Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Pan Books (2001), Paperback, 229 pages
Description
Fiction. Science Fiction. Thriller. Humor (Fiction.) HTML:It�??s easy to get disheartened when your planet has been blown up, the woman you love has vanished due to a misunderstanding about space/time, the spaceship you are on crashes on a remote and Bob-fearing planet, and all you have to fall back on are a few simple sandwich-making skills. However, instead of being disheartened, Arthur Dent makes the terrible mistake of starting to enjoy life a bit�??and immediately all hell breaks loose. Hell takes a number of forms: there�??s the standard Ford Prefect version, in the shape of an all-new edition of The Hitchhiker�??s Guide to the Galaxy, and a totally unexpected manifestation in the form of a teenage girl who startles Arthur Dent by being his daughter when he didn�??t even know he had one. Can Arthur save the Earth from total multidimensional obliteration? Can he save the Guide from a hostile alien takeover? Can he save his daughter, Random, from herself? Of course not. He never works out exactly what is goin… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member StormRaven
The fifth (and thus far, last) installment in the Hitchhiker Trilogy, this book covers the Vogons continuing attempts to destroy Earth, a project they began in the first book. Like the other books, the plot is almost entirely beside the point, as Adams engages in the vicious and humorous satire of
Unfortunately, this book is much weaker than the others in the series. While the previous books had a light touch and managed to poke fun at things without seeming mean-spirited, this book seems almost devoid of any kind of joy or happiness. I have been told that Adams knew he was dying when he wrote this book, which may account for the depressing tone and nihilistic ending. This bit of understanding (if true) explains why the book is so dark and dreary, but it doesn't make it any more enjoyable to read.
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almost everything.Unfortunately, this book is much weaker than the others in the series. While the previous books had a light touch and managed to poke fun at things without seeming mean-spirited, this book seems almost devoid of any kind of joy or happiness. I have been told that Adams knew he was dying when he wrote this book, which may account for the depressing tone and nihilistic ending. This bit of understanding (if true) explains why the book is so dark and dreary, but it doesn't make it any more enjoyable to read.
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LibraryThing member SR510
Arguably Adams's best book.
It's hard to decide whether the first or last book of the Hitchhiker's trilogy is the best, because they're so different. Simply put, when Douglas wrote The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, he didn't know how to write a book. He ended up producing a work that didn't fit
So over the years, Adams learned how to write a book properly. And after a couple of flawed attempts at mastering the form, Mostly Harmless is the one in which he finally got it just right. It has a solid plot in which several threads satisfyingly come together at the end, providing closure for the series as a whole. It's the perfect ending for the trilogy. It may lack the manic inventiveness of the first book, but you can't have it both ways...
It's hard to decide whether the first or last book of the Hitchhiker's trilogy is the best, because they're so different. Simply put, when Douglas wrote The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, he didn't know how to write a book. He ended up producing a work that didn't fit
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any of the usual rules, and famously ended in the middle of nowhere when he hit his deadline. 99.999% of the time, this would have been a disaster. Instead, Hitchhiker's was the wildly (but not infinitely) improbable exception to the rule: everything worked in its favor. It was brilliant. It was a hit. It was irreproducible. (He came as close as one could with The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, which was essentially the second half of the book, but never managed it again.)So over the years, Adams learned how to write a book properly. And after a couple of flawed attempts at mastering the form, Mostly Harmless is the one in which he finally got it just right. It has a solid plot in which several threads satisfyingly come together at the end, providing closure for the series as a whole. It's the perfect ending for the trilogy. It may lack the manic inventiveness of the first book, but you can't have it both ways...
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LibraryThing member magnuscanis
Still pretty funny, but not up to the standard of the earlier books in the series. Perhaps the trilogy should have been left in four parts.
LibraryThing member the.ken.petersen
Finally, I have read the fifth part of this trilogy! I consumed the first four, almost as they were released but, somehow conspired to miss the last part.
So, what do I think of it? It is certainly the best book in the series. I get the feeling that Douglas Adams was probably becoming increasingly
The book ends up in an almost nihilistic destruction of everything: the characters, the Hitch Hiker's Guide and, once more, the Earth.
Adams finally proved himself capable of producing a worthy novel with this work and I am pleased to have, at last, read it.
So, what do I think of it? It is certainly the best book in the series. I get the feeling that Douglas Adams was probably becoming increasingly
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keen upon the idea of wrapping up the series and this, the first original storyline to make it to the publishers, does this in a wholly fitting manner. The book has passages that made me laugh out aloud but, perhaps more significantly, areas that left an aching sadness. One wonders how much of his own feelings about his childhood were contained in Random's cry for a state of belonging. The book ends up in an almost nihilistic destruction of everything: the characters, the Hitch Hiker's Guide and, once more, the Earth.
Adams finally proved himself capable of producing a worthy novel with this work and I am pleased to have, at last, read it.
