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- whew!! kept me singing that old song that goes ♫♪"i just can't get enough!" ♫♪
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Rating(3.9 / 5.0, 111 votes)
5 stars
32(29%)
4 stars
38(34%)
3 stars
41(37%)
2 stars
0(0%)
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0(0%)
111 reviews
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I was thinking about the radio version of this, which I heard scraps of at odd times when from time to time it was repeated. One in particular stuck in my head which was that one of the characters was stuck on a planet in habited by particularly intelligent birds who had evolved out of the human population when their economy collapsed due to an excess of shoe shops. I liked this because it reminded me of Bromley, which as a child to my mind had far too many shoe shops all of which it seemed I was doomed to be dragged round whenever my childish feet, ever yearning for freedom, threatened to escape the bounds of my current pair.
The business of the planet inhabited by the intelligent birds was I'm sure recycled and tided up into Zaphod Beeblebrox's visit to the Total Perspective Vortex - and that in a way is my experience of the whole series. Originally there was the radio series, a television series, a series of books. They overlapped. It was anarchic. It didn't make sense. And it was fun.
Then the books left all the rest behind. Things grew progressively neater, more orderly, a plot emerged. For me it became dull, the jokes laboured, down to the final experience in Mostly Harmless of finding all the loose ends tied up by the author only the understand that it was better, from my perspective at least, when they were all undone and missiles (or maybe it was spaceships, it certainly didn't matter eitherway) could turn into a bowl of petunias and a whale that thinks "oh no, not again", characters could escape certain death Candide style, or a piece of cake could be used to show you in relation to the whole of creation.
As a series then I suppose I think of it as Mostly Flawed but with occasional nice moments. A flood of detail and invention that washes away the story in a glorious incoming tide, the author in an unfortunate and unnecessary move though repeatedly sticks his fingers in the plot holes and throws down sandbags full of story, even though it is unpredictable joy of the circling poets of Arium and the exchange rates of galactic currencies that best reflect the galaxy we live in and our experience of hitchhiking through it than any kind of story.
The business of the planet inhabited by the intelligent birds was I'm sure recycled and tided up into Zaphod Beeblebrox's visit to the Total Perspective Vortex - and that in a way is my experience of the whole series. Originally there was the radio series, a television series, a series of books. They overlapped. It was anarchic. It didn't make sense. And it was fun.
Then the books left all the rest behind. Things grew progressively neater, more orderly, a plot emerged. For me it became dull, the jokes laboured, down to the final experience in Mostly Harmless of finding all the loose ends tied up by the author only the understand that it was better, from my perspective at least, when they were all undone and missiles (or maybe it was spaceships, it certainly didn't matter eitherway) could turn into a bowl of petunias and a whale that thinks "oh no, not again", characters could escape certain death Candide style, or a piece of cake could be used to show you in relation to the whole of creation.
As a series then I suppose I think of it as Mostly Flawed but with occasional nice moments. A flood of detail and invention that washes away the story in a glorious incoming tide, the author in an unfortunate and unnecessary move though repeatedly sticks his fingers in the plot holes and throws down sandbags full of story, even though it is unpredictable joy of the circling poets of Arium and the exchange rates of galactic currencies that best reflect the galaxy we live in and our experience of hitchhiking through it than any kind of story.
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The universe is a joke.
Even before I was shown the meaning of life in a dream at 17 (then promptly forgot it because I thought I smelled pancakes), I knew this to be true--and yet, I have always felt a need to search for the truth, that nebulous, ill-treated creature. Adams has always been, to me, to be a welcome companion in that journey.
Between the search for meaning and the recognition that it's all a joke in poor taste lies Douglas Adams, and, luckily for us, he doesn't seem to mind if you lie there with him. He's a tall guy, but he'll make room.
For all his crazed unpredictability, Adams is a powerful rationalist. His humor comes from his attempts to really think through all the things we take for granted. It turns out it takes little more than a moment's questioning to burst our preconceptions at the seams, yet rarely does this stop us from treating the most ludicrous things as if they were perfectly reasonable.
It is no surprise that famed atheist Richard Dawkins found a friend and ally in Adams. What is surprising is that people often fail to see the rather consistent and reasonable philosophy laid out by Adams' quips and absurdities. His approach is much more personable (and less embittered) than Dawkins', which is why I think of Adams as a better face for rational materialism (which is a polite was of saying 'atheism').
