Status
Available
Collection
Publication
Pan (2020), 832 pages
Description
In this collection of novels, Arthur Dent is introduced to the galaxy at large when he is rescued by an alien friend seconds before Earth's destruction, and embarks on a series of amazing adventures with his new companion.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Terpsichoreus
The universe is a joke, but only some of us are in on it.
Even before I was shown the meaning of life in a dream at 17, I knew this to be true. And yet, I have always felt a need to search for the truth, that nebulous, ill-treated creature. Adams has always felt, to me, to be a common partner in
Between the search for truth, and the recognition that it's all a joke in poor taste lies Douglas Adams, and, luckily for us, he doesn't seem to mind if you lie there with him. He's a tall guy, but he'll make room.
For all his crazed unpredictability, Adams is a powerful rationalist. His humor comes from his attempts to really think through all the things we take for granted. All it takes is a moment's questioning to burst the seam of our preconceptions, yet we all, every day, treat the most ludicrous things as if they are perfectly natural.
It is no surprise that famed atheist Richard Dawkins found a friend and ally in Adams. What is surprising is that people often fail to see the rather consistent and reasonable philosophy laid out by Adams' jokes. He is much more personable than Dawkins was, and hence a better face for rational materialism, or atheism.
We can all see pretty quickly that Dawkins is tired of arguing with uninformed idiots who can't recognize when he's made a point. Adams' humanism, however, stretched much further.
We see it from his protagonists, who are not elitist intellectuals, they're not even that bright, but damn it, they're trying. By showing a universe that makes no sense and having his characters constantly question it, Adams is subtly hinting that this is how the real universe works.
It's all a joke, it's all ridiculous. The absurdists might find this depressing, but to hell with them. I say let's sit down at the bar with the rabbi, the priest, and the frog and try to get a song going. Or at least recognize that it's okay to laugh at ourselves now and again. It's not the end of the world.
Even before I was shown the meaning of life in a dream at 17, I knew this to be true. And yet, I have always felt a need to search for the truth, that nebulous, ill-treated creature. Adams has always felt, to me, to be a common partner in
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that journey.Between the search for truth, and the recognition that it's all a joke in poor taste lies Douglas Adams, and, luckily for us, he doesn't seem to mind if you lie there with him. He's a tall guy, but he'll make room.
For all his crazed unpredictability, Adams is a powerful rationalist. His humor comes from his attempts to really think through all the things we take for granted. All it takes is a moment's questioning to burst the seam of our preconceptions, yet we all, every day, treat the most ludicrous things as if they are perfectly natural.
It is no surprise that famed atheist Richard Dawkins found a friend and ally in Adams. What is surprising is that people often fail to see the rather consistent and reasonable philosophy laid out by Adams' jokes. He is much more personable than Dawkins was, and hence a better face for rational materialism, or atheism.
We can all see pretty quickly that Dawkins is tired of arguing with uninformed idiots who can't recognize when he's made a point. Adams' humanism, however, stretched much further.
We see it from his protagonists, who are not elitist intellectuals, they're not even that bright, but damn it, they're trying. By showing a universe that makes no sense and having his characters constantly question it, Adams is subtly hinting that this is how the real universe works.
It's all a joke, it's all ridiculous. The absurdists might find this depressing, but to hell with them. I say let's sit down at the bar with the rabbi, the priest, and the frog and try to get a song going. Or at least recognize that it's okay to laugh at ourselves now and again. It's not the end of the world.
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LibraryThing member dividedblue_eyedsky
The only books to truely make me laugh out loud while reading. Adams is a genius can't wait to re-read.
LibraryThing member lizzybeans11
On of my favourite modern British-lit series. Adams is truly a genius in the humour/sci/fi genre. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is itself a classic book and its sequels make a marvellous series.
LibraryThing member TotallyRandomMan
It's hard to overstate just how great these books are. No really, try it. It's very hard.
