THE SALMON OF DOUBT: HITCHHIKING THE (2002)

When Adams died at age 49 last year, the world lost a very funny man who had single-handedly discovered the solution to the mysteries of life (see the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy trilogy). Adams' sensibilities were molded by a love of science, the Beatles, and Monty Python (''I wanted to be John Cleese and it took me some time to realise that the job was in fact taken''), and this posthumous collection, a fitting eulogy to the master of wacky words and even wackier tales, reflects his myriad interests. From a sci-fi magazine fan letter written by a 12-year-old Adams to chapters from his unfinished novel -- with musings on Macs and margaritas in between -- Salmon leaves no doubt as to Adams' lasting legacy.