The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide

Rating:
Summary: Maybe too much of a good thing
Review: While often embarrassing in a public place, laughing out loud while reading is an example of pure pleasure that so rarely occurs that any author capable of producing this effect should be commended. Douglas Adams is such an author. The only problem is his writing style should be taken in small doses, because when read all together you start to get buried in all the clever little comments and they lose their effectiveness. The first two novels in this series are two of the funniest books I have ever read. The basic plot is simple: Earth is destroyed to make way for an interstellar highway and Arthur Dent, one particularly hapless Earthman, is taken along by an interstellar hitchhiker to the far reaches of space. This synopsis does not do justice to the incredible universe Adams drags us into: Ships that run on improbability factors or restaurants checks, a two headed former president of the galaxy who is looking for a real good time, and other events and people too bizarre and numerous to summarize. The problem is that each succeeding book seems to jettison some whimsy for a more serious form of science fiction until in the last book the laughs are hard to find. The first two books deserve the highest rating, but this review is based on all the content contained within. But once you start, you'll want to read all of them, Adams does make sure that the reader wants to know how it all turns out. Hopefully you'll enjoy the journey.

Rating:
Summary: Mostly...uh, 42
Review: One memory I had as a child was sneaking to the library and pocketing the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and reading it. I didn't get all the jokes, and some of it was over my head, but I read it not only as a fine work of humor but as a sci-fi book as well. When I was old enough to know better, I spend money on some of the novels, squirreled the other ones from my like-minded brother, and read through until the fourth book. We even bought the Infocom text adventure, expanding Adams's universe to the interactive novel.

Adams's book has done what few others have--transcended both genres it tries to emulate. HHGTTG is known, like Monty Python, as the epitome of UK humor, a few large steps above Tom Holt and Red Dwarf. But it also reads as a brilliant science fiction novel, and becomes what it tries to parody. Deep Thought was a crack on HAL, but soon Deep Thought *became* HAL, and a scifi classic was born.

The books are all very good--but, like any series, some are better than others. THHGTTG and The Restaraunt at the End of the Universe are serialized from the TV/Radio series, and read as such--episodic spasms of comedy wrapped in a loosely believable overall universe. Life, Universe, & Everything gets a full novel treatment, more lineral than the first two; it presents much of the same humor in a somewhat different, more traditional style. It suffers, but not significantly. So Long--regarded by many to be an abberation to the series--is not as bad as many fans think it is. It indulges perhaps too much in its own self-parody, and is less scifi than straight humor. Yet it makes up for itself in a rather fun (albiet depressing) end story. Mostly Harmless pits us back where we were before, highlighting poor neglected Trillian in what seems to be a wrap-up of the entire mess of a trilogy. MH may disappoint some--especially with the departure of many favorite characters--but levels the series out quite nicely.

Some series--like Asimov's Foundation--get better as the series progesses. Others, such as the Dune books, get increasingly inane and tiresome. Hitchhiker's does much like the former, perhaps bumpier for the ride, but a fruitful and glorious ride nonetheless.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Funniest Series Ever!
Review: When you've just finished a book that's as thick & heavy as a dictionary, it is all too tempting to write pages and pages in review of it. However, I will spare you as much as I can.

The basic premise of the novels is that Ford Prefect is a hitchhiker and writer for "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." He hitches rides all around space, writes up his experiences and sends them in to his editors. As the novel opens up, it's roughly 1980 in England, and he's been stuck on Earth for 15 years because Earth (as we know) has not really made contact with other planets and so he can't find a ride out of there (here). In that time, he has made friends with Arthur Dent, one of the absolutely most endearing characters I've ever come across in literature (even more than a Hobbit).

When we first meet Dent, he thinks his greatest battle for the day will be to lie in front of the bulldozers which want to knock down his house. Little does he know that Earth is also about to be knocked over (obliterated really) for a hyper-space by-pass. Prefect, however, catches on and rescues Dent at the very last minute...Whether or not this was a good thing is up to the reader to decide.

