The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide Series #1)

Review of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

I know, I know.. I should have read this book before then. I have a vague memory of attempting to read it about 10 years ago - but that was when books only interested me if they had a half-dressed hunk on the cover and promised a few hours of romantic dreams.

Clearly, this book didn't do that - so on the shelf it went. Now, in reading through the 1001 books to read I saw the name again and thought, hm.. perhaps I should give it a try. I'm glad I did.

While much of the book feels like it's still over my head (and it took me longer to read then I thought it would, seeing as I had to keep going back over things I didn't understand), I got more than my fair share of giggles out of it.

I don't think there's really anyone out there who doesn't know what this book is about - so let me tell you what my impressions of it were before, and after reading it.

Before I started reading this book I thought I knew the story. I understood 42 was somewhere in the book, and my impressions of the story came from an old PC game I picked up several years ago (I gave up on that game very quickly too). I knew there was a ship computer that talked, and that there was a depressed robot. And mostly I knew it was the story of a man named Arthur Dent. What I didn't know was how it all fit together.

Now I've read the book. I've laughed at the ship computer, finally understand that XKCD comic about the Kindle, loved loved loved Marvin the depressed robot and felt much of the same confusion that Arthur Dent must have felt. And I still don't quite know how it all fits together.

And that's why I like the book so much. Because I'm going to have to read it, and read it again - and although I think I still probably won't get it, I think I'll enjoy reading it every time, just like I enjoyed reading it this time. And really, if you can't enjoy reading a book... what's the point?

7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

Don't Panic!

If total randomness is not your thing, steer clear of this book. Douglas Adams' "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" starts with the Earth being destroyed to make way for a hyper spatial expressway. The main character, Arthur Dent, and his friend, Ford Prefect, escape annihilation by hitchhiking their way on board one of the Vogon ships that were in the process demolishing the Earth. After being found and thrown into space, they are rescued by the Heart of Gold, a state-of-the-art ship stolen by the president of the galaxy, Zaphod Beeblebrox. When Arthur and Ford meet their hitchhiking hosts, they discover it to be Zaphod and Trillian. Arthur had previously met Trillian at a party on Earth, just before Zaphod swooped in and took her off into space. The four travelers find their way to Magrathea, a legendary planet known for manufacturing custom planets. When they get to Magrathea, Zaphod, Trillian, and Ford are captured and detained by Magratheans. Arthur is greeted by an old man, Slartibartfast. He educates Arthur on the history of Magrathea and the computer designed to answer the question to life. This computer was known as Deep-Thought and produced the answer of forty-two. The question, to which this answer belongs, is not known by Deep-Thought. Luckily, Deep-Thought provides the plans for a super computer that will produce this question. The Earth is the key, but if you want to know more, you will just have to read the book. While I found this book to be confusing at times, it was also extremely entertaining. Until you finish the book, it comes across as being completely random. But after finishing the book, everything sort of comes together. The randomness is what makes this book what it is; without it, it would just be a boring story about four people. I definitely recommend reading this book, but if possible, read the book before watching the movie. While entertaining, the movie is not nearly as good as the book. It is a more enjoyable read if done before watching the movie.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

BEST BOOK EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my gosh this book is hilarious. This book will make u lol rotf.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

It may be old and I may be young but...

I loved the while series. It is preposterous, ridiculous, British and just so...unreal. If you want to just not have to think too seriously about anything and just want to escape for awhile...take a chance on this and find yourself somewhere else. I'm only 25 and the first time I read it was ten years ago but it's a quick laugh worth a quick read.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Too expensive

There's a cheaper version: The Ultimate Hitchiker's Guide
12 .00 for the entire series vs. 8.00 for the first one only.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great Book!