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LibraryThing member ariebonn
I was looking forward to read the last book in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and find out how it all ended for the characters, but most of all I was hoping that it will be on the same level as the first two books in the series, creative, hilarious and fun to read. Unfortunately it wasn't
Fenchurch disappeared in hyperspace and Arthur has been traveling through all possible dimension for a place similar to Earth until he settles on an Earthlike, albeit a little primitive, planet where he makes a huge success as a sandwich maker. Arthur's fate is not to live serene though, and thanks to Ford and his newly found teenage daughter Random, his world is turned upside down once again. Random is his daughter by Trillian and it turns out that she's just as confused as Arthur, especially because of the fact that her mother dropped her here because she simply doesn't have time to take care of her. In the meantime Ford discovers that a huge corporation has bought out The Hitchhiker's Guide and developed a new version with the power to destroy the universe. Naturally he feels that he must stop this insanity.
Where do I begin with this book? This series seems to dwindle with every book. The first two books were excellent, but from the third onwards all I have been hoping for is that the next book will be better, but the last book didn't cut it either. I struggled to get though the first part but hung in there, simply because I always want to finish a book once I start it, no matter how bad it is. The second half got better, there was some sort of plot to follow and that raised my hopes a little, until I reached the end and all I could say was, "That's all?" What a dreary ending for these poor characters! Not very impressive. My other complaint about this book and the series in general is how Zaphod was chucked out of the story never to be heard of again. He was my favorite character in the first books and accounted for most of the wittiness, if there was one question I could ask Adams it would be why did he have to get rid of Zaphod!
I am glad I managed to finish this series, and I must sadly say that I won't be missing it either. If you've read the other books in this series, then you definitely have to read this one simply to close off the series, however don't set your expectations too high, and if you do end up liking it then that's a plus for you.
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much of that at all.Fenchurch disappeared in hyperspace and Arthur has been traveling through all possible dimension for a place similar to Earth until he settles on an Earthlike, albeit a little primitive, planet where he makes a huge success as a sandwich maker. Arthur's fate is not to live serene though, and thanks to Ford and his newly found teenage daughter Random, his world is turned upside down once again. Random is his daughter by Trillian and it turns out that she's just as confused as Arthur, especially because of the fact that her mother dropped her here because she simply doesn't have time to take care of her. In the meantime Ford discovers that a huge corporation has bought out The Hitchhiker's Guide and developed a new version with the power to destroy the universe. Naturally he feels that he must stop this insanity.
Where do I begin with this book? This series seems to dwindle with every book. The first two books were excellent, but from the third onwards all I have been hoping for is that the next book will be better, but the last book didn't cut it either. I struggled to get though the first part but hung in there, simply because I always want to finish a book once I start it, no matter how bad it is. The second half got better, there was some sort of plot to follow and that raised my hopes a little, until I reached the end and all I could say was, "That's all?" What a dreary ending for these poor characters! Not very impressive. My other complaint about this book and the series in general is how Zaphod was chucked out of the story never to be heard of again. He was my favorite character in the first books and accounted for most of the wittiness, if there was one question I could ask Adams it would be why did he have to get rid of Zaphod!
I am glad I managed to finish this series, and I must sadly say that I won't be missing it either. If you've read the other books in this series, then you definitely have to read this one simply to close off the series, however don't set your expectations too high, and if you do end up liking it then that's a plus for you.
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LibraryThing member fieldri1
In 1992 Douglas Adams released the fifth entry in what was, by his own admission the increasingly inaccurately titled Hitch Hikers trilogy.Unfortunately it felt at the time like it was written with the intention of bringing the story arc to a close so that people would stop asking him to write
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another darn book. At its end 'Mostly Harmless' does the inverse of so many Hollywood block busters. Instead of setting up an obvious lead into a sequel the book sets about destroying any possible follow up.I've since found out that the actual reason that the book feels so negative is that Douglas was going through a difficult period in his personal life!So Douglas fans will want to read this because of its pedigree, but it just doesn't have the fun that the others do, especially the experimental playfullness of the previous book in the series 'So Long and Thanks for the Fish'. Show Less
LibraryThing member ragwaine
Probably the worst of the series. It was quirky but never evoked more than a chuckle. It was also more confusing than the other books. So the combination of not that funny and confusing didn't work out so well. I am glad to have finally finished a series I started more than 20 years ago just not
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sure I needed to read this one. Show Less
LibraryThing member reading_fox
The definitive end to the trilogy by book 5. The probablilty waveform of Earth is reduced to a flat line in all dimensions. There will be no more hitchHiker books! Despite this its actually a fun read and much better than book 4 which was odd. I can see many of today's corporate business people
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agreeing with the ideas in here, this is not a good thing! Show Less
LibraryThing member ayork
This one was not nearly as funny or engaging as the first four. I only gave it 3 stars out of loyalty to the series. Obviously, one should read it if he/she has read the first four in the Hitchhiker's "trilogy," but don't expect great satisfaction.
