Rating: 
Summary: Douglas Adams best book......And it still holds up well
Review: I have not read all 147+ reviews of this book, but I am sure that at least one other person has mentioned that this book was Mr. Adams's favorite of all his books. Anyone who enjoys (even vaguely) The Hitchhiker's Guide series will see why Adams was so proud of this book.This is much more than a book on ecology. This is not a book on how awful humans are, and if the reader had one shred of social conscious, the reader would immediately do him/herself if for the good of the planet. In writing this book, Mr. Adams knew that there were already forests of trees chopped up for numerous retelling of Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring." Mr. Adams, then, needed to produce the book on ecology one would expect from a science fiction comedy writer. And he does. "Last Chance to See" reads like an adventure story of Douglas the city kid, heading out into the wild to look at animals that are on the brink of extinction, and the efforts and personalities of the few who are trying to prevent that extinction. See Douglas Adams lose his mind while his small helicopter flies within inches of sheer faces. Listen to Douglas Adams explain why he doesn't care for birds in general, but feels a special affinity for birds that can't fly (It all relates back an emu running lose in a zoo. Adams stared the emu in its eye, and realized the strain of not flying made it "barking mad"). Empathize with Adams in 1988 Beijing (when western tourists were still a novelty), trying to explain to clerks who do not quite speak english that he wants to buy condoms (I am not making that up). If you have ever enjoyed anything by Douglas Adams, you will not be disappointed by this book--But you will once again be heartbroken that such a fun and gifted author died so young.
Rating:
Summary: Douglas' world tour visiting endangered species
Review: LAST CHANCE TO SEE is probably the book Douglas Adams was proudest of.
If possible, I recommend that the reader not only acquire a copy of the book with its photographs, but also an audio recording of Douglas narrating the text. His writing works best when read aloud by him, I think. The origins of the book are discussed in the first essay, "Twig Technology" (see below).
The text (apart from "Mark's Epilogue", see below) is written in first person by Douglas throughout, an autobiography of his travels in Mark's company under the aegis of the BBC. (If anyone out there can get hold of recordings of the original BBC broadcasts - I envy you.)
"Preface" explains the dedication (to the photographer on the first trip) and also who the coauthor is. "Mark did the tough bits. He did all the preparation and organisation and research involved in mounting the trips, and also taught me most of the small amount I now know about zoology, ecology, and conservation work. All I had to do was turn up with a suitcase and try to remember what happened for long enough to write it all down."
"Twig Technology" is the tale of the monkey-descendants' journey to Madagascar, the last monkey-free refuge for lemurs on Earth, when the OBSERVER COLOUR MAGAZINE sent Douglas along as the "extremely ignorant non-zoologist" who would basically translate the experience of looking for aye-ayes - the then-rarest of the lemurs, with Mark, the expert. Douglas' question, "I've just got a couple of novels to write, but, er, what are you doing in 1988?" led to the rest of the journeys in this book, taking advantage of 'the last chance to see' the other endangered species discussed in the book.
Incidentally, the "couple of novels to write" that delayed Douglas' joining Mark for the trip in 1988 should explain the Mauritius scene in DIRK GENTLY'S HOLISTIC DETECTIVE AGENCY.
"Here Be Chickens" - as well as, of course, Komodo dragons. (The whole incident of the "stuffed" dragon making off with the live chickens was recorded by the BBC, I believe, but the actual live recording isn't included on Douglas' abridged reading of the book, more's the pity. He just includes his version, which is quite entertaining as it is.)
"Leopard-Skin Pillbox Hat" is part of a description of an official photo of the president of Zaire (as it was known then), and is offered as a Clue (TM) as to why the wildlife of Zaire is endangered, together with the description of the various government officials going to work on Douglas. "Like most colonies, Zaire had imposed on it a stifling bureaucracy, the sole function of which was to defer decisions upward to its colonial masters. Local officials rarely had the power to do things, only to prevent them from being done until bribed."
The specific species dealt with are the silverback mountain gorillas, who live near the Rwandan border, and northern white rhinos. Some of the good stuff includes the mountain guides ("magnificently smooth characters" with a lot of tales about being ex-commandos, shooting poachers, and so on), German students (referred to as "Latvian" because German jokes are too easy)
"Heartbeats in the Night" - the mating call of the kakapo, the rarest and weirdest of the rather eccentric lot of flightless birds in New Zealand.
"Blind Panic", the duo's trip to China to see the Yangtze river dolphin, isn't included on the abridged audio recording.
"Rare, or Medium Rare?" the grand finale on Mauritius, picking up with more birds and endangered plants. The most famous of Mauritius' birds - the dodo - is also included.
"Mark's Epilogue" - was this really the last chance to see these animals? - isn't included on the abridged audio recording.
"Sifting Through the Embers" is Douglas' version of the tale of the Sibylline books - all the knowledge and wisdom in the world that was destroyed piece by piece, with the surviving bits offered at a higher and higher price to those who turned out to need it.
As well as "Acknowledgements", the book concludes with "One More Chance...", which provides contact information for the various conservation organizations responsible for the species encountered during the authors' travels.
Rating:
Summary: entertaining and interesting
Review: This book took me by surprise. If you expect the usual twisted science fiction that Douglas Adams normally is associated with, you will be surprised as well. It is fascinating how someone can make a book on the subject "animals under threat of extermination" that not only is interesting and informative, but also highly entertaining. This book is just as funny as his other books, but in a completely different way.
Rating: 
Summary: Bittersweet
Review: We lost Mr. Adams not long ago, so it was painful for me to read this. But I must say, the man knew his stuff. He approached his subject from a layman's point of view--the best approach one could choose, because most of us seem to have lost touch with the aliens that inhabit our own world. Aliens who have for much too long been ignored and endangered by all of us.
Suddenly we find ourselves contemplating the blind baiji dolphins of China--as though we ourselves had seen such fragile, wonderful beasts. We find ourselves searching the night for heavy-weight parrots in New Zealand who have forgotten how to fly and what's worse, how to mate. We are at last made aware of the lovely island of Maruritus where dodos died and where many other birds are in danger as well.
It is disheartening. But it is enlightening.
And, actually, Douglas makes us laugh--especially at human beings, who, he reminds us, are animals, too.
How are they doing, all these creatures, 12 years after this slender book was written?
Give this book to the animal lover in your life. It is a Hitchhiker's Guide to hope.
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