The Restaurant at the End of the Universe

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Book 2

By: Douglas Adams

Narrated by: Martin Freeman

Now celebrating the 42nd anniversary of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, soon to be a Hulu original series!

“Douglas Adams is a terrific satirist.”—The Washington Post Book World

Facing annihilation at the hands of the warlike Vogons? Time for a cup of tea! Join the cosmically displaced Arthur Dent and his uncommon comrades in arms in their desperate search for a place to eat, as they hurtle across space powered by pure improbability.

Among Arthur’s motley shipmates are Ford Prefect, a longtime friend and expert contributor to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; Zaphod Beeblebrox, the three-armed, two-headed ex-president of the galaxy; Tricia McMillan, a fellow Earth refugee who’s gone native (her name is Trillian now); and Marvin, the moody android. Their destination? The ultimate hot spot for an evening of apocalyptic entertainment and fine dining, where the food speaks for itself (literally).

Will they make it? The answer: hard to say. But bear in mind that The Hitchhiker’s Guide deleted the term “Future Perfect” from its pages, since it was discovered not to be!

“What’s such fun is how amusing the galaxy looks through Adams’s sardonically silly eyes.”—Detroit Free Press©1980 Serious Productions, Ltd.; (P)2006 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Douglas Adams is a terrific satirist.”—Washington Post Book World

“What’s such fun is how amusing the galaxy looks through Adams’s sardonically silly eyes.”—Detroit Free Press

awesome... except for the voice of Zaphod

This book is beautifully read with the screeching halt exception of Zaphod Beeblebrox. For unknown reasons the narrator chose to read this character as a stereotypical New York thug. Think Rocky Balboa and you'll have it. Other than that, the book is excellent.

Terrible Narration - book ruined

I absolutely love these books but this narrator is beyond terrible. He ruins all the characters. Zafod with his weird accent and Marvin is just boring. At least the Narrator in the 1st book made Marvin absolutely hilarious in his dreariness.

Annoying character voices grate at your nerves.

Not sure when exactly Zaphod Beeblebrox obtained a New York accent or became a tough-guy, but the interpretation of his character as voiced here by Freeman is almost, but not quite, entirely unlike enjoyable.

Enjoyed listening to this

Doesn't come close to the first book but is a good listen nonetheless. Though I saw negative comments on the narration, I didn't hate it that much :)

Hilarious

Martin Freeman’s excellent performance makes it much more enjoyable. Planning to listen again soon. Great piece.