Yes, I was hacked off with the way Douglas Adams killed off Arthur, Zaphod and Ford, as if he was just fed up with them. Apparently he agreed, he said he was going through a depressed time at the moment, and was working on another book when he died.
I also felt Philip Pullman was harsh the way he separated the two young heroes of 'His Dark Materials', but it seems he is planning on making amends in a sequel.