The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (Epub)

Description

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. . . .

User’s Reviews

Amazon.com Review Join Douglas Adams’s hapless hero Arthur Dent as he travels the galaxy with his intrepid pal Ford Prefect, getting into horrible messes and generally wreaking hilarious havoc. Dent is grabbed from Earth moments before a cosmic construction team obliterates the planet to build a freeway. You’ll never read funnier science fiction; Adams is a master of intelligent satire, barbed wit, and comedic dialogue. The Hitchhiker’s Guide is rich in comedic detail and thought-provoking situations and stands up to multiple reads. Required reading for science fiction fans, this book (and its follow-ups) is also sure to please fans of Monty Python, Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series, and British sitcoms. Review “Lively, sharply satirical, brilliantly written . . . ranks with the best set pieces in Mark Twain.”—The Atlantic“Irresistible!”—The Boston Globe“With droll wit, a keen eye for detail and heavy doses of insight . . . Adams makes us laugh until we cry.”—The San Diego Union-Tribune“One of the greatest achievements in comedy. A work of staggering genius.”—David Walliams“Really entertaining and fun.”—Michael Palin“Fizzing with ideas . . . brilliant.”—Charlie Brooker“Weird and wonderful.”—Eoin Colfer“It changed my whole life. It’s literally out of this world.”—Tom Baker From the Inside Flap “IRRESISTIBLE!”–The Boston GlobeSeconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker’s Guide (“A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have”) and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox–the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod’s girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years. Where are these pens? Why are we born? Why do we die? Why do we spend so much time between wearing digital watches? For all the answers stick your thumb to the stars. And don’t forget to bring a towel!”[A] WHIMSICAL ODYSSEY…Characters frolic through the galaxy with infectious joy.”–Publishers Weekly

Reviews from Amazon users, collected at the time the book is getting published on UniedVRG. It can be related to shiping or paper quality instead of the book content:

⭐ I can probably count the amount of times I have quit a book without finishing it. Even the worst I’ll try to trudge through.I got 33% of the way through (says Kindle) and had to put it down. It wasn’t funny. There was a loose story though every time the “Hitchhiker’s Guide” info came up I couldn’t even follow what it was talking about.I can’t figure out why it’s on the “100 Books You Must Read List.” Shrug.

⭐ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams, published in 1979 is a thrilling work of science-fiction and highly entertaining to read. It is a well-written book, with a surplus of thought-provoking ideas. The prose conceals flashes of brilliance and unearths pearls of wisdom. The characters are themselves illuminating, with respect to their sharp perceptions, astute assessments of the situation, quick reactions, and outright candor. You get the impression that the story could very easily have been about a likable group of college students who plan to go on a road trip for spring break, so that they can experience all that life has to offer, let off a little steam, and reduce some stress before final exams. But, alas, the book is more complicated than that. It is more like, what if you know for certain that identifiable flying objects piloted by alien beings are in close proximity, and you have the coded electronic transporter boarding pass device, granting you unlimited access to go anywhere in the universe, right there in your hot little hand. You find that this quite interesting group of individuals demonstrates great camaraderie and superlative rapport in their timely interactions. They provide keen insight, regarding their interpretations of recent events and take on a variety of pertinent subjects. Such as: “what should we do next in order to survive imminent disaster?” Basically, they learn to get along exceedingly well together as they travel through the galaxy in a space ship they’ve somehow managed to commandeer and fly out to distant points as yet unknown. The space ship, incidentally, as it turns out, incorporates the latest and greatest technology ever seen anywhere. Again, the book is cleverly written, of a deeply philosophical nature, and incredibly fun to read. I’d recommend it to anyone. “The Restaurant at the End of the Universe” is the next title in the book series. R. Royce saw the note attached to the refrigerator with a small magnetic ornament in the shape of a wild-flower. It read, “We decided to let you sleep in. Be back in a jiffy with your truck of chinchillas.” “Good morning, Royce,” said Cornelius Korn. “Are you ready to travel?” “Where is everyone?” asked Royce. “They went to gas up the vehicles for the trip to Minnesota. As you know we need to deliver four truck-loads of the cute, cuddly critters to the new chinchilla ranch up near the Canadian border,” explained Korn. “I thought we were still in the early planning stages for that assignment,” said Royce. “How’d you get the ball rolling so fast?” “In case you weren’t aware, the democratic process can work miracles in times of great need. The majority voted we go now,” said Korn. “Plus, we have just received a sizable cash advance on our proceeds, the amount we get upon final delivery.” “Apparently, you didn’t need my vote,” said Royce. “Doesn’t matter. I’m all for the plan.” “The Montana rancher sold us all of his chinchillas, but he’s holding on to the minks and sables,” said Korn. “Makes perfect sense to me,” said Royce. You can make very expensive, complete fur coats out of mink or sable. They manufacture the chinchilla fur hides into fashionable leather coat collars, hats, gloves, and accessories. It involves different manufacturing processes entirely.” “Some people keep them as pets, as well,” added Korn. “They’re docile, playful, and curious. Intelligent creatures.” “You say that we’re delivering paired couples of chinchillas to the rancher in Minnesota?” asked Royce. “And we get a share of the profits for the first litters?” “That’s right,” said Korn. “$20 bonus, for each baby chinchilla born upon or after arrival at the destination. $80 each, for the red-haired, striped, or spotted blondes. That’s because they’re rarer breeds and much in demand.” “I can see how this venture might prove profitable,” said Royce. “What do the girls have to say about our travel prospects? “Mostly, they want to experience fine dining along the way, stay in scenic hotels, and go to the International Mall in Minneapolis,” said Korn. “Who can argue with their logic?” “Not me,” said Royce. “Here they are now. Let’s get this show on the road. Shall we?” “We’re all fueled up and ready to roll,” said Raquel Remington. “I’ve been thinking about those chinchillas. Maybe we should do some additional research.” “I agree,” said Alexis Sue Shell. “There may be a big demand for chinchilla oil in the field of medicine.” “Or, for the wild, musky chinchilla scent, in the perfumery industry,” continued Raquel. “We’ll definitely have to look into the matter and make discrete inquiries accordingly,” said Korn, nonchalantly. Which probably meant that he had other sticks in the fire, as well. For all they knew, he might already have sold some of the cute, furry creatures to NASA for their Mission to Mars program. His next detour: The Biology Unit, Life Support Section, Advanced Obscure Scientific Research Corporation, a subsidiary of NASA. It was inevitable, and so conveniently nearby the chinchilla ranch.

