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Summary: A Zany and Unlikely Adventure
Review: When I was in elementary school, this was a common series read by the male nerds and geeks in my school. After reading it, I can now see how much it shaped their speech patterns and writing styles. I found myself smiling as clouds of nostalgia unexpectedly overtook me while reading the series. I was also surprised to find phrases original to this series that have worked their way into the American culture. For example, in order to understand people who speak other languages, the characters in this series simply put a "Babelfish" in their ear. In real life, Babel Fish is a language translation program available on the internet. Since the book it appears in was published in 1979, there's no question of which came first. THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY
We find out that the earth was actually created as an organic supercomputer with the sole purpose of determining the answer to life, the universe and everything. Arthur Dent finds himself whisked away from the earth only moments before the earth is destroyed to make way for a intergalactic bypass highway. Unfortunately, this is right before the earth was to have computed the answer to the question. He and Ford (an alien that has been marooned on earth) hitch a ride on the unsuspecting spacecraft that has just caused the destruction of the earth. They continue their hitchhiking journey throughout the galaxy to a ship called the Heart of Gold (which is actually a stolen vehicle). There, they meet with a series of unlikely coincidences thanks to the ship's Infinite Improbability Drive. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy ends as the Heart of Gold heads for a bite to eat at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe. This series is bizarre comic sarcasm at its best. A smile automatically paints itself on your face as you begin to read. The series reads like a highly improbable dream sequence. I sort of wonder if the author had any conclusion in mind when he wrote it or if he just let the story write itself (not unlike a dream).
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Summary: The hitchhikers guide to the galaxy
Review: By far one of the funniest books I have ever read. Though funny on the outside it has a continuous undercurrent of satire and irony running alongside.The kind of book you could read over and over again without getting a wee bit bored.Arthur, a very normal guy has known Ford Prefect (one of the most ingenious but irritating characters ever created)for six years.One day Ford comes and tells Arthur that they are to leave the earth as soon as possible beacuse by a curious quirk of fate the earth is going to be demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass.Arthur doesn't disbelieve him though and they hitch a ride on the Vogon ship as they watch the earth vapourize.This is followed by a series of wonderful adventures(?)that could only be devised by Douglas Adams.They get themselves into all kinds of situations and surprisingly get out of them . One feels though that the Author is a touch cynical about everything around him and implements his cynicism in his characters.The c! haracters are probably not very well defined with the exception of Arthur Dent who I guess everyone identifies with.Everyone else in the book is very wacky and all of them would be very good case studies for aspiring psychologists. All in all an excellent read and should not be missed by anyone.
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Summary: Review of the audio versions only
Review: Since there are many reviews of the book itself, I thought someone should review the audio versions independently. There are two versions of this title in audio format, the dramatized edition, which is abridged, and the version read by the author, which is unabridged; I have both! I you are a fan of the dramatized versions of books please be sure before you buy which version you are getting. I enjoyed both the dramatized version and the version read by Douglas Adams himself as each has its own pros and cons. The Dramatized version, done by the BBC (or at least the version that I have is), is very well done, as are all of the BBC dramatizations. The cast does a fantastic job as does the special effects team on the sounds. Be aware that dramatized versions are typically abridged, which is not a big problem generaly but some people don't care for it. This version was originally released as a multiple part radio program so if you are familiar with that format you have a good idea of this version. The only drawbacks are the it is in an outmoded format (cassette) and that it is abridged. The unabridged spoken version is read by the author, Douglas Adams, and is very good. This is a special treat since he has passed on. I enjoy the ability to hear the author's concept of how the story should read in his own voice. This version has a permanent home on my iPod so that anytime I need a little boost, I can queue it up. It is easy to listen to and quite enjoyable but if you are used to the dramatized versions of audio books you may find that it takes 5 or 10 minutes to get used to the single voice. It is worth it though! I would recommend either audio version to anyone that commutes or has at least thirty minutes of free time at a stretch. Both versions are well done and are enjoyable to listen to. For anyone who has not experienced audio books before, I would recommend a good tile like this to start off with.
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Summary: A Wholly Remarkable Book.
Review: This is possibly the funniest book in the galaxy...or universe...or whatever. I've read it and "The Restaurant at the End of the Universe" and I can't wait to get the others. I admire authors like Douglas Adams for being able to write such incredibly amusing and complicated books. This story is about Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect, a normal human and a humanoid creature from Betelguese, respectively, and their travels through time and space after Ford saves Arthur because Earth is being destroyed to build a bypass. What follows is an unbelieveably hysterical tale with so much to laugh at and so many events it's nearly impossibly (or at least highly improbable) to do it justice in one review. The other main characters would be Trillian, Zaphod Beeblebrox, and a very very despressed robot named Marvin. In this book, you will learn why you should always bring a towel if you're traveling in space (it means you're a "really amazingly together guy," or a frood, hence the hitchhiker slang expression: "Hey, you sass that hoopy Ford Prefect? He's one frood who knows where his towel is!" Sass means meet and hoopy means "really together guy"), why it is so important never to listen to Vogon poetry, how man used the Babel fish to prove God's nonexistence, and that there are actually people who still think digital watches are a pretty cool idea and feel safer in a completely new and terrifying outer space world if they can see a small package of cornflakes. Oh, and there is much more. But DON'T PANIC! You still have time to read this book before everyone has. And then read the sequal, which is equally hilarious.
