This book review was written by Eugene Kernes
“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the
Galaxy is an indispensable companion to all those who are keen to make
sense of life in an infinitely complex and confusing Universe, for though it
cannot hope to be useful or informative on all matters, it does at least make
the reassuring claim, that where it is inaccurate it is at least definitively
inaccurate. In cases of major
discrepancy it’s always reality that’s got it wrong.” – Douglas Adams, Chapter
6, Page 173
“”Well, I wish you’d just tell me rather than try to engage
my enthusiasm,” said Marvin, “because I haven’t got one.” | He
walked on up to the ship, touched it, and a hatchway swung open. | Ford
and Zaphod stared at the opening. | “Don’t mention it,” said Marvin. “Oh, you didn’t.” He trudged away again.” – Douglas Adams,
Chapter 18, Page 240
“To summarize: it is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it. To summarize the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job. To summarize the summary of the summary: people are a problem.” – Douglas Adams, Chapter 28, Page 278
Is This An Overview?
Don’t Panic, as the spaceship Heart of Gold is being
attacked by Vogons and the hitchhikers cannot get the computer to think about
escape options. The computer has its
bandwidth preoccupied with trying to figure out how to give Arthur the
requested cup of tea, that actually tastes like tea. All this excitement, and all Arthur, Ford,
Zaphod, and Trillian wanted was to get food at The Restaurant at the End of the
Universe. As the computer is
preoccupied, the escape plan was to have a séance. A séance in which Zaphod learned the reason
why Zaphod stole the Heart of Gold, to find the person who rules the universe.
Through some improbable situations, the hitchhikers actually
find their way to The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. So named because the restaurant exists, or is
going to exist, or did exist in a time bubble and projected forward in time to
the End of the Universe. Guests enjoy
meals while watching creation itself explode around them.
To avoid a series of improbable events, the hitchhikers
steal another ship, and are sent on a journey of another series of improbable
events. Unbeknownst to most of the them,
the ship is apparently bound by autopilot to sundive, as in dive into a
sun. While these events are happening,
Arthur is reminded to figure out the question to the answer of 42. And then there is the android Marvin, who
everyone ignores because its Marvin.
Caveats?
Not all the comedy is for everyone. Especially as human culture changed.
As the events can change locations quickly for purposeful
improbable reasons, there is often early confusion as to where the characters
are.
