The hitch hikers guide to the galaxy

Q: What is the point of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy?

Hitchhiker, a Guide to Douglas Adams Bundell said the story is a satire on what happens around the world and what were doing to our planet and is still relevant today. In the story, Vogons are an alien race destroying planets to make way for construction of a new hyperspace bypass.

Q: Why is 42 the answer to the meaning of life?

In The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, advanced alien beings create a supercomputer, called Deep Thought, to figure out the answer to the so-called Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. After calculating for 7.5-million years, Deep Thought determined the answer was the number 42.

Q: What is the question for 42?

The number 42 is, in The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything, calculated by an enormous supercomputer named Deep Thought over a period of 7.5 million years. Unfortunately, no one knows what the question is.

Publisher's Summary

Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last 15 years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.

Table of Contents Show

Publisher's Summary
What listeners say about The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
What is the point of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy?
Why is 42 the answer to the meaning of life?
What is the question for 42?
Who said the answer is 42?

Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker's Guide ("A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have.") and a galaxy full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox, the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod's girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; and Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years.

Where are these pens? Why are we born? Why do we die? Why do we spend so much time in between wearing digital watches? For all the answers stick your thumb to the stars. And don't forget to bring a towel!

Listen to the rest of Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy "trilogy."

Want to learn more about the new Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy movie? Listen to this interview with Robbie Stamp, close friend of Douglas Adams and executive producer of the film.

What listeners say about The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Average Customer Ratings

Overall

4.5 out of 5 stars
5 Stars 38,052
4 Stars 9,010
3 Stars 2,987
2 Stars 849
1 Stars 503

Performance

5 out of 5 stars
5 Stars 38,000
4 Stars 4,838
3 Stars 1,081
2 Stars 227
1 Stars 175

Story

4.5 out of 5 stars
5 Stars 32,325
4 Stars 7,564
3 Stars 2,926
2 Stars 920
1 Stars 529

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

J. Medany
05-08-05

HHTGH - Lightly Fried

I have Douglas's narration of the Book which is a joy - and Now I Have Stephen Fry's which polishes the Diamond.

First - Rest assured this is a just a reissue of the original - Not a book of the Film. The Film was Ok but not nearly true enough to its sources (Radio Play, Book, TV series - in that order) - This book brings the voice of Fry - who is an excellent narrator (and a close friend of DNA's) into the mix. He brings more life to the book than Douglas did (Douglas was a great speaker - but when it comes to narrating entire books his performance has high and lows) and I recommend this to all. If you havn't heard the story before - First buy the radio series then go back to the books. Buy Fry's narration then go to Douglas' - you will get the best experience that way.

254 people found this helpful

Randall
04-25-09

Fun nonsense

I like everything Douglas Adams writes. This is the first I read in his Hitchhiker series, I quickly read the rest.

127 people found this helpful

Erika
01-12-09

lovely

it's possible i could listen to stephen fry read the phone book and be pleased, but this is such a wonderful book as well. wickedly funny and imaginative.

89 people found this helpful

Moonwolf
12-29-09

Such a classic

Still an awesome, funny, all time classic. Well read by an easy to understand british gentleman. Awesome quality, great story. Very easy to visualize from the way it's read.

I have read 3 versions of the book, seen the original BBC mini series, the newer movie, and heard several radio broadcast versions and this is definetly one of the better ones. Well worth anyone's time and money whether it's your first time hearing this story or your 100th. It's funny, intriguing, unique, and just an all-time SciFi classic.

Truly enjoyable from start to finish.

39 people found this helpful

Rene
05-28-05

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

This was my first Audio book...a friend told me I should choose a book that was not to long, and recommended The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy...I loved this book...Absolutely Outstanding. The story was fun to listen to. The speaker is also excellent. I have since purchased all of Douglas Adam's stories. Great Read.

38 people found this helpful

Ben Preston
03-15-13

This version is Brilliant!

I'm sure you already know this book is Hilarious, but having Stephen Fry as the narrator takes Douglas Adams' wonderful work to a whole new level. It's like having an entire chocolate cake served to you on a solid gold platter by Sara Lee herself.
I already owned this audiobook, but I had to buy it again just to hear it read by Stephen Fry.

36 people found this helpful

Ambagious
03-30-09

Weird and wonderful

This satirical, hysterical romp of a novel is a classic now, and would be hard to describe in any case. At breakneck pace, it careens through the galaxy, only rarely pausing long enough for the characters - or the listeners - to catch their breath.

Arguably, the best way to listen to Hitchhiker's Guide is to listen to the original radio show that prompted the novel in the first place.

But if you're going to get an audiobook instead of the radio-show, this is the one. Stephen Fry is top-notch, and clearly having just the right amount of fun.

36 people found this helpful

Diana
03-07-09

Hitched a fun ride to the 70's

I'm no fan of science fiction but this book is a classic; it is hilarious in its absurdity. If you enjoy the humor of Monty Phyton, you'll love this book. And such a great reader! The intonation and British accent is a perfect match. Loved it, loved it...

34 people found this helpful

E. Mesa
05-05-05

Douglas Adams is pure genius

I read this book a few years ago and was left with the feeling that Douglas Adams was a pure genius - the Monty Python and Andy Kaufman of literature. In other words, he has a very peculiar sense of humor, but if you find it funny you will be laughing to hard that people will be staring at you on the subways. Now, I listened to a version of the book prior to the release of the 2005 movie, so I don't know if this new version of the book by random house audio is the same or if it has been modified for the movie. Frankly the movie stank with comparison to the original book so hopefully this is the original book just re-narrated or re-released.

33 people found this helpful

Stephanie
10-19-05

Excellent Audio Book

I enjoyed the audio book very much. I don't know why, but years ago I tried to read the book but couldn't get through it. Have not seen the movie.
If you like british humour like Monty Python you'll like this book and the audio version as well. I have not heard the earlier version by the author but I would definately listen to something else read by Stephen Fry.
This book made a long 6 hour drive much more enjoyable. Thanks.

31 people found this helpful

What is the point of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy?

'Hitchhiker,' a Guide to Douglas Adams Bundell said the story is a satire on what happens around the world and what we're doing to our planet and is still relevant today. In the story, Vogons are an alien race destroying planets to make way for construction of a new hyperspace bypass.

Why is 42 the answer to the meaning of life?

In The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, advanced alien beings create a supercomputer, called Deep Thought, to figure out the answer to the so-called Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. After calculating for 7.5-million years, Deep Thought determined the answer was the number 42.

What is the question for 42?

The number 42 is, in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, the "Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything," calculated by an enormous supercomputer named Deep Thought over a period of 7.5 million years. Unfortunately, no one knows what the question is.

Who said the answer is 42?

The number 42 is especially significant to fans of science fiction novelist Douglas Adams' “The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy,” because that number is the answer given by a supercomputer to “the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything.”