The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

audio cd, 5 pages

Published Jan. 14, 2014 by Random House Audio.

ISBN:
978-0-8041-9185-2
Copied ISBN!

View on OpenLibrary

4 stars (66 reviews)

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:

  • [The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy: A Trilogy in Four Parts][1]
  • [The More than Complete Hitchhiker's Guide][2]

[1]: openlibrary.org/works/OL2163692W [2]: openlibrary.org/works/OL2163713W

87 editions

Comedy classic

4 stars

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 …

This was a radio play first?!?

5 stars

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.

Review of "The hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy" on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

Most of the fun stems from its unpredictability. There are also some hilarious quotes in here. But, besides its gags, it doesn't have a lot to offer. The only theme to it is that (human) life is largely insignificant. But it's only explored superficially. Especially when rereading, the book can become somewhat of a bore.

avatar for pengull

rated it

5 stars
avatar for jkobyp

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Simoto

rated it

4 stars
avatar for flowerysong

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Harlander

rated it

4 stars
avatar for alrowell

rated it

4 stars
avatar for MaidMerry

rated it

5 stars
avatar for kj

rated it

5 stars
avatar for teadragon

rated it

5 stars
avatar for neontapir

rated it

3 stars
avatar for markpoole

rated it

3 stars
avatar for cocohoney

rated it

3 stars
avatar for tomchappell

rated it

5 stars
avatar for tdanner

rated it

5 stars
avatar for TedTschopp

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Jos

rated it

5 stars
avatar for jeroen

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Gorbag

rated it

5 stars
avatar for mjeaton

rated it

4 stars
avatar for neh

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Bomboloni

rated it

4 stars
avatar for RobWorks

rated it

5 stars
avatar for jkb

rated it

5 stars
avatar for secretGeek

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Ardi

rated it

3 stars
avatar for LissyStrata

rated it

5 stars
avatar for DeadDino

rated it

1 star
avatar for PinkFloydian

rated it

5 stars
avatar for bluedepth

rated it

4 stars
avatar for nocalla

rated it

5 stars
avatar for ChristinaO

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Wrench_Hex

rated it

4 stars
avatar for melanderland

rated it

4 stars
avatar for paraic

rated it

5 stars
avatar for monnowman

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Conbini

rated it

4 stars
avatar for dandean

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Rumo

rated it

5 stars
avatar for timberry

rated it

5 stars