The third component is about distribution and the Hitchhiker Economy. We plan to sell print and e-books, club memberships and themed merchandise like towels, working with people such as Zach (Portland) and Dimitri (publishing).
This would start small with events and local bookshops (for example, through a network in Scotland) but aims to scale into an experimental “Hitchhiker Amazon Store” where content from H2G2, new guides and creative outputs are monetised and distributed. The three streams – book club, creative writing and a mini-marketplace – are inherently linked, providing both intellectual and practical value to the wider community.
- Selling books and themed merchandise through local and online platforms. - Collaborating with bookshops, festivals and the H2G2 core team. - Creating revenue and distribution channels for new and old Hitchhiker content.
## 3. Bookstore and Merchandise Network The third core element leverages the existing interest of local bookshops and science fiction festivals in selling Hitchhiker-related books and merchandise. ### Plans & Infrastructure - **Partnering with Booksellers:** In Scotland, the aim is to work with a network of about 25 bookshops interested in selling titles inspired by or connected to the Hitchhiker universe. - **Digital and Physical Distribution:** In Portland, Oregon, an ongoing science fiction festival provides another opportunity to sell books and branded merchandise—such as the iconic towels and other designs associated with the series. - **E-books and Memberships:** The proposed “Hitchhiker Amazon store” would offer physical books, e-books, club memberships, and merchandise—facilitating the broader distribution of Hitchhiker-inspired content created by the book clubs and writing groups. - **Collaboration with H2G2 and Dimitri:** The intention is to involve the core team from H2G2, coordinating with Dimitri for consolidating publications (including both republishing materials from the H2G2 site and launching new works such as a post-apocalypse themed guidebook). ## Next Steps and Governance The organiser wishes to coordinate with key partners—Dimitri, Liam and Graham (Scotland), Ingemetter (Norway), and Zach (Oregon)—to agree on the framework, logistics, and collaboration tools for the book club, writing group, and bookstore initiatives. There is an immediate need to confirm event dates (especially for the Portland festival) and fine-tune the proposed structure with input from local facilitators and core organising members.