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Old 05-02-2023, 07:42 PM   #5 (permalink)
Xist
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Quote:
As for how the rest of The Salmon of Doubt could have gone, that is a difficult question to answer, since Adams never finished it and may have changed his mind about the plot. However, based on the existing chapters and some hints from his interviews, I can try to write a possible summary of how the story might have continued. Please note that this is only my interpretation and not an official or definitive version.
Here is my summary:
The Salmon of Doubt continues from where the tenth chapter left off, with Dirk Gently being kidnapped by a mysterious woman named Kate Schechter and taken to an airport. There he meets Thor, the Norse god of thunder, who is also being held captive by Kate and her associates. Dirk learns that Kate works for a secret organization called the Consortium, which is led by a man named Odin. The Consortium is planning to use a device called the Valhalla Project to create a new world order by manipulating the gods and humans.
Meanwhile, Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect are still stranded on Earth after the events of Mostly Harmless. They are contacted by Zaphod Beeblebrox, who tells them that he has found a way to restore the original Earth and all its parallel versions. He also reveals that he has Marvin with him, who is still alive but very depressed. Zaphod asks Arthur and Ford to join him on his quest to find the Salmon of Doubt, a legendary fish that can grant any wish. Zaphod believes that the Salmon of Doubt can help them undo the damage caused by the Vogons and the Consortium.
Dirk manages to escape from Kate and Thor with the help of a talking cat named Gilksy. He discovers that Odin is actually an old man who sold his soul to the Consortium in exchange for immortality and power. Odin is using the Valhalla Project to transfer his consciousness into a younger body, which happens to be Thor’s. Dirk also learns that Kate is actually his half-sister, who was brainwashed by Odin to serve him. Dirk decides to stop Odin’s plan and rescue Thor and Kate from his influence.
Arthur, Ford, Zaphod, and Marvin travel across the galaxy in search of the Salmon of Doubt. They encounter various obstacles and dangers along the way, such as hostile aliens, rogue robots, and paradoxes. They also meet some old friends and enemies, such as Trillian, Random, Slartibartfast, Agrajag, and Wowbagger. They eventually find out that the Salmon of Doubt is hidden in a secret location on Earth, which is guarded by a powerful being called the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal.
Dirk arrives at the Valhalla Project’s headquarters, where he confronts Odin and his minions. He uses his holistic detective skills and his knack for coincidence to expose Odin’s deception and free Thor and Kate from his control. He also sabotages the Valhalla Project’s device, causing it to malfunction and explode. The explosion creates a portal that connects Dirk’s world with Arthur’s world.
Arthur and his friends reach the Salmon of Doubt’s hiding place, where they face the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal. They manage to defeat it by using Marvin’s pessimism and Zaphod’s charm. They then approach the Salmon of Doubt, which turns out to be a large pink fish with a friendly smile. The Salmon of Doubt asks them what their wish is.
Before they can answer, they see Dirk coming out of the portal with Thor and Kate behind him. Dirk recognizes Arthur as his old friend from college and greets him warmly. Arthur is surprised to see Dirk but also happy to see him alive. Dirk explains what happened with Odin and the Valhalla Project. Arthur tells Dirk about his adventures with Ford and Zaphod.
The Salmon of Doubt interrupts them and reminds them that they have a wish to make. It tells them that they can wish for anything they want, but they have to agree on one wish together. It also warns them that their wish may have unforeseen consequences.
The group debates on what to wish for. Arthur suggests wishing for Earth to be restored to its original state before it was destroyed by the Vogons. Ford agrees with him but also wants to add some improvements to Earth, such as better weather and less pollution. Zaphod wants to wish for fame, fortune, and women for himself and his friends. Marvin wants to wish for death or at least some relief from his pain.
Dirk proposes a different idea: instead of wishing for something specific, they should wish for something vague and open-ended, such as happiness, adventure, or mystery. He argues that this way, they will not limit themselves to one outcome and will allow the universe to surprise them with its infinite possibilities. He also points out that this is more in line with the spirit of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which encourages exploration and curiosity.
The others are skeptical of Dirk’s idea, but they also see some merit in it. They decide to give it a try and agree on a wish. They tell the Salmon of Doubt that they wish for “something completely different”.
The Salmon of Doubt smiles and says that their wish is granted. It then disappears in a flash of light, leaving behind a note that says “Don’t Panic”. The group wonders what will happen next.
Suddenly, they hear a loud noise and see a spaceship landing nearby. The spaceship is shaped like a giant yellow rubber duck. The door opens and a voice invites them to come aboard. The voice belongs to Fenchurch, Arthur’s long-lost love who vanished in the previous book.
The group is shocked and delighted to see Fenchurch again. She explains that she was transported to another dimension by a freak accident and that she has been looking for Arthur ever since. She also says that she has been traveling with a group of interdimensional explorers who call themselves the Duck Dodgers. They are on a mission to find and experience the most bizarre and wonderful things in the multiverse.
Fenchurch invites Arthur and his friends to join her and the Duck Dodgers on their adventure. She says that they can go anywhere and do anything they want, as long as it is something completely different. She also assures them that they will be safe and happy with her.
Arthur is overjoyed to reunite with Fenchurch and agrees to go with her. Ford, Zaphod, and Marvin also agree, since they are curious about the Duck Dodgers and their mission. Dirk is hesitant at first, but he decides to join them as well, since he likes the idea of something completely different.
The group boards the duck-shaped spaceship and meets the Duck Dodgers, who are a diverse and eccentric bunch of aliens, humans, robots, and animals. They welcome the newcomers with enthusiasm and offer them drinks and snacks. The spaceship takes off and flies away into the unknown.
The book ends with a message from the author’s ghost, who says that he hopes that the readers enjoyed his unfinished story and that he apologizes for any inconsistencies or loose ends. He also says that he hopes that the readers will continue to explore the galaxy with their own imagination and creativity. He signs off with his trademark phrase: “So long, and thanks for all the fish”.
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