If Pratchett had been published 1st then Hitchhiker would never have stuck out his thumb and been discovered.
The quote came from a critics recommendation on one of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series, Terry Pratchett being the current king of the comic sci-fi / fantasy novel an honour previously accorded to Douglas Adams. It was this quote along with the news of the death of Douglas Adams that led me to dig out hitchhiker for a re-read.
Being a fan of both authors I thought hold on I remember Hitchhiker: the radio series, the book, the TV series – and all those memories are fond (particularly Sandra Dickinson as Trillian on the TV) so I dug the book out to see whether I had a rose tinted memory or whether it is as good as I remember.
Found the book and 1st impressions are great, the cover from the 1979 edition is still stunning – green, blue, orange and pink splodges with the title picked out in red and the phrase “Don’t Panic” similarly highlighted on the back cover.
So what’s is it all about I hear you thinking: -
Well……..
The main characters are: -
Ford Prefect, a man who knows where his towel is, originally from Betelgeuse but stranded on Earth for the last 15 years is a researcher for The Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy and has managed to update the reference on Earth to “Mostly Harmless”.
Arthur Dent, a human and a friend of Ford’s, he’s about to have a bad day as the council are about to knock his house down
Zaphod Beeblebrox – also a friend of Ford’s, and has an odd appearance, what with the 3 arms and 2 heads, who happens to be the President of the Galaxy. He’s on a secret mission that even he doesn’t know having burned the appropriate part of his brain out.
Trillian, a brilliant physicist, formally Tricia Macmillan from Earth who went to a dull party with Arthur but left with Zaphod
Marvin, a paranoid android – a robot with a brain the size of a small planet so criminally underused his personality chip is stuck on manic-depressive.
Special mention should also be made of planet maker Slartibartfast but only because I think that’s a great name. White mice and Deep Thought the world’s 2nd greatest computer also have a part to play.
The plot without giving too much away: -
The earth is destroyed to make way for a hyperspatial express route, making Arthur’s day even worse, but at least Ford and Arthur hitch a lift off planet seconds before its destroyed. Zaphod, Trillian and Marvin steal the Heart of Gold spaceship which has an Infinite improbability drive to locate the lost planet of Magrathea to steal as much as possible. The mice know the answer to life, the universe and everything, which is 42, but have no idea what the question is. And basically everyone’s paths cross, but to know more you’ll have to read the book.
Any way if that sounds a bit complicated DON’T PANIC. The story is very easygoing really and the humour is off the wall and surreal going off at tangents all the time dissecting late 70’s early 80s style with a wicked wit or just being plain .
Me, I loved it 22 years ago, and I still do – a great comic novel.
Douglas Adams, comic writer par excellence, RIP you will be fondly remembered.
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managed to catch some of the repeats but i find the book funnier, although i was right about sandra dickinson
eca99ajm 02.08.2001 22:41
Have you been watching the repeats of the TV series late night on BBC2? I love the books and this is the first opportunity I've had to watch the TV series and I'm quite impressed. Thanks for the excellent op! Anna
Losing your planet isn't the end of the world . . . the movie tie-in edition of Douglas ... more
Adams's perennially popular novel, with exclusive on-set stories, interviews and pictures. Pan's tie-in edition of this cult classic will include substantial extras...
Postage & Packaging: refer to website Availability: in stock
Advantages: Very funny, great characters, exciting and original. Disadvantages: Some theories were a little hard to understand, perhaps too random in places
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