The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Easy read
Goofy
Light hearted

The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Douglas Adams2002
In this collection of novels, Arthur Dent is introduced to the galaxy at large when he is rescued by an alien friend seconds before Earth's destruction, and embarks on a series of amazing adventures with his new companion.
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Reviews

Photo of Adam Scharf
Adam Scharf@beethoven89
4 stars
Feb 10, 2025

essential reading. It was a solid reread, probably better suited for the youth, but still makes an impact.

+8
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Karin@karin7
5 stars
Feb 6, 2025

I want to give a shout out to my eldest daughter for bringing home an omnibus of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series shortly before our library closed due to the Cornonavirus. I heard the other two on audiobook, but had never read this one since I thought the second not good enough to carry on. I was sorely mistaken, in the most happy way imaginable. This was so much more fun than the second one and while not everything made me laugh, a number of scenes had me laughing out loud.

It starts 5 years after the last book, but a couple of million years before the first book, and, in a tangled bit of events involving the space-time continuum and various and sundry other things, Arthur Dent becomes embroiled in a race to save the universe from complete destruction. In a plot and galaxy seemingly without reason, this book is FUN and ties together brilliantly. Just writing about it made me realize I'd under-rated it with only 4 stars.

+3
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Serap@serap
3 stars
Jan 18, 2025

Keyifle okunası bir bilim kurgu. Okurken pek çok yerde güldürüyor. Devamını ve farklı versiyonlarını da merak ettim.

+3
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Itzel@itzea
4 stars
May 8, 2024

How me and this book came to be is a convoluted story that begins many years ago, when I was young and frequented fandomsecrets @ LJ. There, I saw many times this book being referenced as being a fantastical read from their childhoods and whatnot. I grew interested in it by the constant mention of it. Around that time, it was announced that Eoin Colfer would be writing a sixth book for the five book trilogy, and seeing how much I enjoy Colfer's writing, my interest increased even more. Among other factors (Like the fact that Douglas Adams penned scripts for Classic Who), I came to itch having a copy of the book in my hands, and I got it. I ended up losing it twice, also. Somehow, the book still came to me again. Excitedly I quickly ran through the pages of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, laughing or at the very least giggling at nearly every line, because Douglas Adams certainly had a way with words. The way he more often than not drifts away from the main plot, to make clever remarks on something else may be annoying for some people, but I certainly found it delightful. I read The Restaurant at the End of The Universe immediately after I had finished the first, and as a direct continuation of the story, it kept being wonderful, some concepts (Meet your meat, was it?) reminding me of Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, or the second episode of New Who (The End of the Earth). It took a few tries for me to get started in Life, the Universe and Everything, because real life interfered with my reading, and then I would have to return to the few last pages of Restaurant to understand what was happening. From this book I found especially amusing how Arthur and Ford ended up in the place their adventure started... millions of years before. Oh, and the Somebody Else Problem concept too. The book I liked the least (If rated separately, I would have put only a three on it, while a four or five would be for the rest of the books) was So Long and Thanks for All The Fish. Love stories do not sit very well with me, but it was really good how Fenchurch turned out to be the girl who in Hitchhiker's had just discovered the secret to happiness, was it? From this book, I think Agrajag was the part I liked most, because it was really, really unfortunate, and really wonderful how he basically tells us how the next book will end. A special mention to Marvin in this book. To be honest, I didn't really appreciate how Fenchurch was quickly erased in Mostly Harmless (Which mind you, this title is one of the parts I enjoy the most about the first book), but in this one Random was certainly an interesting character. Also, ohh, Stavromula Beta. It ended in a very depressing note, certainly. This collection of books is a great and brilliant journey through a mostly nonsensical universe, with highly fun characters, even minor ones will stick with you. I enjoyed it greatly, and would certainly reread all five of them for many times to come. Now, all I want to do is to read the Dirk Gently series, and The Salmon of Doubt. And Another Thing... Yes, I want to read that one too, for the sake of completion.

Photo of Amna A.
Amna A.@crayoladagger
3 stars
Apr 5, 2024

The adventures of Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect continue throughout this book, searching for the Ultimate Question.. and learning the art of flying by throwing yourself on the ground and missing the floor x)

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Sarah Sammis@pussreboots
5 stars
Apr 4, 2024

Really fun in any form.

