The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams (4.0)
I had forgotten how fun this book was. My second reading
after many years was a true delight. It even made me want to see the movie
again (though it was not nearly as entertaining as the book). While this may be
‘sci-fi lite’ for die-hards, it’s remains a whimsical, far-fetched, enjoyable
story. The protagonist, Arthur Dent, is a British gent who wakes up one day to
find his house is about to be demolished to put in a new highway. Ironically,
what he soon realizes is that Earth is about to face the same circumstances.
Luckily, his friend, Ford, whom he thought came from another town, is actually
a traveller from space who is able to hitchhike a ride on the alien craft
seconds before it obliterates the planet. Ford, as it turns out, was
temporarily stranded on Earth while updating the ‘Hitchhikers Guide to the
Galaxy’, a helpful guide to the places and peoples of rest of the galaxy. Arthur
and Ford then embark on a journey driven mainly by survival. During their short
travels they meet quite a few memorable characters – from the depressed robot,
Marvin, to Slartibartfast, the famed builder of fjords. I could say that name
over and over again! My favorite parts of the book are the numerous times Mr.
Adams pokes fun at the hubris of humans (i.e. earth is a one-liner in the
Guide; humans not the most intelligent species on the planet – we are below
dolphins and mice), nothing is too sacred for him. If you haven’t read this
book and like screwy British humor (think Monty Python) you ought to give it a
try.
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