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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Book 1 in the series:The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a humorous science fiction novel by Douglas Adams that follows the adventures of Arthur Dent, a mild-mannered Earthling who is saved from the destruction of Earth by his alien friend Ford Prefect. Together, they embark on a journey through space and time, encountering eccentric characters like Zaphod Beeblebrox and Marvin the Paranoid Android. The book is known for its quirky, whimsical writing style, filled with absurdity, satire, and philosophical musings on the meaning of life.

The plot revolves around Arthur and Ford's escapades as they hitchhike across the galaxy, facing bizarre situations and navigating through the absurdities of the universe. Adams' narrative style is conversational and comically bizarre, blending elements of science fiction with absurdist humor to create a unique and entertaining reading experience that challenges traditional storytelling conventions.

Characters:

Characters are quirky and memorable, including the relatable Arthur Dent, the eccentric Ford Prefect, and the hilariously absurd Zaphod Beeblebrox, along with others that embody the book's whimsical nature.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by witty and clever humor, absurdity, and accessible prose that pokes fun at both humanity and science fiction tropes.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative follows Arthur Dent as he is rescued from Earth before its destruction, leading to a series of absurd intergalactic adventures with quirky characters and humorous themes.

Setting:

Set across the galaxy, the story begins on Earth before its destruction and then explores various humorous and imaginative alien worlds.

Pacing:

The pacing is brisk, often jumping from one absurd scenario to another, keeping the reader entertained and engaged throughout the series.
At eight o’clock on Thursday morning Arthur didn’t feel very good. He woke up blearily, got up, wandered blearily round his room, opened a window, saw a bulldozer, found his slippers, and stomped off ...

Notes:

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series was originally a radio show before being adapted into novels.
The answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything is famously stated to be 42.
The book begins with the Earth being destroyed to make room for a hyperspace bypass.
Marvin the Paranoid Android is one of the iconic characters from the series, known for his depressive personality.
The book features a variety of whimsical elements, such as a spaceship powered by an improbability drive.
Douglas Adams incorporates British humor and wit that appeals to a broad audience, making the book enjoyable even for non-sci-fi fans.
The narrative style involves absurdity and humor, often poking fun at bureaucracy and human nature.
The series consists of five books, but it is often referred to as a 'trilogy of five books.'
Key phrases from the book, such as 'Don't Panic' and the concept of towels being incredibly useful, have entered popular culture.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy has influenced numerous works in comedy, science fiction, and pop culture.

From The Publisher:

It's an ordinary Thursday morning for Arthur Dent . . . until his house gets demolished. The Earth follows shortly after to make way for a new hyperspace express route, and Arthur's best friend has just announced that he's an alien.

After that, things get much, much worse.

With just a towel, a small yellow fish, and a book, Arthur has to navigate through a very hostile universe in the company of a gang of unreliable aliens. Luckily the fish is quite good at languages. And the book is The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy . . . which helpfully has the words DON'T PANIC inscribed in large, friendly letters on its cover.

Douglas Adams's mega-selling pop-culture classic sends logic into orbit, plays havoc with both time and physics, offers up pithy commentary on such things as ballpoint pens, potted plants, and digital watches . . . and, most important, reveals the ultimate answer to life, the universe, and everything.

Now, if you could only figure out the question. . . .

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

"Extremely funny . . . inspired lunacy . . . [and] over much too soon."-The Washington Post Book World

SOON TO BE A HULU SERIES

Now celebrating the pivotal 42nd anniversary of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy!

Nominated as one of America's best-loved novels by PBS's The Great American Read

Ratings (1082)

Incredible (247)
Loved It (417)
Liked It (229)
It Was OK (129)
Did Not Like (51)
Hated It (9)

Reader Stats (1622):

Read It (1096)
Currently Reading (10)
Want To Read (311)
Did Not Finish (40)
Not Interested (165)

18 comment(s)

It Was OK
1 week

Reread. Last read it 2020. Its funny how much reading tastes changes over the years. Still like it but not at all as much. Lower rating this time around.

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This. Was. Amazing! I wasn't at all prepared that this tiny book would hold so much greatness and other worldy amazingness. It's funny, it's quirky and it doesn't try to be serious but it doesn't feel forced or overly ridiculous. It's just have enough fun bits and it doesn't feel overpowering. It's short but feel like it has the perfect length. I'm glad I got the next book on hand and I can easily say it's one of the best book I've read this year!!

 
Loved It
2 weeks

a really funny book which made me actually laugh out loud a few times and an interesting story which kept me engaged to boot

 
It Was OK
1 month

It felt like it had no real plot.

 
Loved It
3 months

Read it as a group read. It's a weird book, weird dialogues and weird creatures. I enjoyed the book though accepting all it's strangeness. I liked Ford and whom i felt the only intelligent creature (or sensible). I couldnt help laughing on some of the lines,its humourous... And yes it's the 1st book in the series and will be reading the next 4 books :)

 
It Was OK
3 months

I dont feel like it aged to where we are today. Even though it is a favorite of so many.

 
Incredible
4 months

Douglas Adam’s wit, and talent with observing the absurdity of all things, helped a teenager in the 80’s find his place in the world. This book literally changed my life.

 
Incredible
4 months

Favourite book thus far.

 
It Was OK
4 months

I generally wasn't very engaged by this book despite enjoying science fiction and more humorous texts. It may be due to the lack of plot.

 
Liked It
5 months

I don't think this book is meant for me, it's a fun and light hearted romp through space where suddenly your house being demolished is very small in the face of a once in a lifetime trip to space.

I liked the part where the 42 bit was explained, it was an answer to the big question of life but they didn't know the question for it.

Nothing too exciting, but I also think that this book likely pioneered a lot of concepts in modern Sci-fi with an unlikely earthling being blasted off into space.

 
Incredible
5 months

Might have been my third or fourth time reading this one. It’s one of my happy places. Can’t even express how overjoyed Maddy and I were when we realized Riley will be the in the graduating class of ‘42. If you don’t get the reference then you should add this one to your “to read” shelf immediately.

 
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About the Author:

Douglas Adams was born in 1952 and created all the various and contradictory manifestations of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: radio, novels, TV, computer games, stage adaptations, comic book, and bath towel.

 
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