Reading his books, it's not hard to see that Dawkins is tired of arguing with uninformed idiots who can't even recognize when a point has actually been made. Adams' humanism, however, stretched much further than the contention between those who believe, and those who don't.
We see it from his protagonists, who are not elitist intellectuals--they're not even especially bright--but damn it, they're trying. By showing a universe that makes no sense and having his characters constantly question it, Adams is subtly hinting that this is the natural human state, and the fact that we laugh and sympathize shows that it must be true.
It's all a joke, it's all ridiculous. The absurdists might find this depressing, but they're just a bunch of narcissists, anyhow. Demnading the world make sense and give you purpose is rather self centered when it already contains toasted paninis, attractive people in bathing suits, and Euler's Identity. I say let's sit down at the bar with the rabbi, the priest, and the frog and try to get a song going. Or at least recognize that it's okay to laugh at ourselves now and again. It's not the end of the world.
It's just is a joke, but only some of us are in on it.
Even before I was shown the meaning of life in a dream at 17 (then promptly forgot it because I thought I smelled pancakes), I knew this to be true--and yet, I have always felt a need to search for the truth, that nebulous, ill-treated creature. Adams has always been, to me, to be a welcome companion in that journey.
Between the search for meaning and the recognition that it's all a joke in poor taste lies Douglas Adams, and, luckily for us, he doesn't seem to mind if you lie there with him. He's a tall guy, but he'll make room.
For all his crazed unpredictability, Adams is a powerful rationalist. His humor comes from his attempts to really think through all the things we take for granted. It turns out it takes little more than a moment's questioning to burst our preconceptions at the seams, yet rarely does this stop us from treating the most ludicrous things as if they were perfectly reasonable.
It is no surprise that famed atheist Richard Dawkins found a friend and ally in Adams. What is surprising is that people often fail to see the rather consistent and reasonable philosophy laid out by Adams' quips and absurdities. His approach is much more personable (and less embittered) than Dawkins', which is why I think of Adams as a better face for rational materialism (which is a polite was of saying 'atheism').
Reading his books, it's not hard to see that Dawkins is tired of arguing with uninformed idiots who can't even recognize when a point has actually been made. Adams' humanism, however, stretched much further than the contention between those who believe, and those who don't.
We see it from his protagonists, who are not elitist intellectuals--they're not even especially bright--but damn it, they're trying. By showing a universe that makes no sense and having his characters constantly question it, Adams is subtly hinting that this is the natural human state, and the fact that we laugh and sympathize shows that it must be true.
It's all a joke, it's all ridiculous. The absurdists might find this depressing, but they're just a bunch of narcissists, anyhow. Demnading the world make sense and give you purpose is rather self centered when it already contains toasted paninis, attractive people in bathing suits, and Euler's Identity. I say let's sit down at the bar with the rabbi, the priest, and the frog and try to get a song going. Or at least recognize that it's okay to laugh at ourselves now and again. It's not the end of the world.
It's just is a joke, but only some of us are in on it.
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This is an awesome series of novels. I was hooked by the first one (which I had gotten as a standalone novel) and went on to buy this. I was not disappointed. Having all the books in one makes for a rather enjoyable read, since you know that when one book is over, you have the next one right there to read. The stories are zany, the ideas far-flung, and the answer to life completely not what you expect - even though that answer has been parodied several times in popular culture.
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What to say about the bible of mankind? This is the best, the greatest, the uber, the wonder, the rainbow, the sun, moon, satellite, planets, stars, universe.... This... is... 42!!!!
I have read these five books of the triology seven or eight times, and will read it at least once a year for the rest of my life!
If you haven't read it yet, stop reading this and run for your life to get your own copy, or borrow it from a friend! Because believe me, your life now won't seem like life at all after you've read it.
Although, if your copy is sitting beside you, and you are waiting for someone to fetch your pipe and whiskey before you start reading it, by all means, keep reading, but I warn you, some spoiling may occur. You see, as soon as I say Arthur Dent, och Ford Prefect, I have begun the spoiling!
This is namely how the first book starts. Ford Prefect who isn't at all from earth comes home to his old friend Arthur Dent to get him to drink some beer and eat some peanuts before the world ends. Somehow Ford is completely uninterested in the fact that Arthur's home is about to be demolished to make way for a new highway, due to the fact that the Vogon's are one their way to demolish earth to make way for an intergalactic highway.