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Lindy@lindyb
4 stars
Apr 2, 2024

Well, this got rather existentialist.

Photo of Q
Q@qontfnns
2 stars
Mar 13, 2024

Let's just say that i'm an anti fan of the writer's sense of humor. I get that some remarks were actually quite smart, but it wasn't funny. It's not a bad thing but when things were getting too silly for things not to be a joke, it felt like i was dictated to laugh, with those points as cues, and i hate that. Adams used so many pages joking instead of elaborating that none of the plot engaged me. I feel like i just read a try-hard's practice sheet on bad experimental jokes. so glad it was over.

Photo of Tabea
Tabea@attako
4 stars
Feb 18, 2024

Wunderbar absurd! Der Anfang war grandios, aber ich muss auch sagen, dass es gegen Ende deutlich an Humor abgenommen hat.

+1
Photo of Paula Alonso Ishihara
Paula Alonso Ishihara@midorichan
5 stars
Feb 7, 2024

I'm currently reading this book, recommended by a friend at work and it's turning to be very good. I like the craziness of the situations and the strange humor. So far it's very entertaining!!

Photo of Bethany s.
Bethany s. @leetleuhm
3 stars
Feb 3, 2024

3.5⭐️ Enjoyable, and certainly different. Odd, as it clearly is supposed to be. I found myself struggling to get through it, mainly because I felt like the plot was revealing itself in bits and pieces. With no clear line from beginning to end, the story feels a little like running through a house and opening various doors, exploring the rooms inside and then moving to the next door. I arrived at the end of the hallway able to recognize the shape of the house I’d explored, but still a bit uncertain about the ways in which it all connects. Still fun, laugh-out-loud funny at times, and quirky. I will probably read the next book, but I’m not in a rush to do so anytime soon.

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elly@kooquette
2 stars
Feb 2, 2024

yeah this did not age well

Photo of Erin Darlyn
Erin Darlyn@erindarlyn
3 stars
Jan 25, 2024

3.5⭐️ This book is like the screwiest of screwball comedies, set in space and complete with a robot that has the personality of Eeyore. There really isn’t much plot or character development but the writing is so hilarious and full of little brain tickles that I didn’t really mind.

Photo of Francesca Starecheski
Francesca Starecheski@cescastar
3 stars
Jan 22, 2024

Not particularly character driven or entirely appealed to emotion, yet enticing nonetheless, and whimsically adventuresome.

Photo of Simon Crocker
Simon Crocker@crockrocket
4 stars
Dec 30, 2023

Almost painfully British. Solid humour, would recommend.

Photo of Laura Mauler
Laura Mauler@blueskygreenstrees
2 stars
Dec 25, 2023

This book lacks the lightness and zaniness of the previous Hitchhiker books. I basically read it because I wanted to see how the whole thing ended, and now I know. Probably should have stopped at "So Long and Thanks for All the Fish".

Photo of Jaden Nelson
Jaden Nelson@unojaden
3 stars
Nov 30, 2023

** spoiler alert ** OK JUST SLIGHTLY ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN BECAUSE THEY SAID THE ANSWER TO THE UNIVERSE 42 AND THAT’S BEEN MY FAVORITE NUMBER FOR A LONG TIME AND MAYBE THAT’S A COMPLETE COINCIDENCE BUT THIS WHOLE BOOK IS ABOUT COINCIDENCES SOOOO I MEAN. Besides that, I thought it was generally ok-not quite my humor but I actually laughed out loud a little at some parts and I have to say the audiobook is a great way to take this in because the narration of things like the computer is so funny. I probably won’t read the next book honestly and I was a little annoyed how suddenly the book ended but it was okay as a whole also sorry for bad punctuation.¡

Photo of Steve C
Steve C@markspace
2 stars
Oct 25, 2023

Has not aged well

Photo of Catarina
Catarina@kitcat
5 stars
Oct 20, 2023

It’s a light read filled with comedy . It’s a great book for passing time or get over your reading slump. The characters are peculiar, full with flaws that make them who they are and give the ironic side to the plot, and the book is very well written! The book has tons of critics to society that still applies to today’s date, but, in the book, they appear on the jokes that are made, giving that comedy / funny side. Love the reading and the author !

