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Summary: A hitch-hiker's guide to Love
Review: Here we have the strange, touching love-story between socially challenged bust most humane Arthur Dent and the gentle, Lost-for-an-Answer Fenchurch. This book is different from all the rest, much more poetic and symbolic, celebrating the best in human nature. Then we have God's Final Message to His Creation. Here the series should have ended, but, alas, there was to be "Mostly Harmless".
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Summary: How Arthur Dent sheds the bathrobe and finds true love
Review: So Long, and Thanks For All the Fish, the fourth book in the Hitchhiker's "trilogy," is a much different read than the books preceding it. Gone are the skips and jumps from one galaxy and time to another, the almost constant evasions of certain death, the madcap hilarity that ensued whenever Zaphod, Ford, Trillian, Arthur, and Marvin got together (or split up), and the maddening pace of a well-told tale going happily along with little care whether or not the story ever approached an appropriately witty conclusion. This is basically the story of the young lady who figured out the secret of happiness just seconds before Earth was destroyed by a Vogon fleet preparing the way for a hyperspace bypass. It is also Arthur Dent's story. Sure, we got to now Arthur fairly well in the first three books, but he does spend an inordinate amount of time saying things like: What?, I don't understand, Is it possible to get a cup of tea? and That's it then, we're all going to die. Once you get him out of that well-traveled bathrobe, Arthur Dent turns out to be a real person-a little weird, of course, but real, rather complex, and surprisingly interesting nonetheless.The story opens with Arthur's return to Earth. I know Earth has already been destroyed, but that's just a minor detail. Why and how Arthur returned is something of a mystery, but he is amazed to find that his home planet not only exists, but that no more than six or eight months have passed since he left suddenly eight years earlier. His readjustment to life back home makes for good reading, but what is really important is that hapless Arthur Dent soon falls in love; it happens at first sight, even though the enchanting Fenchurch is quite unconscious at the time. Lucky enough to accidentally meet her in a more lucid state, Arthur's rather feeble attempts to tell her how and why he is powerfully drawn to her surprisingly meet with some success. Then the type of thing that can only happen to Arthur Dent (or me, in all likelihood) separates the two soon-to-be lovebirds for some time. I found the description of Arthur's dysfunctional romance with Fenchurch to be as touching as it was humorous. Their entwined fates take them on a journey of discovery which culminates in their discovery of God's final message to Creation. Those who want the type of nonstop action found in the preceding books may be somewhat disappointed here. The pace is much slower, but the character development is rich and winsome. Zaphod fans will be disappointed by his total noninvolvement in this book. Ford makes only a glorified cameo appearance, while Marvin makes a brief but quite memorable return. I myself have a special affinity for this novel; unlike its more humorous predecessors this one seems important and meaningful. Additionally, you have to be happy for Arthur's unprecedented feeling of happiness in a universe he can verifiably assert to be quite off its rocker.
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Summary: A step backwards for Adams...
Review: The fourth in the madcap sci-fi/comedy series takes a misstep right from the start. It turns out Earth wasn't really destroyed, and our hero Arthur Dent returns to his Islington flat and falls in love with a woman who once knew the secret to life, but forgot it. This book would almost completely be fluff if it weren't for writer Douglas Adams' telling you how boring the book is, but how exciting the last chapter is. He's right. The book is boring, the laughs are few and far between, but the final chapter is dead-on and the only part of the book that feels like the earlier three. However, the series would only get worse with "Mostly Harmless," the fifth book.
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Summary: a Hitchhiker's love story
Review: "So Long, and Thanks For All the Fish" is without a doubt the best book in the entire Hitchhiker's trilogy (even though its book four). This book strikes me as having a very similar tone to Adams' Dirk Gently novels--of which I am a huge fan. While there is every bit as much hilarious caper going on in this book as there was in the previous three, we get the added bonus of some great character development, a few of the most poignant moments in the entire series, and Marvin's moving farewell to life, the universe and everything. We also discover God's final message to his creation. Woven throughout all the other stuff of this story is a tale of Arthur falling in love. I was surprised by Adams' ability to write a great love story. Rarely have I encountered one as powerful in any form of popular fiction (the only other that deserved to stand with it is Stephen King's "Wizard and Glass"--but that's apples and tank treads). Now that I've managed to blather ineffectively about this great book...just take my word. Get it. It is more than worth it.
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Summary: Very Fresh Addition
Review: This 4th book in the Hitchhiker's trilogy is very fresh! There are a bunch of new characters, and Arthur's life takes on some new and interesting twists. We haven't seen any romance in Arthur's life yet, but he's about to find some! Fenchurch (the girl friend in question) is mysterious AND funny! And their visit with Wonko the Sane (at least that's what he tells everybody) answers a lot of questions about the dolphins. Then there are the sideline characters that are just plain hilarious. I couldn't stop laughing at Rob McKenna and Will Smithers! I have to admit I wasn't too anxious to start this book after the last one. I was thinking that Adams was trying to add another sequel to what was at first a genius story, but was beginning to be overplayed. Ever had that sensation going to the umpteenth sequel of a tired movie? You forget how great the first one was because the last one is so boring and repetitive. Well, he DOESN'T do this! This book is like a homer with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth! The setting has changed (primarily to earth). (What, hadn't earth been blown up?) And a few of the mainstay characters don't even appear. It really adds a new dimension to this unique and tremendous series! Would this book be complete without a visit from Marvin? I think not. Read this book; you may even find a little peace - like he does.
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Summary: This Is Another Great Book By Adams
Review: I loved this book and I see no reason for you not to like it, it stays true to the series and I thought it was the funniest in the series besides the first. You got to read this book and buy twenty-three copies to distribute between your friends and co-workers, the book is that good. You may ask, "Why should I buy twenty-three copies to distribute between my friends and co-workers?" I have one answer for you. You need to spread the spirit of Douglas Adams, because he can't do it himself anymore. Please show your respect for the series and recruit more hitchhikers. Earth lost a good person last year. In fact we lost a lot of good authors, Poul Anderson and Gordon R. Dickson just to name a couple. Show your respect by reading a book by an author who died last year. Adams' death came way too soon. I give "So Long, and Thanks For All the Fish," five stars.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent with titles
Review: Lovely carrying on in the spirit of the "trilogi of 4 " it defines. Not for someone who has not read the others in the trilogy.
Rating:
Summary: Read it!
Review: Douglas Adams has done it again. A hysterical addition to the trilogy. If you love comedy and science fiction this is a must read. Ideal for children aged 12-102.
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Summary: So Long humor - stick with the trilogy!!!
Review: The first book was terrific, the second great, the third good. Now, however, I think Adams has lost his thread. Looking back on the plot, I realize that nothing was accompished exept the introduction of Fenchurch - a desperatly normal characture. If you really want to finish the series than read the book but it is wiser just to remember the first three books. Of course, if you're a fan you're not going to take my advice and read it anyway but remember, I warned you!
Rating:
Summary: Different, but very good
Review: As the fourth book in the Hitchhiker "trilogy", this is a great novel and a step up from Life, The Universe, and Everything in quality. It starts off very funny, and the first couple of chapters are some of the most hilarous in the series, but gradually the humor slips away (for the most part), and though it is present, the central bit of the plot is, believe it or not, a love story. And a very good one, too. This change from the normal pace of the series makes the book a joy to read, and you'll probably zip through it pretty quickly. Definately read the previous books in this series first, for continuity and coherence (even though it more or less stands on it's own.) The first two books in the series were comedic masterpieces, but the third book started to slow somewhat... So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish is however, an excellent book, and a return to greatness for the series.
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