Id reblog that

When Douglas Adams, the author of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” died of a heart attack 11 years ago this month, a group of fans organized an impromptu “Towel Day” celebration in his memory. Why Towel Day? Because a towel, as readers of Adams’s delirious novel will remember, “is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have.” (Suggested uses: beach-lounging on Santraginus V, sailing a miniraft down the River Moth, hiding from the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal and, “if it still seems to be clean enough,” drying yourself off.) The tribute caught on, and this year people in at least 15 countries will observe May 25 by carrying towels to readings, movie screenings and other events related to “The Hitchhiker’s Guide,” which spent a cumulative 11 weeks on our paper­back list. In 1981, when the first American edition was released, Gerald Jonas praised it in the Book Review. “Humorous science-fiction novels have notoriously limited audiences,” he wrote. “They tend to be full of ‘in’ jokes understandable only to those who read everything from Jules Verne to Harlan Ellison. The ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide’ is a delightful exception.” And yes, he mentioned the towels.

Gregory Cowles

New York Times Sunday Book Review

May 11, 2012

If you are feeling generous this Towel Day, here are a couple Douglas Adams charities:

Save The Rhino

The Gorilla Organization

and Animal Shelters are always a great place to donate your towels.

iheartchaos:

Not entirely safe for work. Definitely some naked half Man half Squid dong in there. Written and Illustrated by Earl Barrett-Holloway.

Read it here