LibraryThing member capnk8
I suppose it's fair to say that Douglas Adams isn't for everyone. But if smart, utterly bizarre, ridiculous, hilarious, improbable science fiction - in a British accent - is your cup of tea, I don't honestly know how you can NOT love Adams. The world lost an amazing creative mind when it lost this
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author. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookworm12
It all starts with a quiet British man named Arthur Dent... who hitches a ride on a space ship just before the earth is destroyed. What follows is a five book "trilogy" featuring travels through space and absurdity at it's best.
It's hard to explain just how hilarious Douglas Adam's writing is. He
This books are filled with unforgettable characters like Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox and Trillian. My personal favorites are Dent, who's bumbling, sweet-natured confusion is irresistible and Marvin, a depressed robot who is constantly bemoaning the fact that no one listens to him.
I think the first three books in the series are probably the best, but by that point, you're so attached to the characters that you can't help love each new foray into their world.
I would recommend Adam's writing to most people, but I would say if you love Monty Python's sense of humor these books are an absolute must. You have to start at the beginning of the series with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and don't forget your towel.
It's hard to explain just how hilarious Douglas Adam's writing is. He
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creates characters and situations that make you laugh out loud no matter where you are. His wit is legendary and just when your stomach stops hurting from laughing so hard, he throws another curveball, like an alien race that tortures people by making them listen to horrible poetry.This books are filled with unforgettable characters like Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox and Trillian. My personal favorites are Dent, who's bumbling, sweet-natured confusion is irresistible and Marvin, a depressed robot who is constantly bemoaning the fact that no one listens to him.
I think the first three books in the series are probably the best, but by that point, you're so attached to the characters that you can't help love each new foray into their world.
I would recommend Adam's writing to most people, but I would say if you love Monty Python's sense of humor these books are an absolute must. You have to start at the beginning of the series with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and don't forget your towel.
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LibraryThing member anannyadeb
Nothing to review. Everybody knows about this book.
LibraryThing member ursula
Just a little different than anything else you may ever read -- absurdly funny. A must-read.
LibraryThing member Babelfish_42
Holy photon, what kind of book is that? Some Random thoughts about this book: Finally, after an infinite number of monkeys worked out the script—the Ultimate Guide for die-hard hoopy froods. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a very unevenly edited book and contains many passages that simply
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seemed to its editors like a good idea at the time. I like the foreword with the instructions: "How to Leave the Planet". It's the first helpful or intelligible thing that I read all day. The book ended with Arthur Dent still not getting the hang of Thursday. Not to mention, when I got to reading the part about mattress swamp, I had problems just thinking down to this level. Although, this book doesn't give us the question, at least we get an answer. The question is now in S.E.P-field. After putting in some Deep Thought, I don't think I "missed" anything in this book, but we all know that it isn't the fall that kills you, but the sudden stop at the end. But then again, I've seen stranger things free in my breakfast "serial". This book is about excitement, adventure and really wild things. I enjoyed the trilogy in five parts immensely and was sad when it ended—I could not conceive that I could feel more wretched and awful than this. But there is no point in driving yourself mad about this, you might just as well give in and save your sanity for later, or spend the year dead for tax reasons is also an alternative. Fear not, The Guide is definitive. It's Reality that is frequently inaccurate. I've read this book again and again—and have still have it on my rereading list. This review was brought to you by the Infinite Improbability Drive. Show Less
LibraryThing member jonwwil
This book--comprising The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, Life, the Universe and Everything, So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish, "Young Zaphod Plays It Safe," and Mostly Harmless--was an absolute blast to read.
I finally came to the book due to the
For the record, I enjoyed the movie, which I saw before reading the book. The book is definitely more involved, and more sophisticated, and thus, in my mind, better. I still think the movie was fun, though.
