Last Chance to See

Flibster · 14-09-2009, 08:38

What a fabulous series this is turning out to be.

Stephen Fry following Douglas Adams footsteps going all over the world, finding and filming animals that are close to extinction. Plus it looks magnificent in HD.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/lastchancetosee

The original book is superb, with Douglas' description of visiting a specialist in venomous creatures in Australia being a particular favourite moment of his. He used to read that regularly at live events as well as chunks of the HHGTTG. The Audiobook is good too *if you can find a copy - it's pretty rare now*

Douglas talking about the Kakapo is one of my favourite book sections of all time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Douglas Adams extract

It is an extremely fat bird. A good-sized adult will weigh about six or seven pounds, and its wings are just about good for waggling a bit if it thinks it's about to trip over something - but flying is completely out of the question. Sadly, however, it seems that not only has the kakapo forgotten how to fly, but it has also forgotten that it has forgotten how to fly. Apparently a seriously worried kakapo will sometimes run up a tree and jump out of it, whereupon it flies like a brick and lands in a graceless heap on the ground.

Pumpkinstew · 17-09-2009, 15:23

I've been quite disappointed with it so far.

The first two episodes have been around half Mark Carwardine being engaging and enthusiastic and talking about conservation and around half Stephen Fry being pompous and complaining about not being able to Twitter.

Like you I'm an enormous fan of the book. In particular the Kakapo chapter and Douglas' description of New Zealand -'Landscape that makes you want to break into a spontaneous round of applause'.

17-09-2009, 15:23	#2
Pumpkinstew Absinthe Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Mostly Oxford, Sometimes Bristol Posts: 1,156	I've been quite disappointed with it so far. The first two episodes have been around half Mark Carwardine being engaging and enthusiastic and talking about conservation and around half Stephen Fry being pompous and complaining about not being able to Twitter. Like you I'm an enormous fan of the book. In particular the Kakapo chapter and Douglas' description of New Zealand -'Landscape that makes you want to break into a spontaneous round of applause'. __________________ Get old, or die tryin' PSTEWREVIEWS - Chunks of Meaty Reviews, Mixed with Your Five a Day of News, Comment and Opinion, Floating in a Broth of Suspect Grammar and Seasoned Liberally with Mixed Metaphor. Tasty.