I was quite afraid I wouldn't take to the book considering how many people close to me -- as well as at parties -- would rage, rage, RAGE at my never having read Hitchhiker's Guide. What would the fallout be? Would I be shanked at the next party I went to if, when asked about my liking of the book, I were to shrug? Oh, the anxiety!

But I'm happy to report I did like it.

A lot, too, once the sperm whale and petunia chapter came up, and then all the more when the old world builder (or award-winning fjord artist) wandered in. And then I felt as if I might come to possibly have a crush on the book after Zaphod gave his monologue about how he thinks.

The absurdity in the story and its world was of the specific kind I care about -- an absurdity that manages to parallel this world's absurdity but tinged with mystery, whimsy, and wonder, of course. It's the kind of absurdity that exists in the stupendous Doctor Who, which makes sense, and exists somewhat in Dead Like Me. I don't find much purpose for the other kind of absurdity. You know the kind, that ragged, empty, cold, fraught, and menacing absurdity that lives in the Batman's Joker and performance art projects by people with bold, asymmetrical hair cuts. Shudder.

It's all right. I've found my way back.

I'll now take joy in reading Chris's hefty and timeworn Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide, rather than approach it with the dread of potentially being shanked. Which is a good thing, no?

What can I say? I wish I had been in the movie, although it was bad and I guess I should be happy about NOT being in it.

It’s true what they say... You pick up n  The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxyn and either chuck it away when your head starts to whirl OR you totally appreciate the head-whirling sensation, plunge right in and don’t surface till you have reached the Restaurant at the End of The Universe.

It is with great delight and spots before my eyes that I can proclaim that I belong to the latter breed. You need a wee bit of whimsy, a lot of quirky and a love for all things whacky (all three which I possess in abundance) to appreciate the magnificence of this space odyssey.

The plot is fairly simple. Seconds before planet Earth is completely demolished to make way for a galactic bypass, bemused Englishman Arthur Dent is whisked away to safety by his friend, Ford Prefect. Ford is not an out-of-work actor as he has led everyone to believe. He is in fact, the resident of a small planet in the vicinity of Betelgeuse and a researcher for the revised edition of ‘The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy’.

Together, the bursting-with-enthusiasm Ford and the bursting-with-disbelief Arthur get set to cruise around the galaxy. Adding to the comedy of errors are Zaphod Beeblebrox, the two-headed, three-armed galactican president; Trillian, a lady who by some bizarre coincidence had once given Arthur the ditch at an earth-party and Marvin, the oppressively-depressed robot who could drive even a spaceship to suicide.

Along the way, they have many a hit-and-fly situation with various warped creatures who inhabit the universe…they listen to some truly terrible poetry…they land on the legendary planet, Magrathea…and even learn about the super-intelligent computer *DEEP THOUGHT* and it’s mission to answer the question to Life, The Universe and everything. All this while trying to find a decent cup of tea...

Douglas Adams was the king of one-liners and whip-smart dialogue. He took human flaws, failings and reams of red-tape and converted it into a seriously funny tale. Many argue that the written work is just a reflection of Adams’thoughts…well hell..which book isn’t?!?

I have hemmed and hawed over the years wondering whether I should pick up the book or not…always inhaling it in bits and pieces. All I can say to the still-wary is this: grab the spaceship by it’s tail-lights and get geared for a mad-trip of a lifetime.

I am not one of those who think this is the best book ever written. It does not affect me on any deep emotional level and this kind of quirky sci-fi comedy is just not really my thing. However, that being said, Adams' has some of the best quotes EVER (not all of these are from this exact book):


"In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move."



"For instance, on the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much—the wheel, New York, wars and so on—whilst all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man—for precisely the same reasons."



"The Guide says there is an art to flying", said Ford, "or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."



"A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools."



"Would it save you a lot of time if I just gave up and went mad now?"



"The ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don't."

I had such a great time reading this book. If I wasn't laughing out loud, I was grinning from ear to ear. xD
After planet Earth is demolished to build a hyperspatial express route, Arthur Dent is rescued by his friend Ford Prefect and together they travel through space.

“How did we get here?” he asked, shivering slightly.
“We hitched a lift,” said Ford.
“Excuse me?” said Arthur. “Are you trying to tell me that we just stuck out our thumbs and some green bug-eyed monster stuck his head out and said, Hi fellas, hop right in. I can take you as far as the Basingstoke roundabout?”
“Well,” said Ford, “the Thumb’s an electronic sub-Etha signaling device, the roundabout’s at Barnard’s Star six light years away, but otherwise, that’s more or less right.”
“And the bug-eyed monster?”
“Is green, yes.”
“Fine,” said Arthur, “when can I get home?”