LibraryThing member pauliharman
Tolerable tat from an author desperate to kill off a franchise
LibraryThing member sweetiegherkin
The fifth and final book in the Hitchhikers “trilogy” begins rather slow but picks up pace quickly after the first five or so chapters. Three of the usual suspects are back, but Arthur, Ford, and Trillian are all facing adventures on their own up until the end of the book. The reader still
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feels the lost of the marvelously interesting Zaphod and Marvin, but two new characters are brought in to help fill that void a bit. Random, the teenaged daughter of Arthur and Trillian, sulks about and inadvertently causes trouble while Colin, Marvin’s antithesis, is Ford’s new robot companion who is always happy. This book seems more in line with the tone and trajectory of the original trilogy, rather than the fourth book that just seemed like a side note. While it seems that many others found this book depressing, I still found it delightfully funny and the perfect ending to the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member lindseyrivers
So now that I have finished the series, I am really not sure what I think about it. I originally was looking for a deeper meaning to the books, such as a commentary on religion, and although that's still possible, I am not entirely convinced that it's just not a fantastical book for the sake of
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being fantastical. Mostly enjoyable and entertaining but I found myself bored at some points. I am now going to explore the radio broadcasts, tv show and movie to see if there may be something in those that I am missing. Show Less
LibraryThing member JoshEnglish
In the final installment, Adams attempts to wrap up a few loose ends. I found this book to have fewer laugh-out-loud moments. The humor is much more subtle.
LibraryThing member schteve
Mostly crap. A sad, bitter finale to the Hitch-Hikers trilogy in 5 parts from a sad, bitter writer.
LibraryThing member leelerbaby
Douglas Adams writing makes seemingly senseless events seem almost, if not normal at least probable.
LibraryThing member Darla
Every morning--every school day morning, that is--I make breakfast for my kids, then while they're eating it, I read to them. We've been doing this for years, since before the youngest started school. Mostly Harmless was our latest morning read.
We all loved it, even if the ending had everyone a bit
We all loved it, even if the ending had everyone a bit
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stunned. Mostly about Arthur, but Ford and Trillian were in there, too. We did miss Zaphod. All in all, a satisfying ending to the "increasingly inaccurately named Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy trilogy"... since it had to end, that is. Show Less
LibraryThing member rincewind1986
Not particually good, really killed the series, it lacks all the fun and silliness of the other four, and just seems to plod along in a slow rather dull manner. Obviously fans of the series will read it no matter how many people say it is a bad book, but it is the worst of the 5
LibraryThing member mysticrune
i didnt dislike the book, i just didnt have as much fun reading this than i did with the other 4, it didnt have the hitchhickers charm. the ending was complete jiberish or was it just me? i hope eion colfar does a better job of finshing off the seiries than adams.
LibraryThing member samlives2
I thought this book ended somewhat abruptly, and I stopped mid-stride while reading it walking home from the bus stop. I had expected something at least a little dramatic, maybe with a little more emotion, but then I realized that that's what makes this series so special. It is special because it
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is unique and any abrupt and at first glance meaningless ending has simply to do with the whole point of the book: things happen, sometimes at random, and seemingly never for any higher reason or destiny. I have to admit this book was a little perplexing at times, and one definitely has to keep an open and focused mind when reading it, but it is definitely worth it. I love this series dearly. It's such a relief to read compared to most of the endless drama and obvious plots I seem to come across. Show Less
LibraryThing member owen1218
Mostly Harmless seems often to be considered the worst in the Hitchhiker's Guide series, and this was what I remembered from the last time I'd read through it. But I found myself surprised to my satisfaction to find that this isn't the case at all. Although it is sometimes bleak, and seemingly
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negates the purpose of the entire fourth book by eliminating the Earth and telling us that Fenchurch randomly vanished, it's a return to the form and humor of the first three books, and not such a bad conclusion to the series as the fourth book would have been. Show Less
LibraryThing member susiesharp
I really liked this one and am glad Eoin Colfer took up the reins to write a next book because this one just kind of ended without resolution.This one as my 2nd favorite after the 1st book.
LibraryThing member stonester1
The last novel in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, and Mr. Adams' last novel, this one brings us back to most of our time/space tripsters Arthur Dent (who just wants to enjoy a quiet, normal life), Trillian (who just wants to find her purpose) and Ford Prefect (who just wants to avoid
The ending, though it was an "end", as far as "ends" go in the Hitchhikers' way of reckoning, was...jarring. Not so much ending, as coming to a crashing, banging halt.
I enjoyed the book...but was less than satisfied with the wrapup. Still a worthy read if you are a fan of this series.
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boredom at all costs). And we find out that Arthur now has a daughter, and his fatherly instincts aren't at all bad ones.The ending, though it was an "end", as far as "ends" go in the Hitchhikers' way of reckoning, was...jarring. Not so much ending, as coming to a crashing, banging halt.
I enjoyed the book...but was less than satisfied with the wrapup. Still a worthy read if you are a fan of this series.
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LibraryThing member klast7
Fantastic and very funny.
LibraryThing member andreablythe
More varying and extreme contradictions here in regards to previous books. Only Arthurt Dent and Ford Prefect remain themselves in the story, and with the exception of Ford's mad escape from The Hitchhiker's Guide offices, I was rather bored with the story. Most of what I loved about the rest of
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the books is gone. Combine that with the ending, and I just about hated it. Show Less
LibraryThing member LTJinja
The worst of the five.
Subjects
Original publication date
1992-10-01
Physical description
229 p.; 6.85 inches
ISBN
0330323113 / 9780330323116