Written by Douglas Adams, this book contains four books in one and is very cleverly called The Hitchhiker’s Trilogy of Four. That’s a great example about what sort of humour is contained in its pages. Adams has a very clever, very witty, and very quirky sense of humour.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – One Thursday lunchtime the Earth gets unexpectedly demolished to make way for a new hyperspace bypass. For Arthur Dent, who has only juts had his house demolished that morning, that seems already to be more than he can cope with. Sadly, however, the weekend has only just begun, and the galaxy is a very strange and startling place.
The Restaurant At the End of the Universe – When all questions of space, time, matter, and the nature of been have been resolved, only one question remains: “where shall we have dinner?” The Restaurant At the End of the Universe provides the ultimate gastronomic experience, and for once there is no morning after to worry about.
Life, The Universe And Everything – In consequence of a number of stunning catastrophes, Arthur Dent is surprised to find himself living in a hideously miserable cave on prehistoric Earth. However, just as he thinks that things cannot possibly get any worse, they suddenly do. He discovers that the galaxy is not only mind-bogglingly big and bewildering, but also that most of the things that happen in it are staggeringly unfair. So Long And Thank For All the Fish – Just as Arthur Dent’s sense of reality is it its dickiest state he suddenly finds the girl of his dreams. He finds her in the last place in which he would expect to find anything at all, but which 3.976.000.000 people will find oddly familiar. They go in search of God’s Final Message to His Creation and, in a dramatic break with tradition, actually find it.
This book also begins with a Guide to the Guide, which are interesting and helpful remarks, written by Adams, about the history of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and it’s actually hugely entertaining to read.
Adams’ writing is very easy to read and understand and has a very distinctive tone. As you’re reading, it sounds as though you’re having a casual conversation with an Englishman. When the film, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was made, they had Stephen Fry providing the narration and it was so spot on. That’s what the tone of the book sounds like. It’s casual, but also sophisticated with razor sharp wit scattered throughout.
The whole idea for the Hitchhiker’s Guide was refreshingly original and wildly absurd at the same time. As you’re reading the books, you’ll find that you’re not trying to make sense of them, you’re just enjoying the ride. That’s how these books should be read. Just read and enjoyed.
If you’re like me and have a quirky sense of humour as well as a tragic geek-streak, then you will love the Hitchhiker’s Guide.
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