Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency

Adams is much better known for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and its sequels, but to be honest I prefer this. Hitchhiker's Guide is a cornerstone of science-fiction humor, but Dirk Gently's a little less random and more interesting as a story.

The character of Dirk Gently is a detective who attempts to solve mysteries by looking at the "fundamental interconnectedness of all things", which he mostly uses an excuse to bill his clients for extravagant expenses, but it's really what the book is all about. At first, the different chapters jump wildly between seemingly disparate characters and events, but as the story goes on, things start falling into place as connections form where they didn't exist previously, and before it ends it all comes together in a single, cohesive, intelligent plot. What seemed strange and meaningless before is all explained or can be inferred, and it's so clever that it's hard not to smile while reading it. It really helps to know certain things about Samuel Coleridge's work to understand the resolution, but that information isn't hard to find.

It's really an interesting story that seems grounded despite dealing with time travel, aliens, ghosts, and alien ghosts. It's led along by a really good cast of characters. Dirk himself is a unique but strong semi-protagonist, as he does most of the mystery solving, but the narrative is from the perspective of his old classmate Richard the most often. Richard is intelligent but absent-minded, and a sympathetic guy. Susan and Janice are good female characters, especially Janice who's angry rapport with her employer, Gently, is quite funny. Sergeant Gilks, the only person who isn't befuddled by Dirk's wit, is also a standout. Gordon's struggle with his newfound form of existence is definitely quite compelling, and Reg, the old professor, is likable.

It took me some time to get into the book, since I was busy with school when I started, but before long it got rolling and I finished it up pretty quickly. It isn't the deepest of thought-provoking novels, but it's an enjoyable read throughout.