The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

The only way I made it through this Science Fiction book, for I do not usually enjoy Science Fiction books, was Adams’ wonderfully crazy sense of humour. The book follows Arthur Dent as he is saved at the last moment from the destruction of Earth by his alien friend Ford Prefect. Ford and Arthur travel the universe by hitching rides from passing ships, using the hugely popular book The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy to guide them. On the way they meet another fortunate Earthling, Trillion; the President of the Galaxy, Zaphod Beeblebrox; a very depressed robot called Marvin; and two mice who are trying to figure out the answer to the Ultimate Question : What is the meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything? (And if you don’t know the answer already, the one Adams gives will surprise you). As with any book introducing an entirely new world and set of theories, there are entire chapters of exposition. This book is wonderful because the reader doesn’t realize he is reading nothing but exposition; the reader learns everything from Ford and his wonderful book because Arthur does as well. While at times the book delves into some serious philosophy, Adams always saves the situation from becoming too somber. I will say that my favorite character so far is Marvin, one of the first robots ever built with a human personality. Unfortunately, the personality he was given was one of depression. This book, the first in a widely popular series which spawned British radio dramas, television programs, albums, a computer game, a stage production, a comic book, and more stories and novels before it finally came to the big screen in Spring 2005, introduces very detailed and imaginative characters who, as you have read, endure throughout a plethora of “Hitchhiker” media.

For those of you who prefer your books to be in Audio form, please visit RickLibrarian for a review of this book as read by Stephen Fry.

If you enjoyed this book, please consider the following :
Fiction Recommendation #1 : The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams. This second book in Adams’ “Hitchhiker” series continues the journey of Arthur, Ford, Zaphod, and Marvin as they search for the answer to the Ultimate Question.

Fiction Recommendation #2 : Douglas Adams’ Starship Titanic by Terry Jones. This novel, from Jones of Monty Python fame, is based on a computer game, which was in turn based on Adams’ “Hitchhiker” books.

Nonfiction Recommendation #1 : Field Guide to the Apocalypse: Movie Survival Skills for the End of the World by Meghann Marco. You can survive the apocalypse without this book. But the apocalypse isn't the problem: It's what happens afterward. You against the other people left in the world. You'd better be prepared.