Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

“You know," said Arthur, "it's at times like this, when I'm trapped in a Vogon airlock with a man from Betelgeuse, and about to die of asphyxiation in deep space that I really wish I'd listened to what my mother told me when I was young."
"Why, what did she tell you?"
"I don't know, I didn't listen.”

It's been a bad day for Arthur Dent.

First he wakes up to find that his house is going to be demolished to make way for a bypass. Then his best friend Ford reveals that 1) Ford's really an alien, researching earth for the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and 2) Earth is about to be demolished to make way for a bypass. Escaping Earth in the knick of time, Arthur and Ford are launched into a journey spanning the galaxy. Luckily for Arthur the Hitchhiker's guide is there to help him along the way, as long as he remembers not to panic and doesn't forget his towel. Stoic every-man Arthur's misadventures will take him to the end of the universe and lead him to confront the answer to life's ultimate question: 42. Now, does anyone know what the question is?

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy has such a great title that you know it must be good before you ever crack the cover. This brilliant sci-fi comedy novel adventure story is chock full of British wit and irreverent humor (but I repeat myself.) Any fan of sci-fi, wordplay, or British comedy should be sure to read this book at least once in their life—if only to understand what a babel fish is, or why the meaning of life is 42, or what they serve at the restaurant at the end of the universe.

Of course, it's worth mentioning that Douglas Adams was something of a staunch atheist, and this clearly shows through in his writing. He may have taken pleasure in laughing in the face of a meaningless, humorless universe, but we can take pleasure in laughing with a meaningful universe that is grand and fantastic and funnier than we can imagine, full of things like towels and space and Douglas Adams.

Review by Lauren Shearer Lauren Shearer writes words for fun and profit. She also makes films, but everyone knows you can't make a profit doing that. Her other hobby is consistently volunteering way too much of her time. You can read more of her reviews here.

Review by Lauren Shearer
Lauren Shearer writes words for fun and profit. She also makes films, but everyone knows you can't make a profit doing that. Her other hobby is consistently volunteering way too much of her time. You can read more of her reviews here.