Douglas Adams was an English author, scriptwriter, and humorist best known for his iconic science fiction series, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Born in Cambridge in 1952, Adams was educated at Brentwood School and St John's College, Cambridge. He began writing comedy for radio and television, and his first novel, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, was published in 1979. Adams wrote five sequels to the novel, as well as several other books, including Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency and The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul. He also wrote for the television series Doctor Who and Monty Python. Adams died in 2001 at the age of 49. His legacy lives on in the form of his beloved books, which have been adapted into films, radio shows, and video games.