistic director. The plot of the third Hitchhiker's book was once intended for a multi-part Doctor Who arc (rejected); though it was later subjected to a radio adaptation, it was never produced as part of the original Hitchhiker's TV series, and its bleak pessimism has a peculiar charm.

The US edition famously replaced certain four-letter expletives with euphemisms, presumably out of some misguided idea of cultural consideration, even as any number of jokes concerning the rules of cricket were left intact. This copy was one of the many signed and inscribed books amassed by Gatenby during his two-decade tenure as festival director, representing "the growth of a literary culture in the city of Toronto over many years" (Caldwell). 7'' x 4.75''. Original black cloth stamped in metallic green. Purple endpapers. In original unclipped ($9.95) pictorial dust jacket by Peter Cross. 227, [1] pages. Inscribed by Adams "to Greg" [Gatenby] on title page. Gatenby's ownership signature to front free endpaper. Two small indentations to top edge of front board. Minor edgewear to jacket, with single tape repair to verso. Bright.