Paperback, 296 pages
Published Jan. 15, 2020 by Editorial Anagrama.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is the first of six books in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy comedy science fiction "hexalogy" by Douglas Adams. The novel is an adaptation of the first four parts of Adams's radio series of the same name. The novel was first published in London on 12 October 1979. It sold 250,000 copies in the first three months.
The namesake of the novel is The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a fictional guide book for hitchhikers (inspired by the Hitch-hiker's Guide to Europe) written in the form of an encyclopaedia.
Also contained in:
[1]: openlibrary.org/works/OL2163692W [2]: openlibrary.org/works/OL2163713W
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is the first of six books in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy comedy science fiction "hexalogy" by Douglas Adams. The novel is an adaptation of the first four parts of Adams's radio series of the same name. The novel was first published in London on 12 October 1979. It sold 250,000 copies in the first three months.
The namesake of the novel is The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a fictional guide book for hitchhikers (inspired by the Hitch-hiker's Guide to Europe) written in the form of an encyclopaedia.
Also contained in:
[1]: openlibrary.org/works/OL2163692W [2]: openlibrary.org/works/OL2163713W
2012 read, 3 stars: just confusing and only mildly amused by it.
2025 read, 5 stars: still confusing but less so and much funnier than I remember.
At eg har unngått denne!
For ei bok. Morosam, full av eventyr, absurd. Dette var noko for meg.
One of the most quotable books of all time, and the beginning of one of the few series that can out-do Discworld in terms of lunacy. It's no surprise that Douglas Adams was a writer for Doctor Who and Monty Python's Flying Circus, as parts of this novel feel like either a Monty Python sketch in space, or one of Doctor Who's most openly silly episodes.
Strangely enough, the only parts of this book that haven't become an inescapable part of popular culture are its plot and characters. Sure, everyone knows about 42, and Marvin the Paranoid Android, but that's just a flashback and a side character - Arthur Dent, and the Magratheans who built Earth for hyperintelligent mice, are not as well remembered, even though they're somewhat bigger parts of the plot. The plot is very interesting - enough to make me want to read The Restaurant …
One of the most quotable books of all time, and the beginning of one of the few series that can out-do Discworld in terms of lunacy. It's no surprise that Douglas Adams was a writer for Doctor Who and Monty Python's Flying Circus, as parts of this novel feel like either a Monty Python sketch in space, or one of Doctor Who's most openly silly episodes.
Strangely enough, the only parts of this book that haven't become an inescapable part of popular culture are its plot and characters. Sure, everyone knows about 42, and Marvin the Paranoid Android, but that's just a flashback and a side character - Arthur Dent, and the Magratheans who built Earth for hyperintelligent mice, are not as well remembered, even though they're somewhat bigger parts of the plot. The plot is very interesting - enough to make me want to read The Restaurant at the End of the Universe - but it's not the first thing I'll remember about the book. I'll join everyone else who's read this book in quoting the passages about the Babel Fish, the description of Earth as "mostly harmless", the funny alien names, and Douglas Adams' mockery of digital watches. Such asides from the narrator are arguably what sets this book apart.
Plus you'll understand many more pop culture references!
Plus you'll understand many more pop culture references!
I had no idea! I’ve read the Hitchhiker’s books before, and I knew it was performed for radio, but I always thought the book came first.
As for the radio version, the Primary Phase is a delight. The voice actors are all top notch, especially Stephen Moore as Marvin the Paranoid Android, and the writing was so ahead of its time for the 70s (and the 80s and 90s, for that matter). I would easily pay 30 Alterian dollars a day to listen to this again and again.
Forever classic
One of the best sci-fi novels ever written.
È il libro che consiglio di leggere a tutti, posso dire che ha rappresentato per me una parte importante della mia vita. Lo rileggo spesso e non faccio a meno di divertirmi ogni volta.
È il libro che consiglio di leggere a tutti, posso dire che ha rappresentato per me una parte importante della mia vita. Lo rileggo spesso e non faccio a meno di divertirmi ogni volta.
42 years later and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is still as absurdly funny, insanely perceptive and shockingly relevant as ever.
I still love the babel fish!
42 years later and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is still as absurdly funny, insanely perceptive and shockingly relevant as ever.
I still love the babel fish!
42 years later and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is still as absurdly funny, insanely perceptive and shockingly relevant as ever.
I still love the babel fish!
42 years later and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is still as absurdly funny, insanely perceptive and shockingly relevant as ever.
I still love the babel fish!
4.5 The middle-aged me is still every bit as delighted by this science fiction comedy as the teen me was shortly after its publication. Read my full review here.
4.5 The middle-aged me is still every bit as delighted by this science fiction comedy as the teen me was shortly after its publication. Read my full review here.
Beh è spassoso e divertente! Il sarcasmo è pungente ma, ahimè, la storia è citata così tanto rovinare un po' la lettura. Comunque sagace!
Beh è spassoso e divertente! Il sarcasmo è pungente ma, ahimè, la storia è citata così tanto rovinare un po' la lettura. Comunque sagace!
This book contradicts with every major realm of science I know. Physics in general, evolution and so on and yet it is marked as 'science fiction'! I doubt in its genre. Whatever, the book is insanely humorous. And those entries in the guide... oh lord flying spaghetti monster!
This book contradicts with every major realm of science I know. Physics in general, evolution and so on and yet it is marked as 'science fiction'! I doubt in its genre. Whatever, the book is insanely humorous. And those entries in the guide... oh lord flying spaghetti monster!