I finally came to the book due to the
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movie adaptation. After one aborted attempt, I finally found the right frame of mind. It took a long time to read (which is unusual for me), but it was totally worth it. It's a bit of a mind-bender with all the ludicrous (or "improbable") twists and turns. The humor is also very clever, and it's just a fun read.For the record, I enjoyed the movie, which I saw before reading the book. The book is definitely more involved, and more sophisticated, and thus, in my mind, better. I still think the movie was fun, though.
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LibraryThing member ndolson
I wouldn't suggest trying to read all of the books contained within in one sitting as I did. The humor turns to tedium. However when read individually these books are too humorous to be missed. Adams has the most delightful writing style and is probably one of the most imaginative people in the
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history of the world. Show Less
LibraryThing member .Monkey.
I enjoyed these stories, or well, most of most of them, but it was too much at once. I made it through about 3.5 before I starting thinking to myself "isn't this over yet?!" and wanting to move on to other things.
It was really just the last one that I wanted very much to be over with already. It
And, I didn't really like how it ended. I mean there was of course that certain bit of flair to it, but... eh. I would have been happier had it just stopped at number 4. Books 1-3 I enjoyed quite a bit. Book 4 was alright. Book 5 I'd almost rather not have read.
On a more positive note, there are lots of very amusing, as well as thought-provoking, moments in these stories, and overall I enjoyed them quite a bit. Adams was clearly quite an intelligent man and I'm certainly curious about his other works, especially those focused more directly on his thoughts.
It was really just the last one that I wanted very much to be over with already. It
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didn't help matters that I ended up not caring so much for it, either! The story had its moments (like they all did) but there were definitely fewer of them, and maybe because it came so much further down the road, or maybe he intended on it truly being the end for the series, or who knows, but, it just had a much different atmosphere, was more of a downer through a lot of it. It was still clearly the same intelligent hand that wrote the others but, they all had that light-hearted deal behind the deep thoughts, that whole carefree -let's not make a big fuss about things but simply forge on ahead to what comes along next!- attitude, while the last one just sort of feels like, they've resigned, turned submissive, stopped trying to seek real enjoyment and adventure. Except for Ford, of course, because you know, he's Ford, after all. His parts were as great as always, but he was a much more minor character in it.And, I didn't really like how it ended. I mean there was of course that certain bit of flair to it, but... eh. I would have been happier had it just stopped at number 4. Books 1-3 I enjoyed quite a bit. Book 4 was alright. Book 5 I'd almost rather not have read.
On a more positive note, there are lots of very amusing, as well as thought-provoking, moments in these stories, and overall I enjoyed them quite a bit. Adams was clearly quite an intelligent man and I'm certainly curious about his other works, especially those focused more directly on his thoughts.
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LibraryThing member tjwilliams
In 1979 Douglas Adams published what has become a seminal work in the science fiction genre. In The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy he perfectly blended conventional science fiction storytelling with an acerbic wit and humor that are still unmatched. Unfortunately, his four follow-up novels
While the plot and characters leave something to be desired—again with exception of the original novel—the humor is consistently excellent throughout the series. Adams is a brilliant wordsmith capable of making even the most banal of situations humorous. Those looking for a dense work that will engross them from cover to cover should look elsewhere. But those seeking to laugh and snicker their way through a thoroughly entertaining 800+ pages will find much value in The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide.
Ultimately, I would suggest that anyone interested in this book first find a copy of the original Hitchhiker’s Guide. If you find yourself constantly chuckling while turning its pages, then The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide will likely entertain you even more. If, however, the humor is not to your taste, then you are unlikely to enjoy the complete series.
