Mass Market Paperback, 179 pages
English language
Published Aug. 13, 2009 by Pan Books.
Thirty years of celebrating the comic genius of Douglas Adams ...
On 12 October 1979 the most remarkable book ever to come out of the great publishing corporations of Ursa Minor (and Earth) was made available to humanity - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
It's an ordinary Thursday lunchtime for Arthur Dent until his house gets demolished. The Earth follows shortly afterwards, to make way for a new hyperspace bypass, and his best friend has just announced that he's an alien. At thiS moment, they're hurtling through space with nothing but their towels and an innocuous-looking book inscribed with the big, friendly words: ö0N'T PANIC.
The weekend has only just begun --back cover
Imagine hearing about the planet/galaxy that you call home, but every detail is slightly different. Slightly more interesting, slightly more comedic, and slightly more mad. An incredibly fun, nerdy, and quotable read.
It's always strange to read a classic decades after it has become a classic, especially when it comes to Science Fiction or any other form that is heavily dependent on the time it was written.
I've read this book at least five times before, three times in the brilliant German translation by Benjamin Schwarz, and twice in the English original (one of those times in a weird censored American book club edition), and there was never any doubt for me that it was one of the greatest books ever written.
But that was in the 90s, and I hadn't read it in the thirty years since. Getting back to it now was an interesting experience. I knew everything that would happen, but not the precise order and descriptions of it happening. Many of the book's parts felt a bit bland, and there were very few situations that made me laugh …
It's always strange to read a classic decades after it has become a classic, especially when it comes to Science Fiction or any other form that is heavily dependent on the time it was written.
I've read this book at least five times before, three times in the brilliant German translation by Benjamin Schwarz, and twice in the English original (one of those times in a weird censored American book club edition), and there was never any doubt for me that it was one of the greatest books ever written.
But that was in the 90s, and I hadn't read it in the thirty years since. Getting back to it now was an interesting experience. I knew everything that would happen, but not the precise order and descriptions of it happening. Many of the book's parts felt a bit bland, and there were very few situations that made me laugh out loud. I soon realised why that was: for one thing, the expectation of finally re-reading one of my favourite books after such a long time had created a level of anticipation that the actual book couldn't possibly match. And on the other hand, many of the tropes presented have become an integral part of our culture over the years.
A large part of the reading experience, therefore, was reassuring myself that this was the origin of all those ideas, that the answer to life, the universe and everything (among many other things) was a masterstroke of an immeasurably creative and intelligent mind, and it is not in any way the book's or its author's fault that so many lesser people have riffed off on it in the meantime.
And yes, it still is that brilliant, it just isn't surprising anymore.
Una lettura imperdibile. Arguto, assurdo ma assolutamente la leggere
One of the best sci-fi novels ever written.
Such an easy read, very amusing
È il libro che consiglio di leggere a tutti, posso dire che ha rappresentato per me una parte importante della mia vita. Lo rileggo spesso e non faccio a meno di divertirmi ogni volta.
One of the most funniest, sharpest book I ever read.
In the beginning there was science fiction. And there was comedy. But never the twain shall, erm, met.
But that all changed when, in the 1970s, an ape descendant called Douglas Adams got very, very drunk and passed out in a field in Austria and found himself assaulted by an idea.
Terribly ordinary Englishman, Arthur Dent, and his slightly less-ordinary friend, Ford Prefect, hitch a ride off Earth mere moments before the aforementioned planet is destroyed to make way for Progress. And then things get weird.
Expect the beige hood of inanity to be lifted off the gooey and absurd innards of reality. And some unreality. And some other stuff too.
Всё-таки тяжело мне даются аудиокниги. Бумажная версия претендовала бы на 5
Absolutely loved this! It made me laugh out loud multiple times. Adams' writing style is excellent and makes me want to read the other books in the series.
It's the original BBC audio production of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Before books and movies, there was this.
If you haven't listened to it, you really should treat yourself.
A brilliant book, reminds me of Rincewind.
The beginning to what turns into a great series. The Hitchhiker's franchise is that kind of thing that people either fall in love with or can't stand. I'm in the former camp. The humor, characters and pacing are at their absolute best here.
It's also a really quick read, so if you end up being in the camp that can't stand it, at least you didn't waste too much time!
it was ok.... wished i would have read it before seeing the movie.... i could only see the characters as they were cast in the movie which i think kinda bogged the book down. it still was a fun read though!.... lots of funny existential or absurd ideas , random tangents and puns.
I've started laughing, I can't stop, and now it HURTS.