⭐ Author Douglas Adams brings us the opening book in his five-part trilogy of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. As the book opens we meet Author Dent a human from the planet Earth who doesn’t know it yet but his best friend Ford Prefect is from a little planet near Beetleguice. On one Thursday morning Author sees that the local counsel has sent bulldozers to knock down his home. But Ford is rushing to him to talk with him and take him to the local pub because they’re going to need the mussel relaxant. Once Ford arrives there he talks Author into coming with him but just as they’re settling in for their third pint of bear the bulldozers destroy Author’s home. Ford runs after him and makes sure that he grabs a towel to take with him as the Vogon construction fleet fill the sky. Thus begins the adventure for both Ford and Author that will take them to the recently stolen Heart of Gold starship and to the planet Magrathea where Author will find out about the true origins of Earth and why two little white mice want the question to the ultimate answer of 42. This is a great book and I highly recommend reading the entire five book series.

⭐ I’m not sure why I bought this book. I think I thought it was a cult classic or something, or that it would be fun reading, it does have a catchy title. However, I only read 10% maybe 15% of it. It was sooo dumb. Most any motivated middle schooler could do way better. Please don’t waste your time or money. (Like I did)

⭐ Think he will love it.

⭐ This novel is really just a bunch of sci-fi comedy skits linked together with a weak story, and not much of an ending.The main characters have no arc, Arthur and Ford are the same at the beginning of their story as at the end.In addition, the only time the mains characters impact the story is at the beginning when they decide to beam off Earth. Actually only Ford influences the story at that point.After that, Arthur and Ford don’t have any impact on the story, they are merely passages on the story train as the story train continues on its rails to the next scene; intermixed with a comedy skit.The comedy skits are funny and the book has a lot of quotable lines. But as a good story? Mostly harmless!

⭐ When it said it was illustrated, I thought it would be more like a graphic novel. Instead it’s a … collage of photos and images. The layout feels late 1980s-early 1990s, which fits since this was published in 1994. But it’s still a cool book. I love the shiny dust cover. And the book is monstrously large, as others say. I’ve got my 42nd birthday coming up soon, so this is a nice treat. Though a little weird. Just as Douglas Adams would like it, I guess. 🙂

⭐ Either one would put the book down in first few pages, or would be very engaged and continue page after page.The story is intricate, and beautifully woven, involving inter/ intra galactic worlds, employing science and of course probability 😀 ( you’ll understand why I put that imoji while reading the book)This sci-fi book takes some of the major metaphysics questions (or at times put some, if deeply thought, in its own way) – pertaining to cosmology, universe, epistemology in a humour, which is imaginative, innovative, and illuminating on the subject.Right from addressing philosophical questions to attending idiosyncrasies of each character to the description of each one of them – in books lingua – is humorous, very humorous, really humorous, humorously humorous.Apart from reviewed facts, some not so reviewed facts (according to the book) that comes to ones astonishment or curiosity:1. Mind it we earthmen are the third most intelligent beings on Earth (and not the most, and that too only on Earth). And universe also has some hyper intelligent beings, who we on Earth assume to be guinea pigs for our lab experiments.2. You might have had new improved earth with Africa having glaciers with elegantly sculpted contours, soaring pinnacles of ice, deep majestic ravines if by the stroke of destiny Earthman Arthur Dent died in the earth’s reduction to infinite fragments, then drifting around in an empty space.Atlast I think we on Earth also have people trained in Vogonian singing/ poetry (no offence) 😀 If you don’t know about it, just Google “Vogon Poetry”

⭐ My husband challenged me to read this book. Not one to back away from a challenge, I read it. I can see why it has such a cult following. The characters are interesting as are the “theories” of the universe presented in the story. This book fits in the quirky sci-fi genre with some memorable ideas and lines. My favorite being (paraphrase): It’s times like these I wish I had listened to my mom. Why? What did she say? I don’t know; I wasn’t listening.I’m glad I read the book, but I most likely won’t continue the series. I prefer other genres better. But for those who enjoy sci -fit with a satirical twist, then jump right in!

⭐ Unfortunately I couldn’t finish this book. I read in several lists and reviews that this should be one of those books you have to read in a lifetime – well it wasn’t for me.I’ve read similar books tonally e.g. Good Omens, Terry Pratchett discworld novels, and those were pretty good. This on the other hand just didn’t drive the story in a way that would get you engaged from start to finish. It felt like it was trying too hard to be funny (it had funny moments I will admit) but just couldn’t get me to move past the next page and care about the characters.I won’t say not to read or buy this as obviously smarter people (or more people) than me have rated it high in reviews. Probably give it a try and if it’s not for you then its not.

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