The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

By: Douglas Adams

Narrated by: Stephen Fry

Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins

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.

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.

©1980 Serious Productions Ltd (P)2005 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Fun story. Clever naming and physics story twists.

this is a very fun light read. Great for traveling. It was over sooner than I hoped. Some of their tangents are not quite so entertaining. But overall it was great.

Genuinely interesting and cleverly amusing book

Loved it. The author opens your mind to endless ludicrousness of the universe unbenounced to us.


I love the constantly revisited idea that things are never as they seem. In fact, things are more wild and obscure to your current understanding of life, the universe and everything, that you(we,earthlings) are unable to even fathom the existence of other such possibilities (contradictory to out science or otherwise) to actually be probabilities.


However, I would not recommend listening to this book during a dentist appointment. More specifically a deep cleaning, as I did. The book is too funny and often at times unsuspecting. I found myself, mouth open with dentists drilling and picking at my teeth, straining to hold back laughter as not to disturb the operation underway. Needless to say I will listen to music next time or a less amusing book like the Art of War.

If you enjoy science fiction, comedy, space odyssey, and well developed dynamic characters with hidden agendas, then you will likely find yourself flying through the pages of this story to find out what happens next.
And if you're reading this review and have decided to listen to this book, I'd say this event ranks in the fourth most coincidental event in the history of the universe.

Good day.

Stephen Fry Makes a Classic EVEN BETTER!

I am not sure how it is possible that my headline can be the truth but it is.

Fantastic!

Entertaining and original story. Stephen fry does a great job as narrator and really brings the characters to life.

Confusing as hell

This audio book has a way of making you rewind back a few minutes every once and a while because you have no Idea what just happened. Probably best enjoyed a book than an audio book.

Great read Fry the best

Great story I can read over and over. Fry does a very good job so good I have a very clear picture of the characters and the universe.

A+

this book is so much fun and was over to quickly! so witty and intelligent and it takes you on a wild ride through the universe!

Excellent experience, Outstanding book

A excellent book, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams is a thought provoking and Funny tale, I Highly Recommend A+

Some short transitions

Where does The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Some of the chapters have no pause before them. The reading jumps from the end of the previous chapter to the next one, with no pause. Other than that, this is a classic and one of the few books I have re-read. Having it read to me was a treat. I'm going to continue the series.

Genius

Douglas Adams a genius in his own right writes an incredible series with multi dimensional attributes.

A truly entertaining story for the intellectually minded.