As far as I know, Eoin Colfer was always very fond of the work of Douglas Adams. Jane Belson, the widow of Adams, supported the last novel being written by Colfer. The book does not have the same drive at all times, but it is a fairly alright last chapter to an epic and bonkers saga. Colfer had some very big shoes to fill here and I think he did a solid job.
Personally, I liked the first 4 books best. Starship Titanic is quite funny, too. My all time favourite book of Douglas Adams is Last chance to see, though. :)
A lot of them look like Oompa Loompas with their fake spray tan, just like the Orange Man across the big lake. Add fake eyelashes and fake nails, bam, that's exactly what OP seems to be talking about. Oddly enough, this applies to Ireland as well.
That's what I love about Irish summers. 3 weeks tops, then back to my beloved shite weather. I am not designed to deal with the 10-14 weeks of boiling hell in Germany each year.
7