Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.
Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker’s Guide (“A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have”) and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox—the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod’s girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years.
Title: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy| Author: Douglas Adams| Publisher: Del Rey| Pub. Date: 12 October 1979 | Pages: 193 | ISBN: 9780345418913 | Genre: Sci Fi | Language: English | Triggers: N/A | Rating: 5 out of 5 | Source: Self-purchased
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Review
“I like the cover,” he said. “Don’t Panic. It’s the first helpful or intelligible thing anybody’s said to me all day.”
I’ve been in a slump. Not the kind of slump that means I have stopped reading altogether, but the kind where I have been struggling to wade through my backlog of unread books, starting multiple books and not finishing them for what feels like forever. It has been one or two months since I have had a 5 star read, and I don’t think this has ever happened to me before. I needed something to put me back on track, and this certainly did that. If you take nothing else away from this word vomit of a review, take away that this book is a slump-buster!
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is full of brilliant British humour, adventure and maybe a slight dose of nonsense. It’s that kind of humour that you’re probably either going to love it or hate it, and I loved it. Absolutely could not wait to crack on with the series, although I may hold some of them back for when I next feel slumpy – that way I can feel safe knowing I’ll be able to bust out of at least 4 more slumps! Winner.
Characters Arthur and Ford are a lot of fun, have their own unique voice and make for wonderful travel companions on this journey. I also really enjoyed the storyline with Deep Thought, the super computer helping to figure out the whole answer to life, the universe and everything.
On finishing the first I went straight into the second and I cannot wait to get back to the next adventure. I haven’t yet seen the film (I know, I’m as surprised as you are), and now I really want to! So long, and thanks for all the fish.
I’d give this 42 stars if I could, but I will settle for 5.
You can find this book at many retailers via clicking on the appropriate link on GoodReads (Buying direct from retailers is a good way to support indie authors); however, in the spirit of supporting literacy programs, we would like to point out that you may be able to purchase this book through BetterWorldBooks.
Sian joined the Coolthulu crew in March 2019 and reviews horror and science fiction books for the site.
She’s trying hard to play it cool but she’s more excited than Lilyn’s new puppy to be part of the crew. PS we got T-shirts!
Do watch out: the series loses steam as it goes on. (Sound familiar?) Considering The Guardian just had a piece on how absurdist humor now rules among young people in Britain, this review is well-timed.