I love this series! It is so funny and quirky. The narrator did a great job with the book. Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect are just hilarious. I loved the spaceship they ended on at one point with all the service people in cryogenics, and the captain had been taking a bath for three years. So funny!!

I can't believe I have waited so long to read this book when I enjoyed The Hitchhiker's Guide so much. I suppose I felt that book was complete in itself and did not need a follow up. Well it maybe did not need one but it certainly does not hurt to have this entertaining book around. It made me laugh out loud as well as read nearly all the time with a smile on my face. I will definitely not wait so long to read the next episode!

Back in junior high school, when I was being bussed 30 miles each way to the Magnet School for Gifted Math and Science Students (don't get excited; I washed out of the program in shame and disgrace after two years), the Hitchhiker's Guide series were all my nerdy friends' favorite books. They would throw quotes and in-jokes about Pan-Galactic Gargleblasters and Ravenous Bugblatter Beasts of Kraal back and forth at each other much like some people do with Monty Python films or The Princess Bride. For whatever reason, all the Douglas Adams-themed 7th grade nerd humor rubbed me the wrong way and I refused to read the books, which was an act of breathtaking contrarianism at the time.

Recently, I decided it might be worthwhile to fill the Hitchhiker's-shaped hole in my literary Great Wall, and I started reading the series.

I think I might have been better off reading this book in 7th grade, because what it did in my 30s was irritate me, mostly. The constant wordplay seemed clumsy and unfunny, and most of the main characters sort of ran together. Worst of all, the plot was completely devoid of interest - I understand that the plot isn't supposed to be the central attraction in these books, but it's hard to muster up emotion over perilous situations when you know that the characters, whom you don't care much about to start with, are inevitably going to be bailed out by some zany deus ex campus sinister and zoom along to their next wacky adventure. It was like trying to get excited about watching other people ride a roller coaster.

I can't remember the last time I had such a hard time finishing such a short book, but I'm actually glad I did, because the last 50 pages or so were the best part.