The latest Google doodle celebrates the comedy and science fiction author, Douglas Adams, on what would have been his 61st birthday.
Born on 11th March 1952 in Cambridge, England, the author is best known for his work The Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy, which is depicted in the latest animated doodle alongside his other great work Dirk Gently.
The Google logo has been replaced by a cryptic assortment of items that represent the touchstones of his novels. The cup of tea signifies what was called a book in the Dirk Gently detective series entitled The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul.
What looks like an Amazon Kindle e-reader can reveal several references to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, including the Babel Fish, an item that can be inserted into the ear to translate all languages, even the most obscure alien dialects, according to Adams.
The towel is also one of Adam’s top recommended items to have to hand when travelling in space, along with the Don’t Panic slogan intermittently displayed on the flashing e-reader.
A click on the lift doors also reveals one of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’s more memorable characters, Marvin the paranoid android.
A lifelong technology fan, Adams would have appreciated the Google doodle and e-reader tribute to his life’s work, especially having had a long affair with Apple Macs, which he used from their release in 1984 to his death in 2001, aged 49 from a heart attack.
“The Guide’s task of organizing the galaxy’s information struck a chord with us, which is why we gave it special attention in our doodle” wrote one of the creators responsible for today’s doodle, Sophia Foster-Dimino, on the Google blog. “Through it you can get a small peak into the unrelentingly hilarious universe created by Douglas Adams.”
“Douglas Adams has entertained and inspired so many generations of people around the world with his warm humour and courageously curious intellect. Happy birthday, you hoopy frood!”
Prior to his career as an author, Adams was a BBC radio producer, working with Graham Chapman to write a Monty Python and also wrote three episodes of Doctor Who when the series starred Tom Baker.
The technology lover was also known for his atheist views and conservationist attitude, writing about some of the world’s most endangered species in his book Last Chance to See.
What do you think of the latest Google Doodle? Is it your favourite one so far? Let us know via the TrustedReviews Facebook and Twitter pages or the comments section below.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
