3 ms·

The whole character of Zaphod Beeblebrox must have been inspired by historical populists. He is Trump, he is Johnson, he is Berlusconi.

harry8 7y ago
Reagan was president. This was treated with far more incredulity at the time than the election of Trump outside the US. It was widely believed at the time across the political spectrum that Regan was a teleprompt reading puppet. Was he? Different question. Tory voters and labour-ites in the uk basically believed it with complete astonishment. The galactic president is just a decoy, the real man is elsewhere worried about his cats. This is part of the story and characterisation that needs to be put into that context. Zaphod had no policies at all. Hardly a populist bogeyman.
- simonh 7y ago
  I think part of it is that us Brits have a hard time getting our head round the idea of a president, or elected head of state, on the basis that over here the role of head of state gets all the pomp and ceremony but behind all that is really a nothing job of only ceremonial importance. The actual work is done by a lowly commoner MP that makes all the real decisions.
  - NeedMoreTea 7y ago
    The president of the US is roughly a 1770s British monarch, with broadly similar powers to George III, except with election and limits on length of service. Since when, we've neutered the powers of our head of state, the US has strengthened theirs.
anonymfus 7y ago
I think that the main inspiration for the political part of Beeblebrox's story was probably 1976 Doctor Who episode "The Deadly Assassin" because Adams was heavy Doctor Who fan who made other borrowings from the show (for example using towels as tools was inspired by Forth Doctor's scarf usage) and soon later wrote a few episodes for it and became a showrunner.
- UncleSlacky 7y ago
  There's also some political commentary in "Young Zaphod Plays it Safe": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Zaphod_Plays_It_Safe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Zaphod_Plays_It_Safe
yarrel 7y ago
He's just this guy, you know?

harry8 7y ago

Reagan was president. This was treated with far more incredulity at the time than the election of Trump outside the US. It was widely believed at the time across the political spectrum that Regan was a teleprompt reading puppet. Was he? Different question. Tory voters and labour-ites in the uk basically believed it with complete astonishment. The galactic president is just a decoy, the real man is elsewhere worried about his cats. This is part of the story and characterisation that needs to be put into that context. Zaphod had no policies at all. Hardly a populist bogeyman.

simonh 7y ago
I think part of it is that us Brits have a hard time getting our head round the idea of a president, or elected head of state, on the basis that over here the role of head of state gets all the pomp and ceremony but behind all that is really a nothing job of only ceremonial importance. The actual work is done by a lowly commoner MP that makes all the real decisions.
- NeedMoreTea 7y ago
  The president of the US is roughly a 1770s British monarch, with broadly similar powers to George III, except with election and limits on length of service. Since when, we've neutered the powers of our head of state, the US has strengthened theirs.

anonymfus 7y ago

I think that the main inspiration for the political part of Beeblebrox's story was probably 1976 Doctor Who episode "The Deadly Assassin" because Adams was heavy Doctor Who fan who made other borrowings from the show (for example using towels as tools was inspired by Forth Doctor's scarf usage) and soon later wrote a few episodes for it and became a showrunner.

UncleSlacky 7y ago
There's also some political commentary in "Young Zaphod Plays it Safe": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Zaphod_Plays_It_Safe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Zaphod_Plays_It_Safe

yarrel 7y ago

He's just this guy, you know?