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never quite equaled the quality of the original. What, then, is to be made of The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide? This book encompasses all five novels along with one additional short story. With the exception of the original, these novels are generally plotless and completely devoid of character development. None carries a coherent storyline from start to finish, So Long and Thanks for All the Fish completely ignores three main characters (not to mention the events of the first three books), and Mostly Harmless contains not only an egregious moment of character assassination, but a conclusion that nearly renders the entire series utterly meaningless. While the plot and characters leave something to be desired—again with exception of the original novel—the humor is consistently excellent throughout the series. Adams is a brilliant wordsmith capable of making even the most banal of situations humorous. Those looking for a dense work that will engross them from cover to cover should look elsewhere. But those seeking to laugh and snicker their way through a thoroughly entertaining 800+ pages will find much value in The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide.
Ultimately, I would suggest that anyone interested in this book first find a copy of the original Hitchhiker’s Guide. If you find yourself constantly chuckling while turning its pages, then The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide will likely entertain you even more. If, however, the humor is not to your taste, then you are unlikely to enjoy the complete series.
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LibraryThing member ourhomeplanet
If one wishes to read sci-fi that makes you not only laugh- out-loud and think at the same time, this is your go-to novel.
LibraryThing member eyja
This book has some of my favorite quotes. I really liked the first three books, but quickly lost interest in the rest. Overall, though, it is a book I enjoy and recommend.
LibraryThing member Devil_llama
This book contains the infinite improbability drive, Marvin the paranoid robot, and the answer to life, the universe, and everything. What more could anyone want?
LibraryThing member LA12Hernandez
This is just plain fun. There are many times I feel just like Arthur Dent, lost in a universe where every one else has a handle on things. And all the while all I have is my towel and people telling me "Don't Panic".
LibraryThing member level250geek
The quintessential work of science fiction humor, Adams' immortal five-part trilogy is home to some of the most memorable characters and humorous situations ever put down. Funny, thought-provoking, and completely irreverent while totally relevant, all at the same time.
LibraryThing member stipe168
only the first three of this 5 part "trilogy" are really necessary to read in my opinion. one of the flat out funniest authors in existence! very keen writing style, very adventurous, and Arthur Dent is one of the best "everyman" characters ever. he just nailed it. Douglas Adams makes everyday
“If you have enjoyed the experience of this drink,” continued the machine, “why not share it with your friends?”
“Because,” said Arthur tartly, “I want to keep them.”
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problems seem very insignificant and tells us to look at the big picture. Unfortunately, his big picture is infinity. “If you have enjoyed the experience of this drink,” continued the machine, “why not share it with your friends?”
“Because,” said Arthur tartly, “I want to keep them.”
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LibraryThing member TakeItOrLeaveIt
dystopia in a sense with a very dry British sense of humor. clever.
LibraryThing member drewandlori
Possibly the funniest books ever written, all in 1 volume.
LibraryThing member dubflicker
Almost everything in here is inventive and delightful, recommended easily to anyone, but I am here to bury Mostly Harmless, which is a dull slog mostly focused on figuring out how to justify, in plot terms, never writing another Hitchhiker's book ever again, as well a three hundred page snarl at
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any reader who liked anything that came before. Show Less
LibraryThing member KevlarRelic
The indispensable collection, Douglas Adams is perhaps the funniest writer ever, and this is the series he is known for.
As far as the books contained go, the only real stinker in my opinion is "So long and thanks for all the fish" which was slightly depressing and not terrible interesting. :) But
As far as the books contained go, the only real stinker in my opinion is "So long and thanks for all the fish" which was slightly depressing and not terrible interesting. :) But
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still good, because everything Adams writes is fantastic. Show Less
LibraryThing member sandarina
This is one of those books that I read because it has been on my "read this" list for years. It wasn't til I saw, and liked, the latest movie version that I finally went for it. Oh, and I found it for $14.99 Hardback on sale at Barnes & Noble. Great read, and funny to boot. "The dark tea-time of
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the soul"...never thought of a Sunday afternoon like THAT before! 20 June 2006 Show Less
LibraryThing member ekorrhjulet
I really thought it is a hilarious book to start with, but it grows weary by the third book.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
Physical description
7.76 inches
ISBN
1529051436 / 9781529051438