This review describes my feelings much more coherently  J.G. Keely's review

Best part of the book:  
“We are the ones who will hear,” said Phouchg, “the answer to the great question of Life…!”
“The Universe…!” said Loonquawl.
“And Everything…!”
“Shhh,” said Loonquawl with a slight gesture, “I think Deep Thought is preparing to speak!”
There was a moment’s expectant pause whilst panels slowly came to life on the front of the console. Lights flashed on and off experimentally and settled down into a businesslike pattern. A soft low hum came from the communication channel.
“Good morning,” said Deep Thought at last.
“Er… Good morning, O Deep Thought,” said Loonquawl nervously, “do you have…er, that is…”
“An answer for you?” interrupted Deep Thought majestically. “Yes. I have.”
The two men shivered with expectancy. Their waiting had not been in vain.
“There really is one?” breathed Phouchg.
“There really is one,” confirmed Deep Thought.
“To Everything? To the great Question of Life, the Universe and Everything?”
“Yes.”
Both of the men had been trained for this moment, their lives had been a preparation for it, they had been selected at birth as those who would witness the answer, but even so they found themselves gasping and squirming like excited children.
“And you’re ready to give it to us?” urged Loonquawl.
“I am.”
“Now?”
“Now,” said Deep Thought.
They both licked their dry lips.
“Though I don’t think,” added Deep Thought, “that you’re going to like it.”
“Doesn’t matter!” said Phouchg. “We must know it! Now!”
“Now?” inquired Deep Thought.
“Yes! Now…”
“Alright,” said the computer and settled into silence again. The two men fidgeted. The tension was unbearable.
“You’re really not going to like it,” observed Deep Thought.
“Tell us!”
“Alright,” said Deep Thought. “The Answer to the Great Question…”
“Yes…!”
“Of Life, the Universe and Everything…” said Deep Thought.
“Yes…!”
“Is…” said Deep Thought, and paused.
“Yes…!”
“Is…”
“Yes…!!!…?”
“Forty-two,” said Deep Thought, with infinite majesty and calm.
  

I would definitely be reading more of Douglas Adams's work! This was light, fun, and yet so very memorable.

Roses are red
Violets are blue
the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything
is 42

All time classic I've read the whole series of 5 books at least twice. The adventures of Arthur Dent leaving earth and travelling the universe are brilliantly conceived and so human. Adams was a great science fiction writer and died too young.

Otostopçunun Galaksi Rehberi bir radyo oyunu olarak başlayıp bir sürü değişikliğe uğrayarak bir kitap serisi haline gelmiş. Uzun zamandır baskısı yoktu ve Alfa Kitaptan tekrar çıktı. Elime geçtiği gibi de merakıma yenik düşüp okudum. Kitabın önsözü bile aslında size nasıl bir kitap okuyacağınızın izlenimini veriyordu.

Başlarda adapte olmakta fazlasıyla zorlandım. Hatta ve hatta ‘ben ne okuyorum ya’ dedim çoğu yerde. Bazen olaylar aşırı tuhaf bir hal aldığı için kitaptan koptuğum anlarda oldu. Oluşturulan evren oldukça ilginç. Bir saniye durun ve farelerin hayatın anlamını bulmak için insanları yaratmış olduğunu düşünün. İşte o kadar ilginç bir evren.

n  ’Hayatım boyunca dünyada bir şeylerin, büyük hatta uğursuz bir şeylerin döndüğüne, ama hiç kimsenin bana bir şey söylemediğine dair tuhaf ve açıklanmaz bir his vardı içimde.’n

Alışılmış bilimkurguların biraz ötesinde mizah yüklü bir kitap Otostopçunun Galaksi Rehberi. Diyalogları okurken inanılmaz eğlendim ve keşke hiç susmasalar dedim. İnce mesajları, felsefi düşünceleri, varoluşsal sorunları absürt mizahla harmanlayıp diyaloglara yerleştirmiş Douglas Adams.

n   ‘Ne aradığımı bilmiyorum.’
‘Neden?’
‘Çünkü… çünkü… ne aradığımı bilirsem onu arayamam.’n

Her şey kestirme yol yapımı için Arthur Dent’in evinin yıkılması ile başlıyor. Daha doğrusu yıkılmaya çalışılması ile. Arthur buldozerin önüne yatıp buna engel olmak isterken Ford Prefect geliyor ve ona dünyanın sonuna 12 dakika kaldığını söylüyor. Çünkü Vogonlar uzayda kestirme bir yol yapılması için Dünya’yı yok edecekler. Son anda Ford ve Arthur otostop çekerek Vogon gemisine binip kurtulmayı başarırlar ama bundan sonra olacak şeyler Arthur’un asla hayal edemeyeceği gibidir.

Huysuz manik depresif robot Marvin kesinlikle en sevdiğim karakter oldu. İçimde bir yerlerde bir Marvin barındırdığım için de olabilir tabi. Ama gerçekten haksız olduğunu kim söyleyebilir ki ?

n  ‘Hayat! Sakın bana hayattan bahsetmeyin.’n

Google’da ‘what is the answer to life, the universe and everything’ diye arattığınızda karşınıza 42 cevabı çıkar.
Cevap 42.
Peki asıl soru ne ?
Bu kitabı okuyun çünkü direnmek faydasız.