While Adams shows his literal genius for comedic timing and absurd humor within the bounds of Earth at the beginning, once he is freed of all constraints his writing style blazes with unique talent. Every page is so filled with parody, dry wit, perfect timing, and mind-boggling fictitious science that it leaves you laughing aloud and reeling at the same time. I realize that his humor is not for everyone...but for anyone who enjoys satire and for anyone who is frustrated with the insanity of life, this book brings the proverbial comic relief.

From what I've read from hard-core Douglas Adams fans (and there seem to be quite a few of those), books #1, 2, and 4 in this series are Adam's purest works. #3 and 5 are a bit heavier in tone. #6 (Young Zaphod Plays It Safe) is simply baffling.

For those who don't like science fiction, I would say that that shouldn't really be a problem here. While Adams does invent some very funny alien races (like the race with 50 arms that was the only one to invent deodorant before the wheel), his focus clearly isn't imagining how different life can be. Everything in his novels is a satire of humanity - from the bureaucracy to the androids to the laws of physics.

Of all the wonderful things I could dwell on in Adam's work, the last thing I would like to mention is that of all action/adventure stories I have ever read, I think Adams has created a few of the most realistic heroes. Dent, Prefect, and Zaphod - though somewhat resourceful - aren't particularly strong, bold, courageous, intelligent or smooth. They bungle any number of situations, and only Trillian has a real moment of brilliance. And yet, no matter how much they might want to simply run and save their own hides, a sense of duty to man/life nags at their conscience and keeps bringing them to help save somebody. Ultimately, I think this balances out so much of Adams ironic humor about how stupid life can be. Yes, life is absurd at so many levels, but Adams never abandons our Western Civilization ideals of the value of life and our duty to help each other.

Oh, and the dialogue is priceless!

Rating:
Summary: A comic genius!
Review: Douglas Adams is possibly the funniest author I've read. His "Guide" is a wacky, crazy, hilarious tale of a totally clueless human's (Arthur Dent) travels in the big bad galaxy out there. Arthur, like millions of other humans, is totally ignorant about the Universe. Indeed, until the day the Earth is demolished (to make way for a hyperspace bypass!), he doesnt even know that his close friend Ford Prefect belongs to another planet - and is a researcher for the hugely successful book The Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy.

But Ford & Arthur escape from Earth, and set out on a journey of a lifetime, spanning 5 novels so far, where time and space are equally trivial barriers that can be crossed at a leap. Along the way, Arthur finds out a lot he didnt know, and lots more than he ever wanted to know, from hitching rides on passing space ships and teaching their computers to make tea, to the real history of his planet and the knowledge that his is the third most intelligent species on earth(and not, as was widely believed, the second) He also grapples with scientific concepts way beyond his grasp like the Infinite Improbability drive, Somebody Else's Problem field, discontinuities along the probability axis, not to mention the End of the Universe(the universe's most spectacular & profitable catering venture) Douglas Adams serves up one wacky idea after another, a universe wildly beyond our imagination, yet very familiar in its core values of crass commercialization and tasteless marketing hype. The reader is hurled through a series of increasingly improbable events, all held together by equally crazy characters and brilliant, witty(and ofcourse crazy) dialogs.

So if I'm raving so much about the book, why do I give it only 4 stars? Because, like all artists, Adams has his highs & his lows, both of which are present in this collection. I would wholeheartedly recommend the first two novels - Hitchikers guide & Restaurant at the end of the universe. But coming after them, Life, the Universe & Everything is somewhat of a letdown, and So Long & Thanks for all the Fish even more so. Mostly Harmless is better, but still doesnt meet the standards set by the first two. All in all, this book is a collectors item for Adams fans - and I dont regret buying it. But for those just starting out on Adams, I'd recommend they try individual copies of the first two novels.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Funniest Series Ever!
Review: When you've just finished a book that's as thick & heavy as a dictionary, it is all too tempting to write pages and pages in review of it. However, I will spare you as much as I can.