Maggie Homer 9/8/10
Book Review

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
By Douglas Adams

Douglas Adams wrote The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. It takes place in the present time and the main character's names are Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect. This sci fi novel takes hilarity and imagination to a whole new level. Arthur is a normal middle aged man with a friend, Ford Prefect, who claims to be an alien from outer space. Little does Arthur know, it's true. Arthur and Ford embark on a ridiculous journey through space that takes them from a Vogon space fleet to meet a three armed, two headed alien who happens to be president of the galaxy, and Ford's cousin. I would recommend it for all audiences, especially those who like a good laugh in their reading.
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy is a fantastic book. It was described as "Extremely funny, Inspired lunacy. and over much too soon." Personally, I loved this book. The sheer ridiculousness of the plot itself is emphasized by the author's descriptions of everything in space. According to Douglas Adams, the universe is filled with all sorts of species. There are Vogons, humanoids, octopodic physucturalists, and hooloovoos, among many other things. A hooloovoo is a "super intelligent shade of blue". The imagination it must have taken to create this book is incredible.
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy takes its title from a commonly used device in the story. The device is like a book except it has a screen that shows an index. The index has everything you would ever need to know about the universe. The most important quote in the guide is "A towel is the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have." A towel can be utilized as a blanket, a pillow, a bag, a coat, and to clean things up to state just a few of its myriad uses. The Hitchhiker's Guide is featured throughout the book and they use it often during their travels.
One of the aspects I love about this book is that there is absolutely no moral. There is no life lesson at the end. One of the reasons for this is probably the fact that the book is so completely unrelateable to. The story is written purely for the reader's entertainment. At the end of the book, they can't exactly tell you to 'never ride in a Vogon Spaceship' or perhaps 'when traveling in outer space, always bring your towel and some peanuts' because the fact is, you will probably never have the chance to ride in a Vogon spaceship, or travel in outerspace.
This book is one of the best I've ever read. The creativity and wit of the writing make it hard to put down. I finished the book quickly, and i finished it laughing. I think that anyone with a sense of humor would truly enjoy this novel.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Fanshmabulous!

Hitchhiker's Guide is the funniest thing I have ever read. Well, Woody Allen's 3 books were hilarious too, but Hitchhiker's is definitely the funniest NOVEL I've ever read. Hitchhiker and Restaurant at the End of the Universe are both 10s, and I would have loved to actually see them combined to make one bigger, fanshmabulous book. Life, the Universe and Everything (the 3rd) is not quite as good as the first 2, So Long and Thanks for All the Fish is worse than # 3, and Mostly Harmless is the worst of all. I recommend at least the first three books, however. But make sure, if you read Hitchhiker, to at least read Restaurant. This pretty well wraps up Arthur Dent's adventures in time and space and probably could have ended the series right there without missing too much. Yes, Hitchhiker and Restaurant would make an excellent book. Maybe if I get some tape...

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Funny and clever all the way!

Loved the book! Is a mix of nerdy cleverness and a little intrigue on every chapter.

NICE BOO

NICE BOOK

Hilarious!

Don't Panic..... and just read this book! Fantastic, funny, and will stay with you. Also make sure you read the other books in the series as well. A warning to those that saw the movie, although the movie script was written by Adams, the book is not the same. Both are hilarious tho.

Territory

Warriors den

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

That last comment gave me nightmares

See? Niw that you went and read it too, before you read mine,you're gonna have nightmares.

READ THIS COMMENT

I do not hav the nook version for thus but i have the actual book and i have two word for it...LOVE IT!!!! It is one of the best books ever. Btw...IF U SAW THIS COMMENT AND DID NOT BUY THE BOOK I WILL HUNT U DOWN AND RIP OUT UR SPINE AND THEN UR ADAMS APPLE WITH MY BARE HANDS AND THEN U WILL DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Funny and Clever

This book was very funny, with lots of sarcasm and irony. It was a very creative story, and I really enjoyed it. I look forward to reading the rest of the "trilogy"!

Awesome book

One of the most hilarious books i've eer read!

This book was hilarious!

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy was absolutely hilarious. Douglas Adams has a very dry, snarky sense of humor, and I found myself giggling a little at the absurdity of some of the happenings. This book follows an unwilling Arthur Dent and his friend Ford Prefect around the galaxy as they explore lots of things and places. The book can get a little technically confusing at times, but it really isn't very much and it's usually possible to think the science through. All in all, I thought this was a very good book and I can't wait to read the second one! If you're looking for a light, humorous, fast-paced book, then The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy could be for you.

Good book for all ages

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Just flawless.

Trust me, if you're sixteen and older, and enjoy sci fi, this book is just for you.

Hilarious!

Doiglas Adams was a genius!

I agree w/the person @ spot #1. Awesome, didn't last long enough.

Title says all but how extremely confusing it is when youre listening to it on audiobook and you fall asleep and then wake up to go to the bathroom and when you come back they've gone from their ship to a planet of gold.