چقدر این داستان جذاب بود!
راهنمای کهکشان اثر خودش رو روی زندگی واقعی گذاشته. برنامه ی ترجمه ی Big Fish! کامپیوتر Deep Thought! حوله ی استاپ زن ها!!!
چقدر خوشحالم که این داستان رو خوندم. بعضی قسمت ها واقعا خندیدم و یا با نیش باز لبخند زدم. بعضی قسمت ها هم با خودم گفتم ینی این مهملات چجوری به ذهن نویسنده رسیده؟!؟

شخصیت های داستان با قهرمان ها خیلی فاصله دارن. تو این داستان با یه رئیس جمهور ازخودراضی، یه اتواستاپ زن عجیب، یه زمینی بی خبر و بدبخت، یه ربات افسرده و یه کامپیوتر چاپلوس طرفیم.
ایده های داستان واقعا ناب هستن. این خاص ترین کتاب علمی تخیلیه که تا به حال خوندم! بارها و بارها غافلگیر شدم.

بهتون توصیه می‌کنم حتما و حتما و حتما بخونیدش!
خیلی هیجان زده ام که بقیه ی داستان رو بدونم. ای کاش می‌شد برای ادامه ی داستان به نمایشنامه ی رادیویی اش گوش بدم. شرط می‌بندم اونجوری لذت داستان صدبرابر می‌شد :)

پیوست :
فیلمشم دیدم و بانمک بود! البته کتابش بهتره!

n  n    “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.” n  n

Did this make you laugh already? Fine, because the rest of Douglas Adams' famous novel includes many more of those humorous elements.

I have a very difficult personal history with Sci-Fi novels; some of them I could appreciate but not enjoy; some I could appreciate but got bored with them very quickly; but The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was the first Sci-Fi novel which ever made me simultaneously appreciate, enjoy and even love the book. Love is a strong word, but if a book is filled with sentences like “The ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don't” or “Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job” or “My capacity for happiness you could fit into a matchbox without taking out the matches first”, then I simply can't help but fall in love with it.

n  n    “So this is it," said Arthur, "We are going to die."
"Yes," said Ford, "except... no! Wait a minute!" He suddenly lunged across the chamber at something behind Arthur's line of vision. "What's this switch?" he cried.
"What? Where?" cried Arthur, twisting round.
"No, I was only fooling," said Ford, "we are going to die after all.”n  n

I could go on and quote the entire book now, that's how much fun it was reading this and that's how quotable the book is. But Douglas Adams didn't only attempt (and succeed) to write this groundbreaking approach to the science fiction genre, he was also able to make you think a lot about several important questions: What is the meaning of life? Why do we live? Why do we die? What is the meaning of the Universe? Adams intentionally answers these questions in rather absurd ways, mainly because it is impossible to find ultimate answers and definitions for these topics. But those are all questions everyone has already asked themselves, and Adams isn't afraid to tackle them in a way that the reader can't help but laugh about it.

n  n    “For instance, on the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much—the wheel, New York, wars and so on—whilst all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man—for precisely the same reasons.”n  n

If you haven't read this book yet, perhaps because you are afraid of the Sci-Fi genre (which I was as well, until I started my adventures with Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Marvin and all the others in this book): then don't hesitate to read it. But don't be mistaken, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is (probably) not the best book you will ever find, it is (probably) not going to make you cry because of its emotional intensity, it is (probably) not going to keep you on the edge of your seat due to its ming-bogglingly suspenseful plot. Adams' book is rather an episodic account of several random adventures in the cosmic space, and for me it was mostly Adams' writing style which it was impossible to resist. He lures his readers into the story and before you even realize it, you are probably already laughing.

And don't forget to bring your towel!

I honestly couldn't care less for Zaphod and his part of the story, or the most of it. Therefore I give it 4,5 stars. Other than that I loved the book and the humour in it. It was simply brilliant. Easy read with lots of fun. Pity I didn't have a chance to read it as a teen. In English.

Useful phrases in Icelandic

Að mestu meinlaus - Mostly harmless

Bless á meðan og takk fyrir allan fiskinn - So long and thanks for all the fish

Ekki örvænta - Don't panic

Fjörutíu og tveir - Forty-two

Húppi frúddi - Hoopy frood

Lífið, alheiminn og allt saman - Life, the universe and everything

Ó þú fretlaði rýtböggull - O frettled gruntbuggly

Öll mótstaða er tilgangslaus - Resistance is useless

Vetrarbrautarheilakúpubomba - Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster

Þennan hræðilega verk í öllum dióðunum í vinstri síðunni - This terrible pain in all the diodes down my left side

Þrjátiu altairska dollara á dag - Thirty Altairian dollars a day