You will find laughter, love, wonder, understanding of the universe and severe head pain while reading these books, as reading them is, in my own opinion close to drinking a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster. Please comment this when you know what I'm talking about!
I have lots more to write, I know to much and to little about the universe as interpreted by Douglas Adams, but I do not want to. I'd love to speak at length about The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy with anyone whom please, but as for now, I have only one thing to say;
DON'T PANIC
.... and... don't forget your towel!
I have read these five books of the triology seven or eight times, and will read it at least once a year for the rest of my life!
If you haven't read it yet, stop reading this and run for your life to get your own copy, or borrow it from a friend! Because believe me, your life now won't seem like life at all after you've read it.
Although, if your copy is sitting beside you, and you are waiting for someone to fetch your pipe and whiskey before you start reading it, by all means, keep reading, but I warn you, some spoiling may occur. You see, as soon as I say Arthur Dent, och Ford Prefect, I have begun the spoiling!
This is namely how the first book starts. Ford Prefect who isn't at all from earth comes home to his old friend Arthur Dent to get him to drink some beer and eat some peanuts before the world ends. Somehow Ford is completely uninterested in the fact that Arthur's home is about to be demolished to make way for a new highway, due to the fact that the Vogon's are one their way to demolish earth to make way for an intergalactic highway.
You will find laughter, love, wonder, understanding of the universe and severe head pain while reading these books, as reading them is, in my own opinion close to drinking a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster. Please comment this when you know what I'm talking about!
I have lots more to write, I know to much and to little about the universe as interpreted by Douglas Adams, but I do not want to. I'd love to speak at length about The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy with anyone whom please, but as for now, I have only one thing to say;
DON'T PANIC
.... and... don't forget your towel!
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I think the majority of people who rated this five stars only read the first book in the series which is the hitchhiker’s guide. After the first book, the wheels come off.
1. It so needs an editor. I think the author just had random ideas about where to put the characters and stick them there with bad dialogue and confused ideas about what to do with them. There were several scenes in the book with potential but they were destroyed by confusion and dry British humor.
2. Our main character, Arthur, seems ok that earth has been destroyed. Never once do we really deal with his thoughts or feelings about what happened. All the characters for that matter are one dimensional and get annoying after several hundred pages.
3. It’s confusing. It was so hard to keep track of what was really going on as the books came and went. It just added to the sheer frustration.
I really wanted to finish the five books because I’d heard so much about this series. It was so awful. Read book one and then stop. There is no reason to continue.
1. It so needs an editor. I think the author just had random ideas about where to put the characters and stick them there with bad dialogue and confused ideas about what to do with them. There were several scenes in the book with potential but they were destroyed by confusion and dry British humor.
2. Our main character, Arthur, seems ok that earth has been destroyed. Never once do we really deal with his thoughts or feelings about what happened. All the characters for that matter are one dimensional and get annoying after several hundred pages.
3. It’s confusing. It was so hard to keep track of what was really going on as the books came and went. It just added to the sheer frustration.
I really wanted to finish the five books because I’d heard so much about this series. It was so awful. Read book one and then stop. There is no reason to continue.
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First of all: sadly I had expected more! But it was a really funny read that humor-wise reminded me of "The Humans" by Matt Haig and "Good Omens", content-wise of Doctor Who and "Mun Mun" by Jesse Andrews from the freak-level of the book. It was really refreshing and ingenious, full of incredibly witty dialogues and lovable characters, as well as frustratingly confusing storylines that I could very well have done without. I always really enjoyed the beginning of each story, liked the middle part well enough but eventually ended up getting tired of the conclusion, because either it didn't make any sense, left me feeling unsatisfied or felt like the author couldn't have been bothered to give the story a proper ending. Thankfully, at least the final ending was quite a good one in that regard (even though I had to google the explanation for that one as well! Way to make one feeling stupid), but I have to say that I feel like the author - same as it often happened for Doctor Who episodes - got lost in his ideas and tried too hard to be freaky and funny at the same time. As it happens, some jokes were bland and uninspired and seemed only to exist because either the author was so convinced that literally everything he said was funny, or because he felt that he had to fulfill certain expectations of making his readers laugh. Still, it was SUCH an enjoyable read and I'm glad I finally tackled it. 800 pages could've been spent much worse!