The basic premise of the novels is that Ford Prefect is a hitchhiker and writer for "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." He hitches rides all around space, writes up his experiences and sends them in to his editors. As the novel opens up, it's roughly 1980 in England, and he's been stuck on Earth for 15 years because Earth (as we know) has not really made contact with other planets and so he can't find a ride out of there (here). In that time, he has made friends with Arthur Dent, one of the absolutely most endearing characters I've ever come across in literature (even more than a Hobbit).

When we first meet Dent, he thinks his greatest battle for the day will be to lie in front of the bulldozers which want to knock down his house. Little does he know that Earth is also about to be knocked over (obliterated really) for a hyper-space by-pass. Prefect, however, catches on and rescues Dent at the very last minute...Whether or not this was a good thing is up to the reader to decide.

While Adams shows his literal genius for comedic timing and absurd humor within the bounds of Earth at the beginning, once he is freed of all constraints his writing style blazes with unique talent. Every page is so filled with parody, dry wit, perfect timing, and mind-boggling fictitious science that it leaves you laughing aloud and reeling at the same time. I realize that his humor is not for everyone...but for anyone who enjoys satire and for anyone who is frustrated with the insanity of life, this book brings the proverbial comic relief.

From what I've read from hard-core Douglas Adams fans (and there seem to be quite a few of those), books #1, 2, and 4 in this series are Adam's purest works. #3 and 5 are a bit heavier in tone. #6 (Young Zaphod Plays It Safe) is simply baffling.

For those who don't like science fiction, I would say that that shouldn't really be a problem here. While Adams does invent some very funny alien races (like the race with 50 arms that was the only one to invent deodorant before the wheel), his focus clearly isn't imagining how different life can be. Everything in his novels is a satire of humanity - from the bureaucracy to the androids to the laws of physics.

Of all the wonderful things I could dwell on in Adam's work, the last thing I would like to mention is that of all action/adventure stories I have ever read, I think Adams has created a few of the most realistic heroes. Dent, Prefect, and Zaphod - though somewhat resourceful - aren't particularly strong, bold, courageous, intelligent or smooth. They bungle any number of situations, and only Trillian has a real moment of brilliance. And yet, no matter how much they might want to simply run and save their own hides, a sense of duty to man/life nags at their conscience and keeps bringing them to help save somebody. Ultimately, I think this balances out so much of Adams ironic humor about how stupid life can be. Yes, life is absurd at so many levels, but Adams never abandons our Western Civilization ideals of the value of life and our duty to help each other.

Oh, and the dialogue is priceless!

Rating:
Summary: Wit and ridiculousness.
Review: There are those who don't get "The Far Side" by Gary Larson. It's too wacky and weird. There are those who don't like the wit of "Calvin and Hobbes," passing it by for simpler humor.

There are those who hate "Monty Python" because it's "stupid" or "ridiculous." And there are those who hate the humor "A Midsummer Night's Dream" or "Pride and Prejudice," as its wit is deep and veiled.

Now try and envision an amalgam of these two approaches to comedy. Witty lines, and wordplays, combined with floating penguins and Vogon poetry. You have to be pretty quick to understand some of Adams' jokes regarding quantum mechanics, yet silly enough to laugh at the manic depressive robot, and the apathetic mention of the destruction of Earth. Douglas Adams is simply the best at combining wit with irony and absurdity. And this is simply the best book in which to find his genius.

Rating:
Summary: The best comedy writer since spike milligan.
Review: If you are an Adams fan then this is for you, My copies of the 5 books are all in a rotten state after years of reading and rereading, and I wanteed a tome to keep. Apart from the additional Zaphod story I will not read this for many years. i know it verbatim. Those raised on Pratchett and Rankin might find Adams' humour a little dated to be fair, but he was first and he cannot be replaced.

Cleverer than Pratchett and nowhere near as predictable, Adams seems to start at the beginning and then just bimble along through the narrative, but previous issues reemerge to show that the first three books, at least, were all part of a masterplan.

Rating:
Summary: Funny as.....
Review: I love this book. It has acompanied me on several trips (none of which I have hitchhiked through, though). And, of course, the intro by Douglas Adams adds a bit of class. The main charatcters in this book are all somewhat normal, although a few lean more twords a few fish short of a fish fry. (Tacky, I know. But isn't it delightful?) In this book, the author tells a tale which has made me laugh out loud in class precisly when I shoulnd't have. It is a wonderful book!

