Mass Market Paperback, 160 pages
English language
Published June 10, 1979 by Pan Books.
'People of Earth, your attention please. This is Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz of the Galactic Hyperspace Planning Council. Plans for development of the outlying regions of the galaxy require the building of a hyperspatial express route through your star system, and regrettably your planet is scheduled for demolition.
The process will take slightly less than two of your Earth minutes. Thank you.'
DON'T PANIC
For Arthur Dent, earthling and homeowner, the severe case of planning blight announced above is the overture to a quite remarkable set of travels, guided en route by an equally remarkable book--a book more popular than the Celestial Home Care Omnibus, cheaper than the Encyclopedia Galactica, it's...THE HITCH HIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY! --back cover
2⭐⭐
Segunda oportunidad que le doy a un libro de monstruos y, aunque es muchísimo menos misógino de lo que son por lo general, seguía estando fatal escrito. Encima dura un suspiro.
I absolutely loved the Hitchhiker's series as a young teenager so was curious to discover how I would feel listening to it again now nearly thirty years (eeek)! later. One of the AudioSYNC downloads last week was the Stephen Fry narrated version. He does an excellent job, obviously enjoyed the novel as he reads it and managing to include a few aural nods to the original radio series. I wasn't prepared for how much of the book I still had memorised so apologies to anyone alarmed by the 'crazy' headphoned woman apparently muttering to herself, 'It must be a Thursday, said Arthur, I never could get the hang of Thursdays.' 'Life? Don't talk to me about Life!'.
Marvin is still, for me, the complete star of the show, but the other characters are excellently portrayed too and Adams' dry wit carries the story with a humour that is perfectly suited …
I absolutely loved the Hitchhiker's series as a young teenager so was curious to discover how I would feel listening to it again now nearly thirty years (eeek)! later. One of the AudioSYNC downloads last week was the Stephen Fry narrated version. He does an excellent job, obviously enjoyed the novel as he reads it and managing to include a few aural nods to the original radio series. I wasn't prepared for how much of the book I still had memorised so apologies to anyone alarmed by the 'crazy' headphoned woman apparently muttering to herself, 'It must be a Thursday, said Arthur, I never could get the hang of Thursdays.' 'Life? Don't talk to me about Life!'.
Marvin is still, for me, the complete star of the show, but the other characters are excellently portrayed too and Adams' dry wit carries the story with a humour that is perfectly suited to my own. I hadn't remembered the story having so much politics in it. Admittedly it's disguised well, but prescient ideas such as the new President of the Galaxy, Zaphod Beeblebrox, having got the job for his ability to deflect attention from the real power-holders rang pretty true. The electronic book form of The Guide predated ebooks and ereaders by decades too.
Despite my glorious wave of nostalgia, The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy didn't quite get the full five star rating. There are pacing issues and a couple of plot holes large enough to fly a Vogon constructor fleet through. Some story elements haven't dated well either. The 'small green pieces of paper' will probably still make sense to American readers, but became obsolete in the UK shortly after my first reading of the novel back in the 1980s. That said, where Hitchhiker's 'scores over more pedestrian' science fiction is that it is simply tremendous fun. I could feel Adams' ideas almost clambering over each other to be written down and he had me giggling most of the time.
Still great nostalgic nonsense and sharp satire about this absurd world.
An easy book with a great geeky sense of humor. Many memorable moments and jokes that add up to surprisingly satisfying worldbuilding, but a rather thin storyline – which never seemed to be the main point, anyways.
Why is sci-fi so confusing to read (i need to read slower)
I first read this book a long time ago, when I was about the age my 17-year-old daughter is now. Having finally succeeded in persuading her to read it, I thought it might be an idea to have a re-read of it myself. Aside from a few mentions of digital watches, it was surprisingly undated and an enjoyable read. Douglas Adams remains a brilliant writer!
A really enjoyable read. I always thought this book was the Hitchhikers Guide, but in fact that book features in the story. I loved the concept of The Restaurant at the End of The Universe....