+2
Photo of Marcus Jeffery
Marcus Jeffery@skamp
1.5 stars
Oct 16, 2023

Struggled to finish this one. Being a lover of Sci fi I thought I would have really enjoyed this but I just Coul not get in to it.

Photo of Gwenifer
Gwenifer@gwenifer
4.5 stars
Oct 4, 2023

Confusing but fascinating

+5
Photo of Angus Bretherick
Angus Bretherick@angoisse
4.5 stars
Aug 30, 2023

Just fantastic fun with a great sense of humour

+3
Photo of DANA
DANA@creohn
5 stars
Aug 14, 2023

Don’t panic. Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.

Photo of Sarah Schumacher
Sarah Schumacher@smschumacher
5 stars
Jun 25, 2023

Longtime fan. Have to read this every 5 years or so. Perhaps an acquired taste, but it combines two of my favorite things; British humour and books. Nonsensical, funny space fiction punctuated by creative word sequences and astute observations.

Highlights

Photo of sam kruczek
sam kruczek@samk

"Oh, the Paranoid Android," he said. “Yeah, we'll take him.”

radio head mention

Photo of Catarina
Catarina@kitcat
  • - (…) Estive muito tempo a falar com ele e expliquei-lhe a minha visão acerca do Universo

  • - E o que aconteceu ? - insistiu Ford

  • - Suicidou-se - disse Marvin (…)

Marvin stand !

This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Robby
Robby@respyre

Irreverent, absurd, brilliant, and just so much fun to read.

Photo of Brooke Barnett
Brooke Barnett@jdog123456

virulent disease contracted from a dirty telephone.

Page 273

the telephone cleaners weren't so useless were they huh?

Photo of Brooke Barnett
Brooke Barnett@jdog123456

There was an accident with a contraceptive and a time machine.

Page 160

I wish to hear that full story...

Photo of Brooke Barnett
Brooke Barnett@jdog123456

Almost the exact same thing that happened in Chapter 1 with Arthur's house happened in Chapter 3 with Earth! LOL!

Photo of Bethany Jenkins
Bethany Jenkins@bluepenguin17

“But that's not the point!" raged Ford. “The point is that I am now a perfectly safe penguin, and my colleague here is rapidly running out of limbs!"

“It’s all right, I've got them back now," said Arthur.

Page 84
Photo of Bethany Jenkins
Bethany Jenkins@bluepenguin17

This planet has-or rather had-a problem, which was this: most of the people living on it were unhappy for pretty much of the time. Many solutions were suggested for this problem, but most of these were largely concerned with the movements of small green pieces of paper, which is odd because on the whole it wasn't the small green pieces of paper that were unhappy.

Page 1
Photo of Chaïmae
Chaïmae@phiii

“That ship hated me,” he said dejectedly, indicating the policecraft.

“That ship?” said Ford in sudden excitement. “What happened to it? Do you know?”

“It hated me because I talked to it.”

“You talked to it?” exclaimed Ford. “What do you mean you talked to it?”

“Simple. I got very bored and depressed, so I went and plugged myself in to its external computer feed. I talked to the computer at great length and explained my view of the Universe to it,” said Marvin.

“And what happened?” pressed Ford.

“It committed suicide”

Page 273
Photo of Chaïmae
Chaïmae@phiii

“Science has achieved some wonderful things, of course, but I’d far rather be happy than right any day.”

“And are you?”

“No. That’s where it all falls down, of course.”

“Pity,” said Arthur with sympathy. “It sounded like quite a good life-style otherwise.”

Page 245
Photo of Chaïmae
Chaïmae@phiii

“Curiously enough, the only thing that went through the mind of the bowl of petunias as it fell was Oh no, not again. Many people have speculated that if we knew exactly why the bowl of petunias had thought that we would know a lot more about the nature of the Universe than we do now.”

Page 172
Photo of Chaïmae
Chaïmae@phiii

“You know,” said Arthur, “it’s at times like this, when I’m trapped in a Vogon airlock with a man from Betelgeuse, and about to die of asphyxiation in deep space, that I really wish I’d listened to what my mother told me when I was young.”

“Why, what did she tell you?”

“I don’t know, I didn’t listen.”

Page 98
Photo of Chaïmae
Chaïmae@phiii

“Only six people in the Galaxy knew that the job of the Galactic President was not to wield power but to attract attention away from it.

Zaphod Beeblebrox was amazingly good at his job.”

Page 52