Re: Hitchhiker's Guide and Librarians

From: CARL H. SNYDER, CHEMISTRY; CSNYDER@UMIAMI (CSNYDER@UMIAMI)
Date: 03/31/93


Heather Simmons writes:

>The librarian's perspective is to compare Encyclopedia Galactica and
>the Guide as information sources. The idea that the accumulated knowledge
>of the universe can be collected in a book-sized gizmo that fits in the
>palm of your hand is quite a concept.

But the Guide *doesn't* pretend to present the accumulated knowledge of the
universe. To descirbe Earth as "Mostly harmless," as the Guide does, belongs
under Humor or Irony, but surely not in Reference.

>I think it's time for a pan-galactic gargle blaster.

There you've hit it squarely with some of the best literary criticism I've
yet read.

         Carl H. Snyder Internet: CSNYDER@umiami.IR.Miami.EDU
         Chemistry Department Bitnet: CSNYDER@umiami
         University of Miami Phone: (305)-284-2174
         Coral Gables, FL 33124 FAX: (305)-285-4571



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