Douglas Adams is my creative hero. His work has inspired me from the day that I first read The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and since, I’ve read a book in that series roughly once a year, if not more often. That goes the same for Adams’ other notable creation, private detective Dirk Gently.  When IDW Publishing got the license to create works based on Adams’ creations, it was one of the best things I’ve ever heard.

IDW enlisted writer Chris Ryall, who does a lot of great work for the company, to create brand new stories for Dirk and his holistic detecting. What resulted was The Interconnectedness of All Kings, the first volume in Dirk’s new journey.

The story takes Dirk out of England and off to San Diego, where he begins his next case, one which brings all of the classic detective work into play: mummies, serial killers, tea, and a few blasts from the past.

While I wasn’t totally on board at first with some of the major changes to the series (the location, for starters), this book quickly grabbed me by having a deep, true connection to the voice of Douglas Adams.

Ryall truly finds the voice of this book, absolutely nailing the personality of Dirk from the start. The series hits a real stride, taking seemingly random concepts and tying them together near the end, something that truly represents the holistic nature of Dirk’s philosophy.

The look of the series itself was also a bit of a surprise, but a pleasant one. Artists Tony Atkins and Ilias Kyriazis bring forth something really terrific and totally in line with the franchise while still being unique.

Overall, this is a great series for fans of Dirk and of Douglas Adams. There are some fun references for those who know their backstory. It might not be totally for the unfamiliar, but for fans, this is a can’t miss. Also, those unfamiliar should get familiar, either with this book or by going back prior. It’s a great read.