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How could anyone resist a book that is a collaboration between Douglas Adams (who brought us The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) and Terry Jones of Monty Python fame? In this case, Terry Jones wrote the novel based on a scenario by Douglas Adams. The same scenario is being used by Adams's new company, The Digital Village, for a CD-ROM game of the same name. Apparently the whole thing came about from one line that appears in Adams's Life, The Universe and Everything where he said that the Starship Titanic had, "shortly into its maiden voyage, undergone Spontaneous Massive Existence Failure."

If you squint your eyes just right while reading this book, you can imagine it was Douglas Adams that wrote it. It is obvious that Terry Jones and he share a very similar sense of humour. Overall though, the book comes off a little sexier and more complete than any of Adams's works, though lacking slightly in the profound silliness inherent in Adams writing.

This is a very entertaining story about a handful of humans swept into space aboard a slightly insane luxury starship. It is a testament to Jones' storytelling powers, though, that he is able, with very little detail, to establish the characters, their backgrounds and personal struggles and to carry them off realistically in an absurd setting. At the conclusion, the book feels concluded and, after a wild ride through space, you are not left hanging, awaiting a sequel, which is nice. A feeling of fun and mischief winds its way throughout the story and I laughed out loud a few times when reading it.

Rumour has it that Terry Jones asked for permission to write this book while completely in the nude. After reading it, I think he probably did. But don't worry, there's nothing that says you have to read it while in the nude -- unless you want to, that is.

Margo has always been drawn toward fantasy and, at the age of 5, decided to fill her life with it by pursuing a career as a professional actress. Aside from theatre (and her husband), Margo's passion has been for books. Her interests are diverse and eclectic, but the bulk fall within the realm of speculative fiction. She tells us that her backlog has reached 200 books and she's ready to win the lottery and retire.