P.S. Im not really trying to be helpful, just trying to get others to read it.

Rating:
Summary: No words to describe how perfect this book is!
Review: I'm sure there is probably a fitting word in some far off galactic language but my bablefish is malfunctioning so I'll just have to resort to the English I have on hand. The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy includes all five books in the Hitchhiker's "trilogy" plus the short story "Young Zaphod Plays it Safe". Douglas Adam's had intended for there to be only three books but due to fan demand and the excess ideas running around in his head, lo and behold the trilogy became a series though most fans still refer to it as the trilogy. As a side note, Adams was in the beginning stages of writing a sixth book, The Salmon of Doubt, when he died.

Anyhow, back to the book, the first part, "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy", is the start of the beautiful (and slightly insane) series. The Hero? of the book is Arthur Dent, a man who wakes to find his house about to be demolished to make way for a hiway. He thought the big yellow bulldozer was the worst of his problems until his friend Ford Prefect tells him that Ford is an alien and that the Earth is going to be demolighed to make way for a SuperGalactic Hiway. Anyhow they are saved from Earth in the nic of time and so begins Arthur's amazing adventure through the cosmos. The characters that Arthur Dent meets along the way are well thought out and interesting such as the tempramental Zaphod Beeblebrox with his two heads, Marvin the chronicly depressed robot, and the annoyingly cheerful spaceship doors.

Of all the books included in this collection the first one is my favorite. You can almost see the crazy ideas oozing out of Douglas Adam's genius head. Read this book and witness the birth of your obsession. In these books there are no limits of time, physics, anatomy, or anything really and Adams takes full advantage of this like no other author I have read.
The other books in the series carry on the craziness of the first with most of the same characters and also some memorable new ones. After the first book, my next favorite has to be the fifth one "Mostly Harmless" which centers on Arthur's daughter Random.
Now This book is probably not for everyone. Such as if you have no sense of humor, are obsessed with neatness and order, or have a horrible fear of the number 42. Otherwise, buy this book and get ready to laugh out loud at the absurdity and incredible imagination that is The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

Rating:
Summary: Has to be 5 because genius is rare.
Review: Douglas Adams was very tall. I know because I met him once when I was 16 and only 6'1" and he towered over me. He was still very nice, gracious, witty and funny. Now he's dead. Shame.

This book collects the novels in one place - that's a good thing. It makes it easier for you to buy them. Which means you are more likely to read them. And have a more fulfilled life.

The stories are in some ways slightly dated, but that should not stop you from enjoying one of the sharpest literary descriptions of modern man's incomprehension with reality, life, the Universe and Everything.

Having moved to the USA (from England) I find that much of American corporate culture appears to depend on "SEP" fields. (Somebody Else's Problem). The description of how SEP fields can be induced is a work of genius that could only have occurred when Douglas was hit by an inspiron at a Test Match. No one who has struggled with a bill (Check) at a restaurant can fail to be impressed with "Bistromatics" and everyone can understand Arthur's feelings when he presses a button and it lights up in black on a black background and says, "DO NOT PRESS THIS BUTTON AGAIN"

From the age of about ten I have been completely smitten by these works. When we had an end of term "Mastermind" competition at school, my chosen specialised (sorry had to spell it in English) subject was "The four books of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy"... (dating me) I was only stumped by one question:

"What were the names of the two philosophers who were given the task of finding out the answer to life the universe and everything?" Deep in thought, I could only remember "Majikthighes" (SP)

Even if you don't understand cricket, this book will both educate you in the English psyche, and amuse you effortlessly. The prose is apparently took D.A. weeks to write per page, yet appears fluid and seamless. You can't tell it took so long. Enough said.

Buy and enjoy.

(c) Sirius Cybernetics Corp.

P.S. One of my most enjoyable literary experiences was asking Terry Pratchet at a writers' clinic: "is 'Rincewind' really 'Arthur Dent'". The fact that his answer took 40 minutes tells all...