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This collection of five books and a short story can be very difficult to plod through after a while. It is a parody of science fiction that has very British humor and can be difficult for many people to connect with. The first book is fresh and witty and the second one mostly is too, but as it goes on, it becomes very rambly and inane. It doesn't always make sense and thus begins to feel pointless. The humor becomes stale and is even recycled. After reading five continuous books, it does not feel like a saga, but rather a long, inane ramble. It also has rather dark and depressing humor that is rather nihilistic and mocks the idea of belief in any kind by illustrating that there is no order to the universe. Again, it starts out fun, but didn't need to be dragged out that long. It is nearly impossible to read thie whole collection at once. Breaks with other books are needed.
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Sci-Fi Insanity.
The complete 5 book interstellar journey of Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox and Trillian McMillan aboard the Heart of Gold spaceship, as they travel through the absurd infinity of space and time in their improbable adventures to solve de Ultimate Question to life, the universe, and everything.
From planet Golgafrincham in Galactic Sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha, to Magrathea, Ursa Minor Beta, Frogstar World B, Krikkit, and planet Lamuella; with delightful side characters like Marvin, Fenchurch, Random, Deep Thought, Slartibartfast, Agrajag, Vogons and Wowbagger, the Infinitely Prolonged.
Does it sound ridiculous? Well, that’s because it IS; but ridiculously funny, most of the time. The hype is well deserved, undoubtedly for Book #1 at least. Recommendable, for lovers of Humor and Science Fiction.
n IMPORTANT NOTE:n If you wish a HEA ending to the series, never EVER read #5, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. I’m not sure #6 even counts. And #0.5 is totally skippable.
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n PERSONAL NOTEn:
[1996] [815p] [Humor] [Recommendable]
-----------------------------------------------
★★☆☆☆ 0.5. Young Zaphod Plays It Safe [1.5]
★★★★★ 1. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
★★☆☆☆ 2. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe [2.5]
★★★☆☆ 3. Life, the Universe and Everything
★★★★☆ 4. So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
★☆☆☆☆ 5. Mostly Harmless
★★★☆☆ 1-5. The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
★★★☆☆ 6. And Another Thing... [2.5]
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Insanidad de Ciencia Ficción.
El completo viaje interestelar de 5 libros de Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox y Trillian McMillan a bordo de la nave espacial Corazón de Oro, mientras viajan a través de la absurda infinidad del espacio y tiempo en su improbable aventura para resolver la Gran Pregunta a la vida, el universo, y todo lo demás.
Desde el planeta Golgafrincham en el Sector Galáctico ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha, a Magrathea, Ursa Menor Beta, Mundo Frogstar B, Krikkit, y el planeta Lamuella; con adorables personajes secundarios como Marvin, Fenchurch, Random, Pensamiento Profundo, Slartibartfast, Agrajag, Vogons y Wowbagger, el Infinitamente Prolongado.
¿Suena ridículo? Bueno, eso es porque lo ES; pero ridículamente gracioso, la mayor parte del tiempo. Su fama es más que bien merecida, sin duda alguna para el Libro #1 al menos. Recomendable, para amantes del Humor y Ciencia Ficción.
n NOTA IMPORTANTE:n Si querés un final feliz para la serie, nunca JAMAS leas #5, lo vas a lamentar por el resto de tu vida. No estoy seguro que #6 ni siquiera cuente. Y #0.5 es totalmente salteable.
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n NOTA PERSONALn:
[1996] [815p] [Humor] [Recomendable]
-----------------------------------------------
The complete 5 book interstellar journey of Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox and Trillian McMillan aboard the Heart of Gold spaceship, as they travel through the absurd infinity of space and time in their improbable adventures to solve de Ultimate Question to life, the universe, and everything.
From planet Golgafrincham in Galactic Sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha, to Magrathea, Ursa Minor Beta, Frogstar World B, Krikkit, and planet Lamuella; with delightful side characters like Marvin, Fenchurch, Random, Deep Thought, Slartibartfast, Agrajag, Vogons and Wowbagger, the Infinitely Prolonged.
Does it sound ridiculous? Well, that’s because it IS; but ridiculously funny, most of the time. The hype is well deserved, undoubtedly for Book #1 at least. Recommendable, for lovers of Humor and Science Fiction.
n IMPORTANT NOTE:n If you wish a HEA ending to the series, never EVER read #5, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. I’m not sure #6 even counts. And #0.5 is totally skippable.