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Summary: An insightful and interesting view of human reasoning.
Review: Douglas Adams' book begins with our protagonist, Arthur Dent, facing the destruction of his house to make room for a new highway. This is all well and good until Arthur's friend of many years and closet alien, Ford Prefect, tells Arthur that their life on Earth is about to end, because an alien race wishes to make an intergalactic highway and Earth is in it's way. This is just the beginning of Adams' satire. He shows us that most of our problems are small and petty once put in comparison with something more substantial. The story continues with the President of the Galaxy, Ford's friend from his alien home planet, steals the most powerful ship in the galaxy, the one sporting the Improbability Drive, and takes it for a joy ride. Adams keeps the reader interested throughout the course of the book, giving the answer to Life, The Universe, and Everything, reasons why towels are a hitchhiker's best friend, and reveals the fact that Humans were only the third smartest animals on Earth, next to dolphins and mice, which come from another dimension. This book grips the reader's attention from start to finish, sending him on the most exciting adventure through the galaxy that he has ever been on. With only a few dull moments, and heaps of humor, wit, and sarcasm, Douglas Adams' has written a real winner.
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Summary: Digital watches are a pretty neat idea.
Review: Sorry about my little review below. I just can't understand people who don't like this book. This is the best book by my favorite author. I am an aspiring author and if I could write anything half this good, I could die happy. I'd been trying to write zany space comedies even before I'd even heard of Douglas Adams, but once I read this, I knew I had a long ways to go. Anyway, the rest of the series pales a little in comparison to this book, (especially 'So Long...") but they're all massively entertaining. If you liked the Hitchhiker's Trilogy, try his Dirk Gently series as well. Also, Douglas wrote 3 excellent stories for Doctor Who, "The Pirate Planet" in season 16, and "City of Death" and "Shada" (unfinished, unfortunately) for season 17, a season in which he also served as the show's script editor. Someone said that this book was a Star Trek wannabe. If anything, it serves to show just how limited Star Trek can be when there's books like Hitchhiker's Guide and shows like Doctor Who and Red Dwarf out there. Those poor trekkies, I feel a little sorry for them actually. Anyway, I've gotten a little off the point here, that being that this is the best humor writing around and anyone who can't appreciate this humor just doesn't get it.
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Summary: A hysterical, yet edjucational book that you should read.
Review: As soon as you hear the tittle, "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy", you know something is up and/or going to happen. This science fiction will last a life time, er make that ten life times. The protagonist, an earthling by the name of Arthur Dent, is faced with very unusual events. His friends, who come from a variety of different planets, are trying to teach him about living and handling problems in the Universe, unfortunatly we know the answer to the Universe but not the question. Arthur has many people and creatures to deal with. These include: Zaphod Beeblebrox, The Great Computer, Marvin, and The Heart of Gold. In this book, you will find out that humans are not the second smartest animals on Earth, but that we are the third smartest animals on Earth, that the image of infinity is much worse than infinity itself, and how to translate a Dolphin's message of attempting a backwards flip through a hoop while whistling the national anthem. In other words, this is a hysterical, but edjucational book that every one should read.
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Summary: MY review of a masterpiece
Review: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a unique book all in itself. It is hard to compare it with any other book because there is nothing like it! It is the tale of Arthur Dent as he escapes Earth's destruction with his friend, Ford Prefect. This would not be possible if Ford himself had been born on Earth; he was from somewhere in the vicinity of Beetlejuice. They manage to get on board one of the construction ships that is destroying Earth to make room for an intergalactic superhighway. From there, the adventure just gets more intersting in later books, traveling through time as well as space, from the dawn of man to the end of the universe in a five star resteraunt. Douglas Adams describes every little thing to great detail, making every little oddity worth reading. This first book of the series is in every way one of the best books I have ever read. It even brings about the meaning of life, the universe, and everything; 42. But what is the question? Read the book to find out.
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Summary: Best if read regularly
Review: I read it once a year. If you are not much of a reader, this book will change that!
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Summary: Andy Says
Review: The Hitchhiker's Guide To the Galaxy is a hilariously comic novel about many scientific aspects of the universe and creation. Many objects that seem insignificant turn up later, revealing their significance in the big scheme of things. The story, although funny, isn't necessarily an easy read. It reveals many details relating to other points carrying on throughout the novel and the whole series of novels. Douglas Adams take his readers through his points of view about the universe, which often leaves the reader saying, "What the crap?" However one can't help laughing at how ridiculous the situation is. The book is definitely difficult to put down.
All who like science fiction will love Douglas Adam's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. One does need to keep an open mind while reading the novel because Adams makes fun of most aspects of the creation of the universe that are popular to most people. If in general you have no idea what you believe and you do get offended is your own damn problem. After all, it's just science fiction. It's not like he means it! In closing, "life, we apologize for the inconvenience."
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