...
Show More
It had last been a couple decades ago when I had last read the various Hitchhiker's books (except the most recent one, and even that had been ten or more years back). With my original copies scattered here and there, I picked up the omnibus edition and reread these tales with eagerness and a older (and perhaps wiser) perspective. Overall, although they read differently after such a long time, they do make a pleasant read.
The original novel by Douglas Adams - based on a radio show he also wrote (the twisted history of the first book is related in an introduction) - is the sharpest in the set. For the uninitiated, the tale follows Arthur Dent, last human survivor of Earth after the planet is cleared away for a hyperspatial bypass. Along with his alien friend Ford Prefect, they go off on a series of adventures which will eventually reveal the true purpose of the planet Earth. Completing a quintet of heroes is Zaphod Beeblebrox, the President of the Galaxy, and Trillian (Trisha MacMillan), another human who left Earth a while before it was destroyed, and Marvin, the most depressed robot ever.
In this book, Adams sets the tone for this the whole series with a parody of the conventions of science fiction and a grand sense of the absurd. In a universe where time travel and the improbable happen as a matter of course, contradictions, paradoxes and continuity problems are plentiful and acceptable. The second novel - The Restaurant at the End of the Universe - directly follows up on the first book and is of equally high quality.
An almost imperceptible slide begins with book three, Life, the Universe and Everything, which deals with an ancient race of aliens who are threatening to make a comeback and destroy all other life. Arthur and Ford are recruited by planetary engineer Slartibartfast to try and save all reality. We begin to see other of the characters pushed aside although they still do play some roles. We also learn it is possible for a man to fly.
In So Long and Thanks For All the Fish, Arthur returns to an Earth that apparently believes its destruction was just a mass hallucination. Although Ford is still around in a parallel story, the other recurring characters are almost non-existent. This is the most upbeat of all the stories, with things finally going somewhat right for the usually hapless Arthur. Unfortunately, some of the true wackiness is beginning to fade away. With no Zaphod acting recklessly and with Ford acting semi-responsibly, this novel is not quite as much fun. And sadly, Mostly Harmless, the final novel is even less fun, again absurd but not really very funny. And the bonus short story "Young Zaphod Plays It Safe" is completely forgettable.
The first three books remain five star material, the fourth gets four stars and the fifth gets three (the short story gets two). As a collection, however, this is a five star bunch, with the first two books being excellent enough to offset any weaknesses in the others. For any fan of science fiction, this is a must-read and continues to be the best parody of the genre.
The original novel by Douglas Adams - based on a radio show he also wrote (the twisted history of the first book is related in an introduction) - is the sharpest in the set. For the uninitiated, the tale follows Arthur Dent, last human survivor of Earth after the planet is cleared away for a hyperspatial bypass. Along with his alien friend Ford Prefect, they go off on a series of adventures which will eventually reveal the true purpose of the planet Earth. Completing a quintet of heroes is Zaphod Beeblebrox, the President of the Galaxy, and Trillian (Trisha MacMillan), another human who left Earth a while before it was destroyed, and Marvin, the most depressed robot ever.
In this book, Adams sets the tone for this the whole series with a parody of the conventions of science fiction and a grand sense of the absurd. In a universe where time travel and the improbable happen as a matter of course, contradictions, paradoxes and continuity problems are plentiful and acceptable. The second novel - The Restaurant at the End of the Universe - directly follows up on the first book and is of equally high quality.
An almost imperceptible slide begins with book three, Life, the Universe and Everything, which deals with an ancient race of aliens who are threatening to make a comeback and destroy all other life. Arthur and Ford are recruited by planetary engineer Slartibartfast to try and save all reality. We begin to see other of the characters pushed aside although they still do play some roles. We also learn it is possible for a man to fly.
In So Long and Thanks For All the Fish, Arthur returns to an Earth that apparently believes its destruction was just a mass hallucination. Although Ford is still around in a parallel story, the other recurring characters are almost non-existent. This is the most upbeat of all the stories, with things finally going somewhat right for the usually hapless Arthur. Unfortunately, some of the true wackiness is beginning to fade away. With no Zaphod acting recklessly and with Ford acting semi-responsibly, this novel is not quite as much fun. And sadly, Mostly Harmless, the final novel is even less fun, again absurd but not really very funny. And the bonus short story "Young Zaphod Plays It Safe" is completely forgettable.
The first three books remain five star material, the fourth gets four stars and the fifth gets three (the short story gets two). As a collection, however, this is a five star bunch, with the first two books being excellent enough to offset any weaknesses in the others. For any fan of science fiction, this is a must-read and continues to be the best parody of the genre.