-----------------------------------------------
n PERSONAL NOTEn:
[1996] [815p] [Humor] [Recommendable]
-----------------------------------------------
★★☆☆☆ 0.5. Young Zaphod Plays It Safe [1.5]
★★★★★ 1. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
★★☆☆☆ 2. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe [2.5]
★★★☆☆ 3. Life, the Universe and Everything
★★★★☆ 4. So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
★☆☆☆☆ 5. Mostly Harmless
★★★☆☆ 1-5. The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
★★★☆☆ 6. And Another Thing... [2.5]
-----------------------------------------------
Insanidad de Ciencia Ficción.
El completo viaje interestelar de 5 libros de Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox y Trillian McMillan a bordo de la nave espacial Corazón de Oro, mientras viajan a través de la absurda infinidad del espacio y tiempo en su improbable aventura para resolver la Gran Pregunta a la vida, el universo, y todo lo demás.
Desde el planeta Golgafrincham en el Sector Galáctico ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha, a Magrathea, Ursa Menor Beta, Mundo Frogstar B, Krikkit, y el planeta Lamuella; con adorables personajes secundarios como Marvin, Fenchurch, Random, Pensamiento Profundo, Slartibartfast, Agrajag, Vogons y Wowbagger, el Infinitamente Prolongado.
¿Suena ridículo? Bueno, eso es porque lo ES; pero ridículamente gracioso, la mayor parte del tiempo. Su fama es más que bien merecida, sin duda alguna para el Libro #1 al menos. Recomendable, para amantes del Humor y Ciencia Ficción.
n NOTA IMPORTANTE:n Si querés un final feliz para la serie, nunca JAMAS leas #5, lo vas a lamentar por el resto de tu vida. No estoy seguro que #6 ni siquiera cuente. Y #0.5 es totalmente salteable.
-----------------------------------------------
n NOTA PERSONALn:
[1996] [815p] [Humor] [Recomendable]
-----------------------------------------------
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An astounding 4 star for this series.
The satire in the first two books is just mind blowing. Many a times I had to shut the book and laugh my heart out. There were many comical events in this series that I thoroughly enjoyed. The later books were not as good as the first two but I still found the story line and humor to be good.
The last book was definitely not the end of the series because the author died while writing the next one. Sadly, it was not upto the standard set by Adams in previous installments.
I didn't want the series to end and definitely not at the point it did.
I strongly recommend everyone to read at least the first two or three books of the series. :)
The satire in the first two books is just mind blowing. Many a times I had to shut the book and laugh my heart out. There were many comical events in this series that I thoroughly enjoyed. The later books were not as good as the first two but I still found the story line and humor to be good.
The last book was definitely not the end of the series because the author died while writing the next one. Sadly, it was not upto the standard set by Adams in previous installments.
I didn't want the series to end and definitely not at the point it did.
I strongly recommend everyone to read at least the first two or three books of the series. :)
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When Douglas Adams wrote Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy, he used a crazy, outrageous style of writing. I enjoyed it a lot. The only character I really could relate was ||Marvin. I felt sorry for him, and felt pity in how he was treated by others. I was flabbergasted when 42 came up. And to this day, I'm kicking myself in the ass trying to figure out what that means, Lmao. Books 2-5 didn't have what the first one did. So I really couldn't get into them as much as I did in the first book. But there were plenty of things going on throughout the books that I thought was funny. All in all, I'm going to rate this 3/5
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After being told to read this book so many times I finally caved and I'm glad I did! I wish I would have read it sooner, I love it!
At times the story became slightly confusing and some chapters dragged a bit but overall this book is one of the best and most creative I've read. Its exciting, chaotic, sarcastic and hilarious!
Douglas Addams' use of words and attention to detail is amazing. He created multiple planets, cultures, and brought to life many memorable and likable characters. Following Arthur Dent and his companions on their adventures through space, and experiencing all of their crazy moments in life - from start to finish - has been so much fun! I will definitely be reading this book again.
At times the story became slightly confusing and some chapters dragged a bit but overall this book is one of the best and most creative I've read. Its exciting, chaotic, sarcastic and hilarious!
Douglas Addams' use of words and attention to detail is amazing. He created multiple planets, cultures, and brought to life many memorable and likable characters. Following Arthur Dent and his companions on their adventures through space, and experiencing all of their crazy moments in life - from start to finish - has been so much fun! I will definitely be reading this book again.
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