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The Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul (Magill Book Reviews)

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Kate Schechter is in Heathrow Airport to catch a flight to Norway when the check-in desk suddenly shoots through the roof in a ball of flame. Back in London, private eye Dirk Gently arrives late for an appointment to discover his client’s severed head revolving on a turntable. Kate and Dirk attempt to find rational explanations for these bizarre events, occasionally bumping into each other. After numerous misadventures, they find they have stumbled into a quarrel between Odin, the principal Norse god, now living contentedly in an expensive English psychiatric hospital, and his prankster son, Thor, the god of thunder and lightning. Their quests lead Kate and Dirk separately to Valhalla where the detective ends the mythical disagreement.

Adams, best known for THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY quartet, an eccentric mix of science fiction, Monty Python, and P.G. Wodehouse, introduced another series with DIRK GENTLY’S HOLISTIC DETECTIVE AGENCY. In this second installment, as with his earlier novels, Adams combines inspired silliness with semi-serious explorations of philosophical issues. How can people find peace and happiness, he asks, when even the immortals are dissatisfied with their lot? Placing such questions on the same level as wondering why London restaurants refuse to deliver pizza is Adams’ distinct charm. Despite many delightful moments, especially when Dirk tricks a surly mechanic into repairing his ancient Jaguar, this latest effort is not as dense with incident or as rich with interesting characters as are his previous novels.